We Love California Authors and Illustrators Luncheon, 2014

Last Saturday I was at the annual We Love California Authors and Illustrators Luncheon celebrating 18 years since California Readers was founded.  Held at the Castaway Restaurant with a beautiful view of the surrounding hills (with hawks soaring on the updrafts of the warm sunny day), it was an enjoyable afternoon with authors, illustrators, teachers, librarians, students and their parents, book sellers and book lovers, all enjoying lunch together and listening to a terrific keynote address by author Janet Tashjian. I sat at a table with four enthusiastic fourth graders and their parents from Vintage School, winners of last year's Ed Pert award.

In between courses, Martin Burton, our expert master of ceremonies, drew raffle tickets to find the lucky winners of the 21 baskets of books and goodies assembled by the luncheon committee. Also, Ann Stalcup accepted on behalf of Leo Politi Elementary School the display of Leo Politi books which will now be permanently kept at the school. The Ed Pert and Literacy Award presentations were made and President Karla Forbes handed over the reins to incoming President Heather Biggs.  As always, it was a fun and rewarding event celebrating the connection between authors, illustrators and schools.