ALSC PRECONFERENCE IN SAN FRANCISCO: The Association for Library Service to Children (ALSC), a division of the American Library Association (ALA) and the ALSC Awards Preconference Pilot Program Task Force announced the theme and speakers for the 2015 ALSC preconference program. This program takes place 11:30 a.m. – 4 p.m. Friday, June 26, 2015, at the 2015 ALA Annual Conference in San Francisco.
The program, entitled “Distinguished and Diverse: Celebrate the 2015 ALSC Honor Books,” will spotlight 2015 Honor Book recipients for the Newbery, Caldecott, Batchelder, Pura Belpré, Sibert and Geisel awards. The keynote speaker for the program is K.T. Horning, and there will be a panel facilitated by Judy Freeman.
The event will feature authors, illustrators and editors such as Cece Bell, Jacqueline Woodson, Lauren Castillo, Mary GrandPré, Candace Fleming, Yuyi Morales, Jillian Tamaki, Katherine Roy, John Parra, Patricia Hruby Powell, Mark Siegel, Christian Robinson, Jon Klassen and Melissa Sweet. ALSC members receive a special discount (use code: ALSC2015) on registration: http://alaac15.ala.org/ticketed-events#ALSC .
Author Ellen Conford Dies: Author Ellen Conford died on March 20, 2015, at age 73 
after a long illness. Conford wrote more than 30 books for children, most of which are humorous novels for ages 7-12, including the “Jenny Archer” series. Two tween novels, The Alfred G. Graebner Memorial High School Handbook of Rules and Regulations, and Dear Lovey Hart, I Am Desperate, were adapted into afterschool specials for television. For more information, see: www.slj.com/2015/03/industry-news/celebrated-ya-author-ellen-conford-dies-at-73/ .
Rob Biddulph Wins Waterstones Prize: Rob Biddulph’s debut picture book Blown Away was awarded the Watershones Children’s Book Prize for 2015. He wrote and illustrated the tale of Penguin Blue and his friends’ unplanned trip to the jungle. Sally Green’s Half Bad was named the best book for teens, and Robin Stevens’ Murder Most Unladylike was named best young fiction book. For more, see: www.theguardian.com/books/childrens-books-site/2015/mar/26/waterstones-childrens-book-prize-2015-rob-biddulph-sally-green-robin-stevens?utm_source=Publishers+Weekly&utm_campaign=58f1f370f7-UA-15906914-1&utm_medium=email&utm_term=0_0bb2959cbb-58f1f370f7-304449365 .
What’s New in Young Adult Literature 2015 Update
Presenter: Michael Cart 
Format: Free Webinar
Date: Tuesday, April 21, 2015
Start Time: 12 Noon Pacific
At the end of this one-hour webinar, participants will be familiar with:
• Trends in YA literature and publishing
• New YA fiction that comprises “first purchases”
• Nonfiction for both recreational and classroom use
• Graphic novels and comics
• Adult books for young adults and New Adults
This webinar will be of interest to both public and school library staff with young adult collection development responsibility. For more information, free registration, and to participate in the April 21st webinar, go to https://infopeople.org/civicrm/event/info?id=480 .
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