ALA Midwinter Book Haul

Last week, I had the pleasure of attending the ALA Midwinter Conference in Philadelphia. This was my last required conference as chair of the 2020 Notable Children’s Recordings Committee. I spent most of the conference in long meetings, but during my few hours of free time I wandered the exhibit floor.

I love books–they are what started me down the library path, even if my love of helping people kept me there. I wander the exhibit floor with committee members who talk about how they are over the free books, and my brain isn’t able to process that (even if my back understands preferring a lighter suitcase). The books ultimately go to our patrons, but I want to read them too (and first darn it because my back is the one that lugged them home). I am also the person who has approximately 150 holds at any given moment–because I am genuinely excited to read the books and to be able to regularly recommend new, exciting, awesome books to my patrons. I read about 600 books a year–and maybe a fifth of those come from conferences.

I am thrilled to share the load I brought back with all of you! All titles are linked below the pictures, roughly sorted by age.

Picture Books

I tend to not pick up that many picture books as the ARCs are typically quite flimsy, making it hard to give them to patrons. Everything I picked up this round were already released titles (plus the Golden Girls book).

Does It Fart? by Nick Caruso and Dani Rabaiotti
Hands Up! by Breanna J. McDaniel
Saturday by Oge Mora
Thank You for Being a Friend by Andrew Gold

Non-Fiction

There typically aren’t too many non-fiction titles at conferences, but I was surprised that I only picked up two.

How to Be a Person by Catherine Newman
The Screaming Hairy Armadillo and 76 Other Animals with Wild, Wacky Names by Matthew Murrie and Steve Murrie

Beginning Readers & First Chapter

These lean much more “first chapter” age than “beginning reader” age. I’m particularly excited for Pizza and Taco and Fox & Rabbit.

Agent Moose by Mo O’Hara
Fox & Rabbit by Beth Ferry
Freddie Ramos Adds It All Up by Jacqueline Jules
Mermaid School by Lucy Courtenay
Pizza and Taco: Who’s the Best? by Stephen Shaskan
The Secret Explorers and the Comet Collision by DK
There’s a Dragon in My Toilet by Tom Nicoll

Kids Graphic Novels

My favorite finds! I was hoping for an ARC of When Stars Are Scattered, but I am also quite excited for Doodleville (by the same author as Cardboard Kingdom) and Primer.

Anti/Hero by Kate Karyus Quinn
Bug Boys by Laura Knetzger
Cub by Cynthia L. Copeland
Doodleville by Chad Sell
Hex Vet: The Flying Surgery by Sam Davies
I Hate Reading: How to Read When You’d Rather Not by Beth Bacon
The Legend of the Fire Princess by Gigi D.G.
My Video Game Ate My Homework by Dustin Hansen
Nat Enough by Maria Scrivan
Primer by Thomas Krajewski
The Way Home by Andy Runton
When Stars are Scattered by Victoria Jamieson

Kids Chapter Books – Upcoming Releases

Lots of middle grade at this conference! Especially pumped for the Twinchantment sequel, Something to Say, and Fly on the Wall.

Bella’s Story: A Dog’s Way Home Tale by W. Bruce Cameron
Bloom by Kenneth Oppel
Camp Clique by Eileen Moskowitz Palma
The Colossus of Roads by Christina Uss
Con Quest! by Sam Maggs
Eva Evergreen, Semi-Magical Witch by Julie Abe
Fly on the Wall by Remy Lai
Isaiah Dunn Is My Hero by Kelly J. Baptist
The List of Things That Will Not Change by Rebecca Stead
The Mouse Watch by J.J. Gilbert
Mulan: Before the Sword by Grace Lin
The Newspaper Club by Beth Vrabel
Not Your All-American Girl by Wendy Wan-Long Shang
Paola Santiago and the River of Tears by Tehlor Kay Mejia
The Queen Bee and Me by Gillian McDunn
Rick by Alex Gino
Something to Say by Lisa Moore Ramee
UnTwisted by Elise Allen

Kids Chapter Books – Already Released

I love the last conference day, when the publishers pack up the exhibit floor, and attendees get a chance to get their hands on some fantastic brand new hardbacks of amazing upcoming and recent releases. I scored my personal copy of New Kid that way at Midwinter 2019.