Depending on the day and the conference, visiting library vendor exhibits might be hard work with promises for future negotiations or a simple pleasure. Some days I could afford the time to stand in line to purchase a signed copy of a much loved book. There were also those serendipitous moments when I discovered the unlikely opportunity to nab a quick gift for Richard in a nearly empty booth; when the entire encounter from handing the cash to the publishing house rep, to a brief conversation with a favorite writer, to carefully stashing the prized conference loot all occurred within just minutes. Such was my very brief encounter with Eric Carle one ALA conference day.
The world is blessed to have had this genius of children’s literature whose many stories and brillant textured art evoked rich reading opportunities and colorful playfulness.
Knit+ Librarian 