Hi WinkWorld Readers,
It is that time of year again when more than 100,000 of my very best friends and I gather at the University of Arizona to celebrate literacy: kids, families, books, music, science projects, writers, artists, scholars on the grass mall and in many buildings. It is very much a highlight of my year.
Posted below are a few highlights from this year, and also a few links of previous years at the very bottom. We begin with a little prairie reader, as I couldn’t resist.
Highlights for me from 2024
Kate DiCamillo – she opened the world of fantasy books to me about 10 years ago. Until then, I just did not “get it,” although I always pretended like I did for my grands.
Abraham Vergese – The Covenant of Water and Cutting for Stone – I have not read the former, and it is time to re-read the latter.
LeUyen Pham, author and illustrator, and new for me. I was so impressed that I bought and will read her graphic novels, which have never interested me. We had a dinner with her at our table of 10 friends. She sketched an image of each of us. At her storytime the next day, she even drew the face of EACH child there. Here is the image she drew of me in about a minute.
Here LeUyen is telling a story to the children and then drawing each of their faces as her gift.
Sarah Cooper– I am still laughing. Because of her, I also learned of two other new young artists: Patti Lin and Aparna Nancheria. We will hear more about these three, for sure! This year I focused on new young writers and artists: It was thrilling.
Of course, I always love the novels by William Kent Krueger (his latest is The River We Remember) and Luís Alberto Urrea (his latest is Good Night, Irene). Both of these novels are on my bedside table now.
 |
 |
Orbus Pictus (in Latin, the visible world, thank you, Mrs. Johnson of MHS, circa 1960) Award Books for 2024
Caryl Crowell and colleagues shared several of the winners and recommended. I have already ordered some of these amazing books, but their website went down today. If you are interested, I am sure that the website will be back up soon.
Previous posts on Tucson Festival of Books
We conclude with a photo of one of my many new books, because I just couldn’t resist.
Thank you, Annie Hlavka and Susan Henley Spreitzer!
at 12:14 pm
Joan,
Tucson never fails to deliver! Sunshine, blue skies, and books! Thank you for sharing.❤️
at 8:08 pm
Sharon, you would love the festival of books. Maybe one day you’ll come down for it. Thank you Miss you love you.
at 7:19 pm
Thanks for your wonderful recap of the Tucson Book Festival! It sounds fabulous!! I love Kate and I am currently reading The Covenant of Water. It is a massive book, but you are welcome to borrow it. I would love to go to this event next year! If that’s okay with you. Love, Janet
at 8:06 pm
I think I Learned about Kate when our office is right next-door to each other. Thanks that’s not the only thing I learned from you! Hope you’re well and happy. I am going to send you a text with a private question. Love you.