We heard Dave Barry and Ridley Pearson speak this morning and they were hi-larious. If any of you know who either one of these authors are, you know they are not typical children's book authors but they teamed up and wrote a clever book called Peter and the Starcatchers which is a prequel to Peter Pan. I also got to listen to Gordon Korman (don't worry, I didn't even know who he was until today...he's a very funny guy though), and I got to listen to and meet Janet Stevens and Susan Stevens Crummel. I'm sure none of you know who they are either, but let me just tell you that they are two of the funniest women I have ever met. I laughed so hard at their antics and stories that I cried. Seriously, if you ever find yourself wandering around a bookstore and you have an extra 15 minutes of your life to spare, go to the children's section and read Help Me, Mr. Mutt. I promise you will laugh. (I also got to listen to Laurie Keller and Nick Bruel yesterday...of course you don't know who they are but they are funny children's authors as well.)
Then I spent the remainder of the day standing in lines and meeting authors and getting books signed. I got 9 books signed...9 books! My collection of autographed books has now tripled. Just imagine your most favoritist thing in the whole wide world...now imagine that you get 9 of them!
So, none of the above really means anything to any of you, I know, and you probably just skipped right over all of that mumbo jumbo, but did you notice how many times I wrote the word "laugh" or "funny"? This is my job people! I get to spend my days with some of the funniest and most creative people on the planet! I took a day off of work so that I could go listen to people make me laugh so that I could then go back and make my students laugh and enjoy themselves while reading. And it wasn't really even a day off...I got paid for my "work" today! What is better than that? Please, tell me.
5 comments:
When I was in elementary school I somehow got chosen to go to this reading conference. We spent all day listening to children's writers speak and at the end we could buy their books. For me, that's like a kid in a candy store. In fact, if you had a candy store with a book store at the back, I'd blow past the candy to get to the books.
I still remember a book I got called Stinker From Space. It was pretty fun.
So I understand a little how much fun your job must be.
Nothing is better than that. This is why I'm seriously considering going back to get my Library Science degree. I'm so jealous you had such a good time! And! I did read the whole post. I love that you get so excited about books. It makes me feel normal. :)
I love finding great childrens book! (not just for my kids either!) I'll have to see if I can find that one next time I take the boys to the library. Thanks for the suggestion! :)
:-) I love you Rhia Jean . . . it is people like you that make the world of literature FUN!
You have a great job! I have heard of the star catchers books...my friend Allison highly recommends them.
mnhrjuf: what you say when someone takes their shoes off and makes themselves comfortable during a librarian conference.
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