Things I Learned at the Virginia Hamilton Conference...

The Virginia Hamilton Conference at Kent State is the oldest, continuously running conference on multicultural children's literature. It was my pleasure to attend this year, where I:

• enjoyed speeches and presentations by Eloise Greenfield, Javaka Steptoe, Kadir Nelson (this year's Caldecott winner, gorgeous artwork) and Pam Munoz Ryan (who was wonderful... hilarious and inspiring)
• learned more about graphic novels and came back with lots of good titles to order, including books about graphic novels and the importance of images in learning
  
• attended sessions on Best Multicultural Picture Books and Notable Books for a Global Society and came home with lists and lists of books to look for
• enjoyed the performance of the Sogbety Diomande West African Drum and Dance group
• met a lot of nice librarians and teachers and...
• brought home some autographed books for Special Collections.