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2nd Gen Librarian has posted about the conference. If I have somehow missed your post (click on the labels below), please comment to this post and I'll edit this post.

The last post: the podcast round up of almost everyone who attended the conference is up at Just One More Book.

I think it says a lot that I took so many pictures of Esme's Bookroom. It was inspiring and beautiful.








I have sometimes thought, wouldn't it be great to have one room of my home be a library? And here, it's an entire home of books. Better yet: they are not selfish books, sitting on the shelf for the owner to gaze upon. No, at Planet Esme's, its about sharing the wealth: "The primary purpose of the space is to serve as an inspiration, resource and meeting place for grown-ups who wish to deliver the best to children through read-aloud and literature-based education. Though the bookroom is primarily a resource center for adults, though we welcome well-behaved school-aged children (4 and up) who are accompanied by a guardian."















Perhaps I watch too much HGTV, but when I entered this welcoming sanctuary, this beautiful library, all I could think was: they need to do a show. No one would believe this book oasis exists!

These are my photos from the Conference. You can see why I rely on the kindness of strangers (OK, friends!) sharing their photos.

Miss Rumphius has a recap, including my new favorite video.

Book Buds brings her Part 2 recap. Anne gives a quick review of her talk. I'm still mulling over reviews. Much food for thought, and for writing. Anne's handouts were excellent. It was also eye-opening, in terms of perspectives of what a "good" review is, and definitely influenced some of my talking points for when I spoke about ethics. (Interestingly, even tho Anne and I did not confer beforehand, her talk was an excellent intro for mine, because she spoke on things I either wanted to mention or refer to, but knew there wouldn't be enough time.)

PlanetEsme shares her thoughts. An apartment for books; and, yes, sharing books and encouraging literacy. It's like a dream come true. Of course, the line I agree with the most is "in order to become true supporting characters in our children's reading life stories, we've got to be active participants and do all we can to widen our own girth of knowledge so we can individualize instruction using children's lit." To me, it is all about that individual fit and match, of book to reader.

MotherReader's tale of Kidlitosphere Conference 07 is uniquely MotherReader in tone and voice, and cautions one not to rely to much on one's iPhone. Perhaps the most important thing about her post? A photo of me that I don't hate. (You do know it is all about me, right?)

I cannot believe I forgot to include GottaBook's comments. Gregory K was tremendous fun in person (and no, did not talk in fibs all the time.)

Please leave a comment if I haven't included your post thus far.

Edited to add: MsMac reflects on volunteering for next year's conference.

And again: Barbara Shoup reports at The Flux Blog. I think "don't be a dick" is words we can all live by.

And again: Laini explores Esme's Magic Bookroom.

Edited to add: Propernoun, aka one of the many people I didn't get to sit down & chat with.

And Confessions of a Bibliovore shares her perspective. Including the tricks to getting ARCS.

Finally, my airport companion, Book Moot, posts. She believes she is the last; but I haven't gone thru the participant list. Anyone? Anyone?

And now we add Three Silly Chicks.

My report begins here. To continue...

Laini Taylor has a great write up and and photos at her blog. Isn't her hair awesome? The perfect description of my personality type: the person who adores Laini's hair but would never have the nerve to do it myself. I had a lot of fun chatting with Laini and her husband, Jim Di Bartolo, who has also blogged the conference. After meeting them, I thought, hmm, Scott Westerfeld and Justine Larbalestier have some serious competition for "coolest couple in the childlit/YAlit world."

Miss Rumphius had a fab time and a mountain of work waiting for her back home. I wish I could say, oh, I have a mountain of work also, except my mountain is a self induced mountain as right now I am on a mini work break.

I had fun hanging out with one of the Cybils participants, Stacy, who reports on the conference at Booktopia and the amazing Planet Esme at Welcome to my Tweendom. Esme herself was delightful (yet another person who made me think the universe is unfair: so many people who I would love to be able to call up and say, hey, let's meet for coffee, and they all live in different time zones!) and as for her Bookroom, let me just say: half the photos I took this weekend was at the Bookroom. Amazing.

Wizards Wireless brings the Harry Potter perspective.

Edited to add:

Read Write Believe shares the news and gossip.

I'll update as more people share, and also hope to do an independent wrap up of events.

Wow, Excellent, Amazing, I'm already saving for next year, fingers crossed no conflict for the weekend it will be.

Anyway.

The postings thus far:

Photos over at 7 Impossible Things, and I am so mad I didn't get a chance to talk more with Jules & Eisha. It was a quick hi/hi, and then at the end of the day when a Starbucks group left for caffeine I knew if I went I would never sleep that night. But, a good thing about a real meet & greet like the Conference is it means that there is now a person connected to that blog; and, as I just wrote to Susan over at Wizards Wireless, we are always chatting with each other via blog, email, Meebo, etc. I expect to see an upsurge in commenting!

