Drumming up business for the Horn Book, I barely got to venture beyond the exhibit hall, but the lines and enthusiasm there showed me that this year’s ALA convention in Chicago was a lively one. From what I heard, the big highlight for children’s librarians was the ALSC preconference “A Wild Ride: 75 Years of the Caldecott Medal” and Martha Parravano has a full report. You can find more of the Horn Book’s ALA coverage and photos at the ALA 2013 tag, and, per usual, we publish speeches by and profiles of the Caldecott, Newbery, Coretta Scott King and Wilder medalists in our July/August issue. (Although they are no substitute for being there. I liked Katherine Paterson’s Wilder speech when we prepared it for publication, but little did I know the emotional impact it would have when delivered live. Tears and cheers.)

Of course, it is summertime, and thus the season for some guilty-pleasure reading. Elissa Gershowitz takes a look at some good bad books for teens; as far as the grownup side goes, my tips thus far are to avoid the new Dan Brown (unless your idea of fun is screenplay-meets-Wikipedia) but to give Revenge Wears Prada a look. That’s all.



Roger Sutton
Editor in Chief