An Evening with Jane Yolen

I had the pleasure of attending the Make Way for Books event featuring guest speaker Jane Yolen this week. It way a lovely evening in a small, intimate setting. I couldn't help but think of how lucky I was to be there, as I stood in the warm evening air, listening the sounds of music playing, leaves rustling, trains howling, while having a conversation with Jane herself. (Thanks Joan for introducing me!)

Fellow author/illustrator Debbi Haun joined me for the trip to Tucson. It was great getting to meet up with other familiar faces from Tucson like Jennifer, Joan , Jennifer J., Janni , as well as our SCBWI regional assistant Michelle Parker-Rock.

For the main event, storyteller Martín Juan Rivera, Sr. got grown adults to buzz like cicadas, croak like frogs and imitate wind, thunder and rain. While Jane shared her intelligence and insight, on folk tales, culture, and history and how discrimination and topics taboo in today’s society, have been represented in children’s literature in the past. It was a great event. Keep it up Make Way for Books!

Z Mansion

Me and Debbi Haun

Debbi and Michelle Parker-Rock

Jennifer Ward and Debbi

Martín Juan Rivera

Joan Sandin and Michelle

Jane Yolen

Ms. Yolen will also be speaking at the Arizona Book Festival this weekend in Phoenix.