Just One More Book, and photos and posts, and Mark totally won the "first to post about the conference prize". Another site where I can borrow photos. Also check out the post at Mark's other blog, and yes, my blogroll and bloglines account is getting increased as we speak.

Jen Robinson's account. For the record, this listing is in no particular order, not alpha or time or anything like that. And, as Jen says, while I am going to be trying to list all the people I met and things we talked about, it would be impossible and I know I'll leave someone out. So I'll try, but I already know that I cannot blog it all, so I'm linking and will capture my scattered thoughts later, and, also, try to blog about points that others have not. And, with this list, direct you to all the things I would have said or blogged about.

A Year of Reading: a series of letters between two bloggers, in which one politely tells the other, "ha ha, I went and had a great time and you didn't. But we loved you and missed you and here are the handouts."

Fuse #8 Productions. And here. And, I think perhaps for the first time ever, a part three to a post. And even a part four. Oh, you publisher previews and parties for books, I think you have never had a four parter at Fuse. As we all met each other, we quickly fell into a pattern. A "hello" that was friendly yet polite as we shook the hand out of a total stranger, followed by the quick intro of name, blog, and (for some of us) our on-line name, at which point we gasped "it's you" and the greeting turned into a hug and smiles as if we'd found a long lost relative. Betsy, aka Fuse, is one of the first bloggers I've met in Real Life, along with a handful of others, so it was all "Betsy!". But what was also fun was how often people referred to her as "Fuse."

And I have to thank Betsy for her kind words about my public speaking. Those readers who knew me in High School are saying Liz? Public speaking? Huh. Who knew. If you are shy and are quiet and want to learn how to become a good public speaker, go to law school. So, its a six figure investment that you will be paying for the rest of your life; but, it will serve you well in terms of learning how to speak without notes, speak passionately but not (I hope) in an annoying way, and to speak louder than you normally would. (On the other hand, I am still terribly uncomfortable with and not good at meeting new people, and I thank all the attendees who weren't put off by initial quietness.)

And to properly credit the quotage of, The plural of anecdote is not evidence, that is the made of awesome Carlie W.

Kelly at Big A little a is also doing a round up, so quick, go there, also; and leave a comment so she can include you. It's funny, "knowing" someone for years but not till know putting a face and voice to the person. How many times can I say I really, really wanted at least one extra day to talk with people and brainstorm and share ideas? Too little time.

Anne at Book Buds has a part one and a prequel. Part two will be added later. Anne spoke about book reviewing, I took a ton of notes, wondered at how often or not what I post about is really a review, and wondered about contacting local papers about doing reviews. The great thing about the conference was all the ideas of things to do... except, I have to learn how to prioritize, what with each day having just 24 hours. And the fact that I do like to sleep.

Robin Brande. I am in awe of how this idea tossed around turned into something real. So real that there was a conference room! And coffee and mini bagels! And a dinner! And she's fun! And she said nice things about my clothes. In my family, my sister is usually the one who gets the clothes compliments (she is my fashion guru. When she says, no, don't buy those shoes, ever, I listen to her.) So it was cool to hear it. Also, I find out I am "stealth funny." I need that on a t-shirt.

Adrienne, and what she thinks about the conference. And for the umpteenth time, I will say, how great to talk to people and why wasn't there more time?

OK, I'm going to post this now, and add to it later. Or do a second post. Or sleep.

One more thing: I met PJ Haarsma who knows Nathan Fillion. I know!!! Discuss.

Edited to add:

Pixiepalace chimes in; and I have to echo what she and others said. I was so pleased to discover how nice everyone is!

Edited again:

Shaken & Stirred has Kidlit Love. And says very nice things about me, which makes me want to cry, and I am thankful.

Edited again again:

Anna M Lewis, Got Art?, shares her musings and report.

So, want to get together and talk?

Then come to the 1st Annual Kidlitosphere Conference!

Details:

What: First annual Kidlitosphere Conference

When: Saturday, October 6, 2007

Where: Chicago, IL, Radisson Hotel Chicago O’Hare, 1450 E. Touhy Ave., 1-847-296-8866. (To get the room discount, tell them you’re with “Kidlit.”)

Cost: $40

Robin Brande is organizing this; go to here to get the full details including the current RSVP list. Click here for all the posts at Robin's blog that give info on the conference.

Yes, I'll be there! I'm really looking forward to sitting down with everyone and chatting and sharing ideas and talking books and blogs. The couple of times I've met people from the blogosphere has been great, but usually rushed because it's after a long day at BEA, or in between appointments for ALA. How cool that there will be just a day for kidlit bloggers to connect and network and be energized!