The American Library Association Annual Meeting might not sound like fun but you’d be surprised. Ok, the fact that this year’s edition was in New Orleans put everyone in a relaxed mood, eager to do business and eat well at the same time. But there is a lot more to it than that, from Michelle Obama’s rousing opening speech to the closing Newbery/Caldecott banquet and ceremony, the value of books, reading and libararies is celebrated but also hotly discussed and debated. Diversity, equality, authenticity and justification were among the key themes being argued about on panels this year as book people try to find new perspective in these difficult and controversial times. NorthSouth Books brought along our own trio of superstars with Jackie Alcantara and Baptiste Paul signing copies of The Field to delighted soccer fans and John Parra also dropping in to collect his Pura Belpré Honor for Frida Kahlo and her Animalitos.
Andrew Rushton
NordSüd Verlag/ NorthSouth Books
Pic 'n' Pub 