Saturday, February 6, 2010

MSLA Bookmark Contest





On January 28, 2010, Gerri Fegan, President of Massachusetts School Library Association (MSLA), invited me to be one of the judges for the MSLA Bookmark Contest.

I felt very honored to attend this event and to be among the judges who were members of the Massachusetts Board of Library Commissioners (MBLC), as well as authors and illustrators of children’s books.

The judges were Ralph Masiello (author-Illustrator), Stephen Krensky (author-illustrator), Mary Newell DePalma (author-illustrator), Vicki Enright (illustrator), David Biedrzycki (author-Illustrator), Mary McDonough (Child at Heart Gallery), Tui Sutherland (author), Mitali Perkins (author), Em Claire Knowles (Massachusetts Board of Library Commissioners/MBLC), Vicki Kaufman (MBLC), Carol Caro (MBLC).

The topic of the contest was “My School Librarian Teaches it ALL!” It was really fun to see how kids came up with solutions for their bookmarks. The kids are very creative and talented. I hope they will keep it up in the future and not stop drawing and painting when they grow up. You can see the winning entries at http://maschoolibraries.org/content/view/753/367/

It was a very exciting evening for me because I was in a group of people who care about art. The authors and illustrators that I met were so eager to talk to me about their profession and to give me their valuable advice.

The next step in this contest is actually attending the award ceremony for the contest at the State House in Boston. There will be a chance to meet the kids who created the bookmarks and congratulate them and give them some words of encouragement. I have never been to the State House even though I have lived in Massachusetts for almost five years. I’m excited to see the State House and meet the kids.