2024 ALA (San Diego) Conference Report

It’s been some time since I’ve been to an ALA conference (Orlando, I think and maybe Chicago before that). But in my new role as Editorial Director of Bushel & Peck Books, I was happy to cross the entire country and spend a week in San Diego. Here’s some of what I saw and did. Enjoy!

**This is not a chronological accounting but rather organized by how/​when I found the photos I wanted to share.**

 

Wizards of the Coast had some GREAT swag. I even scored a physical copy of Monster Manual on the final day!

 

Here’s the Bushel & Peck Books booth, with the bus that drew crowds nonstop. Yes, we bought a bus from the city of Fresno and remade it into a bookmobile. We had a constant flow of people popping in to see what it looked like inside.

 

Rebecca Walker was signing Time for Us, a picture book about children’s caregivers.

 

Of course, Dan Santat was there doing a ton of signings. We chatted a bit about him doing an OPB interview at some point. Fingers crossed that his schedule permits that! (Sidekicks is a fun, fun book.)

 

Yep, there were robot things buzzing around.

 

Here’s Vicki Johnson, the author of Molly’s Tuxedo.

 

Here’s author/​illustrator Steve Breen signing copies of Sky & Ty.

 

Kate Messner signed copies of The Kids in Mrs. Z’s Class: Emma McKenna, Full Out.

 

Sophie Blackall signed copies of her picture book Farmhouse.

 

Blink-​182 was playing a show one of the conference nights, and Petco Park was right by my hotel, so I sat outside and heard a couple of songs while watching the evening go by.

 

Bushel & Peck had a Pop Top Stage event with a lot of their authors. This is David & Stephanie Miles–the owners–introducing the event.

 

The author of the Stormbringer series (G.R. Boden) did a signing.

 

UNLV professor and literary rock star Jarret Keene signed copies of Decide & Survive: The Attack on Pearl Harbor and Heroes of World War II: 25 True Stories of Unsung Heroes Who Fought for Freedom while charming the crowd.

 

Carole Boston Weatherford was there, too, signing Bros and other books.

 

It was hard to miss the promo for Sherri’s cool-​looking new picture book.

 

I got to see parts of some of the Chapter One Stage events as I hustled from meeting to meeting. Wish I could’ve stayed longer at this one!

 

Have you read The Maid and the Crocodile? Jordan Ifueko was signing copies at ALA.

 

Ngozi Ukazu was signing as well. Barda is terrific!

 

Lee Wind was signing copies of The Gender Binary Is a Big Lie: Infinite Identities around the World.

 

Kwame Alexander stopped by the Bushel & Peck Books booth and chatted for a while. He’s a hoot!

 

Lesa Cline-​Ransome mugs for the camera with a fan whose copy of One Big Open Sky just got signed.

 

This was one of the coolest booths going–Fred Koehler’s Ready Chapter One is worth checking out if you don’t already know about it.

 

Here’s Joyce Uglow (in the dino mask/​hat), a new Bushel & Peck Books author doing a signing with the ARCs of the picture book STUCK!, which is about the La Brea Tar Pits. I was working on the final edits for this right up until I got on the plane to head to CA.

 

Kemper Donovan signed copies of Loose Lips.

 

Kate DePalma signed copies of Let’s Celebrate! Special Days Around the World. Like a pro, she blew the ink dry before handing over a signed book to a fan.

 

Jenni L. Wash was signing copies of Ace, Marvel, Spy: A Novel of Alice Marble.

 

Ellen had another good book to launch. Her fans were everywhere!

 

Yep, San Diego is a sports city. Confirmed!

 

And I thought gas was expensive in Florida.…

 

I made it fairly far from the conference center in my quest to find great local food. There were tons of fantastic options here.

 

I made it to Balboa Park and visited a lot of the museums (after the conference). Here’s the Old Globe Theater, which wasn’t running anything the week I was there. 🙁

 

The Gaslamp District was right next to the conference center, so I visited this area many, many times for food, meetings, and just ambiance.

 

Here’s a cool LEGO sculpture at one of the Balboa park museums. I think this was at the Fleet Science Center.

 

Loved seeing this promo for Loren Long’s The Yellow Bus. (OPB created some activities to pair with it–check those out right here.)

 

And here’s the Bushel & Peck Books bookmobile, driving away from the convention center and heading back home to Fresno.

 

And that’s pretty much it, folks. Maybe next time I’ll get away from my press’ booth a bit more to get a wider range of photos. We’ll see!

Only Picture Books’ 20 Favorites of 2020

2020 was a rough year–no doubt about it. But at least we had some first-​rate new picture books to help us through it all.

This list is our subjective ranking of 20 books OPB really liked from this past year. If we missed a great book, please take a moment to share your 2020 faves in the comment section

Great work should be recognized, valued, and encouraged.

We hope OPB helps make all that happen.


All of a Sudden and Forever by Chris Barton, illustrated by Nicole Xu (4 February 2020)

This nonfiction book tenderly handles the Oklahoma City Bombing of 1995–Barton does a wonderful job of showing how healing happens after a collective tragedy. The art by debut illustrator Xu elevates an already beautiful story.

 

Construction People by Lee Bennett Hopkins (editor), illustrated by Ellen Shi (16 March 2020)

The late Lee Bennett Hopkins assembled 14 poems about the wide range of people needed to build a city high rise. The poems are noisy and fun in all the right ways for young readers–this is a real treat.

 

Digging for Words: José Alberto Gutiérrez and the Library He Built by Angela Burke Kunkel, illustrated by Paolo Escobar (8 September 2020)

This book offers a wonderful look at Colombia while telling the amazing story of a garbage collector in Bogotá who created a library that started with a single discarded book that he found on his route. Digging for Words has solid read-​aloud potential, too, which isn’t always the case with nonfiction.

