Monday, January 10, 2011

Sweet Rita and Wonderfully Funny Katherine Paterson

Rita in the morning....
...and Katherine in the evening.


Monday at the VCFA Residency:You can imagine how we all felt this morning, watching the Live Feed of the ALA Award Announcements. Our own sweet RITA WILLIAMS-GARCIA's book, ONE CRAZY SUMMER, wins the Coretta Scott King award and is named a Newbery Honor Book!!!!!!!! The noise in the room was wild - imagine the combination of many champagne corks popping and a REALLY LOUD marching band going by - that's what it was like in Noble Lounge. RI-TA, RI-TA, RI-TA!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! We found it hard to stop clapping and listen to the rest of the announcements. 

When I'm back in Seattle, I'll have to find a copy of the Newbery winner -MOON OVER MANIFEST by Clare Vanderpool  (her debut novel) -  that was a surprise. I'm looking forward to reading it, but I don't remember that title even coming up in the Mock Newbery discussions/lists I read through. Glad to see Joyce Sidman's book DARK EMPEROR AND OTHER POEMS OF THE NIGHT get a Newbery Honor, too. I wanted so much to see Kathi Appelt's story, KEEPER, make the list, so I was disappointed about it not getting a nod.

In the evening, Katherine spoke to us over in College Hall/The Chapel - a speech about "How to Make a Speech." You can just imagine how wonderful that was - Katherine at her funniest and best. She is a national treasure, and we are very lucky to have her on our Board of Trustees. 

There's snow on the ground, but we're not freezing. NECI seems to be going with lots of root vegetables this time around. 

Quite a Kickoff-Day for our Winter Residency 2011.

2 comments:

  1. What a spectacular day to be at Res, Julie. Thanks for sharing. I do love our sweet Rita. Have an inspirational 10 days and you take good care.

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