I just swam back from the American Library Association Annual Conference and boy are my arms and legs tired! (Just kidding – we drove to Michigan City and took the train into town.) The trip began with my usual show-offy Instagram post about how unprepared I like to be at these conferences. Here’s a quick history of what I bring to the conference . . . 2016: 2015: 2014: You get the picture YOU GET THE PICTURE So what’s different this time out? Have I decided to end this ridiculous practice of sharing needlessly dramatic heavily filtered and vignette-d backpack pics? No, no, no What’s different this time is that the family came with me. We got into town before the conference and hit all the must-see Chicago sites: Shedd Aquarium, The Field Museum, Crown Fountain, “The Bean“, The Disturbing Lincoln Statue – you know, all the good stuff. But eventually I had to get down to business. And first on the agenda was something that I never thought I would have the chance to do: Yep. (Thanks to Candlewick Press for the photos) I interviewed the great Katherine Paterson. She was open, honest, and funny – it was a good time. We recorded the chat for a future episode of The Yarn podcast. And things were just getting started. Check back tomorrow for Part 2.