The last time I’d been to Philadelphia was for the American Library Association Midwinter Conference. It was January 2020, just-pre-pandemic crisis in the U.S., and turned out to be the last Midwinter conference in that form. This year’s ALA Annual Conference in Philly had its share of remembering and reminiscing but felt very much about meeting our current moment and strongly and actively planning for the future.

Dr. Carla Hayden, now-former (but, in our hearts, forever) Librarian of Congress, and newly named as senior fellow of the Andrew W. Mellon Foundation, spoke with Kwame Alexander about the infamous “Dear Carla” email that declared her abrupt dismissal. There were laughter, tears, and singing — sometimes all at once — at the Newbery-Caldecott-Legacy Banquet; fashion, quizzes (with prizes!), and revelations at the CSK Breakfast; music, dancing, and thoughtful words at the Pura Belpré Celebración; and many other ways and opportunities for much-needed acknowledgement and celebration of good work. At the Banquet, there was a moment of silence to reflect on society's ills that we’re all facing before fully launching into the festivities.

In addition, the ALSC/YALSA reunification proposal was approved by ALA Council. Friend of the Horn Book Dr. Claudette McLinn was installed as ALSC’s president, Maria McCauley, director of Cambridge (MA) Public Library (my home system), is 2025-2026 president-elect of ALA. I had a great time handing out BGHB Award stickers to winning publishers — and crossing paths with this year’s awards chair Susannah Richards — while spending lots of quality time in publishers’ booths (and with our ad sales manager Al Berman, and at our own gorgeous Booth 705, shared with sibling publications LJ and SLJ and right across the way from JLG) actually seeing, physically paging through, and thoroughly enjoying recent and upcoming book offerings. A lunchtime roundtable with my MSI colleagues Shelley Diaz (from SLJ) and Liz Duffy (from JLG) was another highlight. 

And Monday morning — the best! — our customary giveaway of NEW July/August Horn Book Magazine issues, including Newbery, Caldecott, Legacy, and CSK speeches from the previous day (and more; look here) went off without a hitch and WITH a special surprise: this year’s Caldecott Medalist Rebecca Lee Kunz, who illustrated our July/August cover, signed copies of the magazine for eager fans and colleagues. Thanks again to her publisher, Levine Querido, for making it happen.

What a field of thoughtful, dedicated, and creative humans we are lucky enough to enjoy. When times are tough — and getting ever tougher (the Supreme Court opt-out decision re: children's books came down while I was waiting at the airport) — it's imperative to support one another, in ways big and small. See photo slideshow below — and continue to share yours!