I don't know why I have never been down to what we in Texas call the Valley, but until this weekend, I hadn't. I didn't know what I was missing. I was missing amazing people and amazing food and landscape that was clearly different than where I lived. A library created in what had been a Wal-Mart- turning a consumer concrete jungle into a gorgeous space for people to read and create and research and learn and listen and even eat!
Let me say it right here: I love McAllen, Texas and all its surrounding cities! I had the best school visit at Fossum Middle School. I got to work and visit with amazing librarians, including Mary Rodriguez and Elizabeth Hollenbeck and Dawn Rapoza! And mostly I got to talk books, books, books, with adults and kids and everyone in between. Plus the best Mexican chocolate mocha latte I've ever had.
A few pictures for you:
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| Paneling with Jennifer Ziegler and Lindsey Lane |
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| talking books with Lindsay Cummings and Chris Barton and lots of people! |
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| A chamoy Margarita. |
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| Enchiladas Poblanas with mole sauce. |
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| Fossum Middle School super librarian Mary Rodriguez |
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| Even Gale likes reading FINDING PARIS |
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| McAllen Library with Lindsay Cummings and Ray Villareal |
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| Carolyn Flores teaches me and Lindsay how to draw a frog. |
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| That time everyone wanted an arc of IT WASN'T ALWAYS LIKE THIS! |