.jpg?picon=107)
KidLitCon 2014!
It's time for KidLitCon! Believe it or not, it's the 8th. Yes, the 8th!
It will be held in Sacramento on October 10th and October 11th. I'm afraid that this year, I will be missing it, but I wanted to remind you all that it was happening and what you need to know.
More information is at the Kidlitosphere website, at the KidLitCon webpage.
KidLitCon is an independent event, volunteer run and organized. It floats around the country, which changes who, each year, are the volunteers putting it together. That means each KidLitCon is a unique experience. It also makes it that much more excellent that it's been going on for eight years.
What is KidLitCon? From the website: "KidLitCon is a gathering of people who blog about children’s and young adult books, including librarians, authors, teachers, parents, booksellers, publishers, and readers. Attendees share a love of children’s books, as well as a determination to get the right books into young readers’ hands. People attend KidLitCon to talk about issues like the publisher/blogger relationship, the benefits and pitfalls of writing critical reviews, and overcoming blogger burnout. People also attend KidLitCon for the chance to spend time face to face with kindred spirits, other adults who care passionately for children’s and YA literature."
What I love about KidLitCon is it's about the bloggers. Full stop. That is the primary purpose and mission of KidLitCon. It's about what the bloggers care about. Oh, there may be authors and publishers there, presenting, and that can be great and amazing. But it's not about them. They are there to support the blogging community: they are not there saying, what can the blogging community do for us.
This year’s theme for KidLitCon is: Blogging Diversity in Young Adult and Children’s Lit: What’s Next?
Here is the link to Registration. It includes the tentative schedule, registration costs, what is and isn't included in costs, information about lodging. When you look at the price, remember: this is about volunteers. It all goes into making the con happen. The deadline for registration is September 19.
The link to the form to submit a proposal to present is also at the Registration page. That deadline is August 1. At this point, there are no discounts offered to people presenting.
One of the reasons that the KidLitCon floats around the country is that gives more people the opportunity to attend, present, and network.
Two of the reasons I love attending KidLitCon are presenting and networking.
KidLitCon offers a great opportunity for people to present. Have an idea? Submit it. You're the expert. You know your stuff. You just haven't had the time or money to travel to BEA or ALA or NCTE -- but because of KidLitCon now being closer to you, here's your chance. And honestly, KidLitCon needs you to make it wonderful.
KidLitCon is also the time to put faces to the people you've always known. My best memories of KidLitCon is getting to meet people in real life, and have conversations, and hang out talking and talking and talking. It deepens friendships and relationships. As great as the Internet is, allowing us to have a common space online to talk and connect, it's so terrific to be able to meet in person.
And sigh as I'm typing this I so wish I could go!!
Other posts about KidLitCon:
Tanita Davis talks about KidLitCon, and this year's them of Diversity, at what it means when we talk about Diversity
At Nerdy Book Club, Jen Robinson talks about why she loves attending KidLitCon
Amazon Affiliate. If you click from here to Amazon and buy something, I receive a percentage of the purchase price.
© Elizabeth Burns of A Chair, A Fireplace & A Tea Cozy
0 Comments on KidLitCon 2014 as of 7/26/2014 2:58:00 PM
Add a Comment
A Tuesday Ten: Speculative 
Nice list of 10 family-tested "Great Audiobooks" from 
The Precocious Ones, overachievers who kick-started their career at eye-poppingly young ages? 
75 Years Old, Still Showing off her Scar, fun details about Madeline from 
Teen blogger Summer from 
RT 
How 
Food for thought at Stacked: Growing Up, Leaving Some Books (Narnia) Behind by 
Powerful post 
This could keep us busy for the rest of the summer! 50 Fabulous Movies based on Children's Books from 
Newsletter Update: In this issue I have four book reviews (picture book and young adult), two posts with links that I shared on Twitter recently, and an announcement about a post that I did at The Nerdy Book Club about the 8th Annual Kidlitosphere Conference (which I am co-organizing). Not included in the newsletter, I shared announcements about the KidLitCon 
I'm currently reading 
As always, you can see the 
One thing that I've particularly noticed about reading with my daughter lately is that she notices things in the pictures that I wouldn't necessarily notice myself. For example, she always points out the "L" knitted into "Little Louis'" sweater in 
I also love, love, love when a book makes her peal with laughter. The most recent standout in this arena was 
Get On Board: SLJ Selects A Bevy of Board Books | 
A Tuesday Ten: Diverse Stories in Speculative Fiction | Views From the Tesseract 
Sure 
This sounds like fun! Tip #15 from 
2014 Guardian Children’s Prize Longlist | 
Very nice list! 14 Children's Books that Challenge Gender Stereotypes | 
Teachers should cry in class when reading poignant stories ... Michael Morpurgo says 
Jumpstart your summer adventure – Dig into reading, suggests 
The Ultimate 
I'm currently reading 
I'm listening to 
Baby Bookworm is reading 
She insisted that her babysitter read aloud to her from the cupcake book immediately, though this isn't normally what one does with recipe books. And about the Charlie the Ranch Dog book, before we had even finished it she said: "Let's read this one every day until Christmas, and then on Christmas." It's not even a Christmas book, but ok... Whatever keeps her excited about books. 
The 
Some good choices | 5 Series You Probably Missed as a Kid (But Should Read as an Adult) 
I just don't get this: A Library of Classics, Edited for the Teething Set - 
Bridget Jones, Allegiant, and Fans — 
15 Multicultural Books for Babies and Toddlers, recommended by 
Top Twelve Picture Book Read-Alouds for Halloween from 
The UK's Guardian Children’s Fiction Prize Awarded to 
Looking for books for your new independent reader: Bring on a Series! says 
Interesting piece 
20 Classic
I don’t think I want anything on my thighs that says, “Some infinities are bigger than other infinities.”
Those leggings are from Black Milk, which we do not patronize because they are jerkfaces. http://www.sorrywatch.com/2014/05/05/black-milk-is-very-unappetizing/
Also, hello, insanely overpriced. But I bet if you contacted an Etsy seller who makes Harry Potter leggings she might be able to whip you up some Westing Games.
Someone correct me if I’m wrong, but I believe the wonderful Where’s Waldo promotion was started by Carol Chittenden, owner of Eight Cousins children’s bookstore in Falmouth, MA a couple of years ago. They’re doing it again this year, and other stores around the country have taken it up as well.
Brookline Booksmith is in! (If we weren’t, I’d be a little worried about this guy: http://instagram.com/p/qcHigZSlqL/?modal=true.)
Ooooo, the crazies who believe children should ONLY READ BOOKS WRITTEN AT LEAST 20 YEARS AGO! Oh horrors if librarians recommend *recent* books to such children! If it was good enough for them as kids, then that’s what their children should read. Good, “wholesome” values. For goodness’ sake, don’t trust the opinion of people who actually *read* recent children’s books! Urgh.
I think I love you.
Thanks for the KidLitCon plug, Betsy. I so wish you could come (though it does seem impossible). I suspect we’ll be in the northeast next year, so perhaps the small Birds will be able to manage without you.