I want to first thank ALSC for inviting me to join this blog; I am very honored and happy to know that they recognize Rayo children’s efforts to better serve our children by providing them with meaningful Latino and Spanish language literature. I am also glad to have made so many supportive friends in the library community. Each and every one of my chats with librarians across the country has provided me with a great deal of insight, and always, a sense of purpose. I look forward to chatting with you some more in person at conferences and elsewhere, and to receiving your comments and ideas on this blog. Also, a disclaimer: This is my first blog, ever, so please bear with me! I chose to write my first blog now because it is my favorite season: award season! A time when authors and editors rejoice in the fruit of the labors, and when inevitably, we are met with some surprises! And this year was no exception, was it? The Caldecott given to a novel, and the Pura Belpré to a work of poetry! Will wonders never cease? Editors across the country are scratching their heads, wondering what this all means, if it signals a new trend, or if librarians are making a conscious effort to reward quality and novelty, which would not be altogether surprising; what are awards for, if not to reward excellence in craft, and originality? I am happy with this year’s award results.Publisher’s Weekly called THE INVENTION OF HUGO CABRET “a masterpiece,” and I, for one agree. The book is stunning; both visually and in terms of narrative. It does not underestimate young reader’s imaginations and reclaims a rightful place for books in this age of multimedia. THE POET SLAVE OF CUBA’s wonderful use of verse will hopefully revive a genre that continues to be problematic for teachers, librarians, and publishers. Poetry? Who would think poetry would garner this much interest today? Poets across the nation celebrate! Librarians will continue to support you, and that means that children across the country will have an opportunity to recite your beautiful words! On a more personal note, I was thrilled to learn that Monica Brown’s latest book also received a prize; the Pura Belpré Honor for illustration. Raúl Colón’s images once again graced the pages of a children’s book to help make yet another lucky author’s words come alive. The personal nature of this award, for me, has to do with the fact that I too have now had the chance to work with the wonderfully talented Ms. Brown. Rayo will publish her first book with HarperCollins Children’s Books in winter of 2009: PELÉ, KING OF SOCCER/PELÉ, EL REY DEL FÚTBOL, a biography of the soccer great, to add to Monica’s stunningly beautiful collection of picture book biographies, thanks to the dynamic and colorful illustrations of Rudy Gutiérrez. Keep an eye out for that one, my fellow bloggers, I promise it won’t disappoint! I have also been very fortunate this past year to work with other amazingly talented award-winning authors and illustrators, such as Pat Mora, Rafael López, and Joe Cepeda. I want you to know about what Rayo has coming up, and I want you to tell your fellow librarians, and your friends, because for me, managing Rayo is truly a labor of love. I remember arriving in the US when I was 12 years old and rushing to learn English as quickly as I could so that I could get my hands on some of the wonderful literature written in that language. But I also never stopped reading in Spanish. Today, I feel extremely fortunate to be bilingual, and bicultural, and my mission at Rayo, as I see it, is to pass on this wonderful gift to a new generation of bilingual and bicultural Latino children. Please join us, and join me! The next generation deserves nothing less than the best! And again, please don’t hesitate to send me your comments and ideas; tell me about the wonderful authors and illustrators I should know about. What you like, and what you don’t like. What you see working in your libraries, and what most definitely does not. I am all ears. ‘Til next time ALSC!