ALA Day Three

Sometimes dreams come true.  This whole trip has been a dream come true but yesterday was so amazing I almost don't have words to talk about it.  The day started by checking out a session on book blogging, one of my favorite topics!  Then I got to meet Katherine Paterson, National Ambassador for Young People's Literature, and she was really nice.  She had read my blog, amazing, and was not mad that I did not love Jacob Have I Loved. I will read it again!  She said the reader is like the co-author on a book; imagine being a co-author with Katherine Paterson!  If this had been the only thing that happened to me today I would have been very happy and very excited.  But, there is more!
I was invited by ALA President Camila Alire to an amazing luncheon. I got to meet many board members of ALA and ALSC (all the folks who make the ALA work!). 

Three wonderful authors also attended: Rebecca Stead, Jacqueline Kelly and Rodman Philbrick.  For lunch I got to sit by all three of them and talk about books, can you even believe it?
This was not the end of my amazing day.  I managed to squeeze in listening to the ALA notable discussion, and seeing the book cart drill team (you have GOT to see this!).

And then I put on my purple poof dress and went to the 2010 Newbery/Caldecott Gala.  Before the event even started  I got to meet Grace Lynn and Jerry Pinkney. I now have a set of all the Award and Honor books from 2010 autographed to me! 

The Gala was wonderful. I sat where I could see everything. I met MORE wonderful people and the President of ALSC even talked about me and my blog in his speech.

 I could not have had a more wonderful day and time. I have a million amazing people to thank who made this all possible for me, and I will start on thank you notes soon, but today is even more fun!