So many months (and so many adventures) have passed since my last post that I think I'm just going to have to skip over a ton of things and go straight to this:
It is still hard to believe
this actually happened. I've been pinching myself a lot.
On the morning of February 2nd I received a phone call from a room of cheering Caldecott committee members, telling me that my book NANA IN THE CITY had won a Caldecott Honor. Wow. Whoa. Oh my gosh.
Stunned.
Overwhelmed.
Elated.
Just a few of the many emotions I've felt these last several weeks.
I am truly humbled.
To know that the committee saw something special in my little book just blows me away. I cannot wait to thank them in person and accept the award at the
annual ALA conference in San Fransisco this June.
For now, here's a little Times Square marquee thank you. ♡♡♡
Thank you, Caldecott committee! from
Lauren Castillo on
Vimeo.
Don’t you just love the serendipitous discovery that one of your favorite picture books of the previous year that you already have scheduled for this Friday’s Perfect Picture Books just happens to have won a well deserved Caldecott Honor Award … Continue reading →
Next week is Book Expo America at the Jacob Javits Convention Center in New York City, and I'm super excited to be making the trip up for it. I get to visit with all my New York buddies, plus share my two new books The Troublemaker and Nana in the City at the conference. It's going to be a fun few days!
·Wednesday, May 28th: BEA kicks off with the 20th Annual Children's Book Art Silent Auction
This is one of my very favorite events of the year! If you're attending BEA (even if you're not, but happen to live nearby) come to the Javits and bid on some great original art to raise money for the ABFFE (click on the link for all the deets). This little guy below (from Nana in the City) is looking to go home with a new friend.
·Thursday, May 29th: day away from the Javits
I'm going to skip the conference to hang out with my friend and former editor, Frances Foster, along with my good friend (and editor extraordinaire) Noa Wheeler. One of the things I miss most about living in NYC is being able to easily take the subway to the UWS to visit Frances and her husband Tony. I haven't seen them since I moved away from the city in January. It's going to be really nice to spend the afternoon with the Fosters :)
·Friday, May 30th: full day at the Javits
12-12:30 pm -- I will be in the
Autographing Area, signing and giving away a buncha
Troublemaker's. Info is
HERE. Please come snag a copy and say hello!
3:30 pm -- I'll be at the
ABC/CBC Author and Illustrators Tea, chatting about
The Troublemaker and
Nana in the City with a group of awesome booksellers. I wish there was a way to clone myself so that I could also sit at the tables of the other authors— what a lineup (It's crazy to think I'm even going to be in the same room with all these guys)! Info is
HERE. Right after the Tea I'll be hopping on a bus back to Baltimore. A short but full trip! I hope that if you are also heading to BEA next week, I will get to run in to you some point . . .
Wishing you all a lovely Memorial Day weekend. Hooray, summer is almost here!!!
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| Sketches for NANA IN THE CITY; Clarion books; Coming Fall 2014 |
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I've just begun character studies for my next (3rd) book as author,
Nana in the City, about a boy who travels to the city to visit his nana and needs a little convincing about why the city is a good place (for a nana) to live. I'm looking forward to jumping in to final art this spring!
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I love this idea. My kids have two nanas who live in the city - one who always lived here and one who moved back here after a long time in the burbs. The city is a great place to retire to!
Thanks so much for your note! It's nice to hear that your kids nanas both live in cities -- I agree it's a great place to retire to :)