WWU Children's Lit Conference Heads Online

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by Adam Shaffer

Hello, WLA ScLD Blog readers! Adam Shaffer here, happy to be a guest contributor on the new blog.

It’s the end of February, and maybe you feel like something is missing from your life (aside from everyday social connection).  I know I do.  For me, the end of February is the most glorious time for children’s literature lovers in the Pacific Northwest: The Western Washington University Children’s Literature Conference (and nErDcamp Bellingham, but that’s a topic for a future post).

For each of the last seventeen years, WWUCLC hosted an all-star lineup of acclaimed authors and illustrators.  And each of the last seventeen years, WWUCLC also welcomed 600+ teachers, librarians, and other kidlit advocates and devotees—a hot ticket indeed. Despite the size of the crowd, the event always feels intimate, as we connect with each other over the power of storytelling for young people.  WWUCLC 2020 was the last hurrah for many of us, before COVID changed nearly everything about our lives.

What to do for 2021?  It had to be different.  There was no way we could have over 600 people together in a room for a whole day.  Immediately after last year’s conference, the WWUCLC Advisory Board (of which I’m honored to be a part) convened to determine what 2021 might look like.  We considered a virtual conference with everyone together on Zoom.  But the energy of 600 people on the edge of their seats doesn’t translate over the Internet.  Eventually we decided, if it’s got to be different, why not make it completely different?  Over several months, we brainstormed, planned, developed, and launched what we hope will be a worthy alternative to our traditional conference.

WWUCLC this year comes in two parts:

First, a Virtual Exhibit, Art as Protest/Art in the Time of COVID, is free to access for the entire month of February.  

Former (and future) conference speakers were invited to contribute to the exhibit.  Over 20 responded.  Take a look at the gallery and see work from David Wiesner, Pat Mora, E.B. Lewis, Laura Vaccaro Seeger, Katherine Applegate, Benjamin Alire Sáenz, Jennifer Holm, Joyce Sidman, Melissa Sweet, Nina Laden, John Rocco, Chris Raschka, Janet Wong, Kirby Larson, Matt Phelan, Marla Frazee, Candace Fleming and Eric Rohmann, Steve Sheinkin, Emily Arnold McCully, and Lois Lowry.  Works vary widely—images, text, poetry, videos, even a make-your-own-book.

Second, A culminating Day of Conversations on Saturday, February 27, will provide an opportunity for inspired dialogue about the exhibit.  There are two sessions:  Morning Conversations from 10 a.m. to 11 a.m., and Afternoon Conversations from 1 p.m. to 2 p.m.  Attendees may register for one or both sessions.  During each session, there are several breakout rooms to discuss themes from the virtual exhibit.  

Registration for the Day of Conversation is available through the conference website.  The cost to attend is free but registration is required.  To find out more information about the conference, please visit wwuclc.com (including commenting on pieces, contributing your own Protest- or COVID-inspired work, and more).

On behalf of the WWUCLC Advisory Board, and in solidarity with kidlit advocates everywhere, I encourage you to check out the gallery, join us for the Day of Conversations, connect, reflect, and grow!

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Adam Shaffer is a Teacher Librarian in Bellingham

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