It was an absolute thrill, honor, and inspiration to accept the 2024 Mentor Honor on behalf of the Horn Book at the Carle Honors Benefit Gala at the New-York Historical Society in NYC on September 25. This special evening was hosted by the very charming, supremely talented, and velvety voiced Leslie Odom Jr. The superlative Dr. Claudette McLinn, pinnacle of a mentor herself and a fabulous Horn Book contributor, delivered introductory remarks about the Horn Book (and reminded me to breathe while waiting to take the stage. ;)

Our co-Honorees included We Need Diverse Books, in the Angel category, represented by the wonderful Ellen Oh. She was introduced by Grace Lin, who led the crowd in a draw-along activity, using Oh's name ("first make an O at the top of your paper") and WNDB's seismic accomplishments as guides to create a firefly (while using our Very Hungry Caterpillar pencils kindly supplied by the Carle!). Julie Gribble, founder of KidLit TV, accepted in the Bridge category, and her warm and heartfelt speech made at least one person (i.e., me) a little weepy. 

Marlo Thomas, recognized for the fiftieth anniversary of Free to Be...You and Me, and Uri Shulevitz, this year's Artist winner, were not able to attend; but both were beautifully represented by speakers voicing their appreciation and with, respectively, a fab Free to Be video and a violinist playing classical and klezmer tunes. 

Again, special thanks to Leonard Marcus, founder of the Carle Honors and a longtime Horn Book contributor; Cathie Mercier, Graduate Program Director of Children's Literature at Simmons University, where I received my MA nearly twenty-five years ago; everyone at the Eric Carle Museum of Picture Book Art, especially the incredibly organized Rebecca Goggins who acted as communication liaison, fashion consultant, and nerve soother. Thanks to the Horn Book's publisher Rebecca Miller and to our SLJ sister Shelley Diaz for attending — it was a treat to celebrate with coworkers...in person! 

Visit the Carle's site for photos and additional coverage; more press coverage is below:

Publishers Weekly

Kirkus Reviews

Splash Magazine

Times Square Chronicles

Writing for Kids (While Raising Them)

And here are some photos from the event (most are by Johnny Wolf Photography):