Carol Weston | Writer Side UP!

OK, it’s my guess you didn’t know that the Emerald City is actually made up of Big White Tents and the yellow brick road happens to be flagstone. Well, take it from me — it is! On my FAVorite “KidLit” day of the year, I “fly over the rainbow” to the Princeton Children’s Book Festival to take in everything this “Oz” has to offer 😀

Each September as the date approaches, I await the beautiful poster art (this year by Brian Biggs), and I wish upon a star in anticipation of the list of authors and illustrators I’ll see when I peer through that “crystal ball” on the site. I am always elated because, without fail, the Scarecrow, Tin Man and Cowardly Lion are there, along with other treasured friends and many new ones I hope to meet AND—their books! Continue reading →

For a children’s book lover like me, attending a big KidLit event is akin to a giddy movie fan attending an after party for the Academy Awards. Granted—it’s been a long time since I’ve cared to watch an award show, but that’s not the point. In my opinion this far exceeds any of that brouhaha, and I can tell you—I’ll eat my bookmark if I didn’t see a red carpet on the sidewalk in front of the Bank Street Book Store for its Grand Re-Opening celebration on March 7th!

Never mind that this was in Manhattan, much like the Bronx Bombers’ “Murderers’ Row,” the line up of 31 guest authors and illustrators was filled with KidLit “home run” hitters. We’re talkin’ Newbery and Caldecott, people! No, I kid you not! Continue reading →