 

Evelyn Del Rey Is Moving Away by Meg Medina, illustrated by Sonia Sánchez (8 September 2020)

The first-​person present-​tense story is a believable tale of how the friendship of two girls can survive anything–including separation/​change. Sánchez’s mixed-​media art is bright, vibrant, and lovely.

 

Hans Christian Anderson: The Journey of His Life by Heinz Janisch, illustrated by Maja Kastelic (1 September 2020)

OPB reviewed this book earlier this year, and months later, we still think it’s still a standout. This story-​in-​a-​story biography is simply enchanting.

 

Hike by Pete Oswald (17 March 2020)

There simply aren’t enough quality father-​son picture books, but this one adds to that list. The adventure is nearly wordless, but the journey is marvelous for father, son, and reader. Delightful, and with just a hint of whimsy.

 

Honeybee: the Busy Life of Apis Mellifera by Candace Fleming, illustrated by Eric Rohmann (4 February 2020)

Fleming crafts language that manages to communicate the facts of the honeybee’s intriguing short life, but it’s Rohmann’s exquisite oil paint illustrations that makes this book soar. The close-​ups can easily be mistaken for photographs! Watch for the gorgeous gatefold at the very end, as well as a backmatter essay on the plight of the honeybees.

 

I Am Every Good Thing by Derrick Barnes, illustrated by Gordon C. James (1 September 2020)

There are catchy, memorable lines throughout (“I am good to the core, like the center of a cinnamon roll”) that readers will delight in. But it’s the empowering message of self-​affirmation and value here that makes this a must-​read. James’ oil-​paintings are richly textured and powerful–watch for a cameo from Barack Obama!

 

If You Come to Earth by Sophie Blackall (15 September 2020)

While the premise is intriguing (how might you introduce Earth to a visitor from outer space?), it’s no surprise that two-​time Caldecott winner Blackall’s illustrations steal the show. Her stunning attention to detail showcases the diversity of our planet in all of its glory. Simply beautiful.

If you liked Oliver JeffersHere We Are: Notes for Living on Planet Earth, If You Come to Earth will likely be a hit, as well.

 

Lights on Wonder Rock by David Litchfield (8 September 2020)

In this story, Heather yearns to go to outer space. But is she truly ready to leave Earth–and everything about it–behind? I think I love this cover (and story) because it reminds me of E.T., but the graphic novel style throughout is equally compelling. Note the numerous wordless spreads that burst with delicious light and color. Litchfield is really, really good.

 

Nonsense!: The Curious Story of Edward Gorey by Lori Mortensen, illustrated by Chloe Bristol (24 March 2020)

A lyrical biography about the curious, strange man who served as inspiration for other curious, strange creatives (like Tim Burton and Lemony Snicket)? Yes, please! Of course, both the lyrical and artistic elements are positively Gorey-​esque. A generous two-​page Author’s Note helps round out a reader’s understanding of Gorey’s amazing life and accomplishments.

 

The Ocean Calls: A Haenyeo Mermaid Story by Tina Cho, illustrated by Jess X. Snow (4 August 2020)

Haenyeo” means free diving, and we learn all about that in this lovely story where a Korean girl dreams of being a haenyeo and diving deep to grab treasures from the ocean floor, just as generations have done before, and just as her grandma does now. There’s plenty of STEM appeal here, but it’s also a sweet story about family and tradition.

 

The Old Truck by Jarrett Pumphrey and Jerome Pumphrey (7 January 2020)

The retro design is what first catches my eye, but I’m quickly taken by this eloquent ode to perseverance and grit. OPB is definitely looking forward to more picture books from the Pumphrey brothers.

 

Outside In by Deborah Underwood, illustrated by Cindy Derby (14 April 2020)

Each year, it seems OPB includes a Deborah Underwood story in one way or another, and here’s yet another fine one. The starred review at Kirkus has it right–this book is a “love letter to nature.” Best of all, Outside In isn’t preachy nor heavy-​handed. It’s (appropriately) quiet, wise, and wondrous.

 

The Paper Kingdom by Helena Ku Rhee, illustrated by Pascal Campion (18 February 2020)

What a cool book! It’s the “simple” story of a parent going to work, but it’s filtered through the wondrous imagination of a child. Yes, there’s social critique tucked away in these pages, but even if a child doesn’t get that, this book will resonate on many levels.

 

A Polar Bear in the Snow by Mac Barnett, illustrated by Shawn Harris (13 October 2020)

Children will love the in-​text questions about where this polar bear is going–it’s a great way to get them involved in the storytelling. The art is simple and charming, as is this captivating Arctic adventure.

 

The Secret Garden of George Washington Carver by Gene Barretta, illustrated Frank Morrison (14 January 2020)

I love picture book biographies–especially when it’s about someone I THINK I know, then I come to realize how much more there is to their story. That’s the case here in this dignified and interesting take on the life of George Washington Carver–a “living folk hero.”

 

The Truth About Dragons by Jaime Zollars (15 September 2020)

This debut picture book will help readers see beyond their fears to find their own strength/​inner dragon. It’s a delightful take about the anxiety of new experiences.

 

We Are Water Protectors by Carole Lindstrom, illustrated by Michaela Goade (17 March 2020)

It’s hard to say which is more captivating–the potent words of Lindstrom or the lush art of Goade. Regardless, it’s a passionate call for much-​needed environmental stewardship that shows how interconnected our world is. Simply lovely.

 

Your Name Is a Song by Jamilah Thompkins-​Bigelow (7 July 2020)

A young girl is understandably unhappy at how people mishandling her name, yet her mother teaches her about the magic and music of names…including her own. It’s a celebration of language and history suitable for all readers.