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Tuesday, July 2, 2013

The One Where Jon Klassen Rocks #slice2013


Every Tuesday, Ruth and Stacey, host Slice of Life at their blog, Two Writing Teachers. If you want to participate, you can link up at their Slice of Life Story Post on Tuesdays or you can just head on over there to check out other people's stories. For more information on what a Slice of Life post is about, you can go here

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Over the weekend, I got to attend the American Library Association Annual Conference in Chicago and celebrate the winners of the Caldecott, Newbery, and Wilder awards. You do know who won the Caldecott this year, right? And who not only one the Caldecott but also won a Caldecott Honor? Just in case, I'll tell you! The remarkably brilliant Jon Klassen. 

I'm a pretty huge Jon Klassen fan and when I saw him on Sunday, I told him how amazing to think of all that has happened in the last two years. Here's my experience with Jon and his books told in a little Teach Mentor Texts timeline. 

June 3rd, 2010
I reviewed Cat's Night Out by Caroline Stutson and illustrated by Jon Klassen.

August 19, 2011
I visited Candlewick Press when I went to visit my friend, Alison, in Boston.

Regan Castle who works for Candlewick just happened to be there on a Friday afternoon and she so graciously showed me around the office. It was surreal to see into the world of publishing at Candlewick. I admire the work that they do and their passion for great books. Regan told me that I needed to look for I Want My Hat Back which was going to be published in the fall. 

September 27, 2011
I Want My Hat Back was published!

I read I Want My Hat Back with Peanut as soon as it was published, he was four at the time and I hadn't read it before we read it together...and I didn't anticipate the ending!  It took me a while to process...and lots of Twitter discussions which led me to my first post about I Want My Hat Back.

October 28, 2011
I finally gathered my thoughts enough to put together my post about my love/hate relationship with I Want My Hat Back

November 22, 2011
At the NCTE Annual Convention, I was so excited to visit the Candlewick Booth and talk about I Want My Hat Back and our fun #teamrabbit and #teambear debate. I was glad I got to be there with Colby and my point, red hat! I also saw a preview of House Held Up By Trees which Jon illustrated and couldn't wait to read and review it when it was published. 

January 17, 2012
Extra Yarn was published!

February 23, 2012
I reviewed Extra Yarn, written by Mac Barnett with illustrations by Jon. I absolutely love Extra Yarn and wished I could just curl up inside it's pages. 

March 27, 2012
House Held Up By Trees was published!

April 1, 2012
Colby and I reread I Want My Hat Back for our I-94 Book Club month of rereading. 

April 30, 2012
I attended the International Reading Association 2012 Convention in Chicago and could not wait to get to the Candlewick booth at the exhibit hall so I could read their copy of This Is Not My Hat. I was the weirdo caressing the cover before even opening it because I knew it contained complete magic inside. I had goosebumps just reading it because it's so good. The spread where all we see is the sea plants is my all-time favorite two-page layout in all children's literature. I don't think there is anything that rivals the suspense I felt at the moment in the book. I know I had tears in my eyes and I couldn't bring myself to turn the page for a long time. So much is happening in that moment and my mind was just thinking of all the possibilities of what would come next. 


May 18, 2012
I reviewed House Held Up By Trees, it is beautifully illustrated and an amazing book. The text is be Ted Kooser and equally as astounding.

October 9, 2012
This Is Not My Hat is published!

October 13, 2012
I reviewed This Is Not My Hat and shared its extreme awesomeness.

October 19, 2012
Jon visited Anderson's Bookshop for an author signing and I got to sit down with him beforehand and talk all about his work. It was completely fascinating to hear him talk about his work and is an experience I will never forget. 

November 25, 2012
At the NCTE Annual Convention last year, we celebrated This is Not My Hat and I put together a video of some of my favorite Jon Klassen fans.

January 28, 2013 

The ALA Youth Media Awards were announced and This Is Not My Hat won the Caldecott Medal which honors the illustrator of the year's most distinguished American picture book for children and Extra Yarn was awarded a Caldecott Honor award. Hooray! *throws confetti* Jon is totally deserving of both of these awards. 

Over the weekend, it was nice to see Jon and hear his acceptance speech for receiving the Caldecott. It was an excellent, heartfelt speech and another moment I will never forget. Today though, I'm thinking about what else is still to come from Jon Klassen. He did a wonderful job with the illustrations for The Dark by Lemony Snicket which Kellee and I reviewed recently. It's such an exciting time in children's literature and I know Jon is going to bring us more outstanding books to share with young readers. I can't wait! I'm happy to my own kids get to experience such fantastic books. Congratulations again to Jon!

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