Read all about it!

The States, that is.

If you didn't make it to the fun and fabulous NATIONAL BOOK FESTIVAL, sponsored by the Library of Congress this summer, here's a link to the books featured in the Parade of States. 

Since I happened to be nearby, of course I popped into the Convention Center to check out the Festival. 
(When GLORY BE was new, Mississippi chose my book. That was the last year I attended, and I got to sign books and it was pretty amazing.)

Each state picks a representative book to flaunt!
Now that the Festival has moved inside to the convention center, there are lots more authors and tons of kids having a ball getting their "parade" cards stamped, finding books they may have missed, enjoying the book buzz.

If you're a teacher who's tried to find a book from each state, you know it's not that easy. 
I blogged about this once before, HERE. 
And I included this list to all sorts of books, new and old, with the state(s) the books are set in. 
Here the link:  http://www.50books.us/

At the festival, I loved seeing Kerry Madden-Lunsford's book front and center on the Alabama table.  Set in the Great Smokey Mountains, this picture book begs to be read aloud. There's even a cornbread recipe in the back! No sugar added, I'm happy to say. At heart, Kerry, who now lives and teaches in Alabama, is a true southerner.

Seeing Red by Kathryn Erskine

On Sunday I attended my first ever National Book Festival, sponsored by the Library of Congress.
Beautiful day, lots of great authors, wandering hither and yon with little book lovers- what could be better?

Well, I got to meet Kathryn Erskine. And hear her speak about her new book. That was pretty cool.

I love what she said about writing the book, about her long journey to get this one just right. (I've read it and it's more than right. It's a terrific story, beautifully told.)

I love the double-entendred title. (Is that a verb? Is that even a word?) And that she endured so many title choices-- Facing Freedom, Deer Season, Freeman’s Phoenix, Cornerstone, Finding Truth, Finding Hope-- before deciding on the absolute perfect title: 

SEEING RED.

Here's her own blog, and the story of the book's publication journey:
https://kathyerskine.wordpress.com/2013/04/27/seeing-red-seeing-stars/

There's more! I just discovered this terrific interview.
If you hurry on over, there's a giveaway of the book. 
Quick! Ends tomorrow!

http://debtasticreads.wordpress.com/2013/09/24/welcome-to-the-spotlight-kathryn-erskine-and-seeing-red/