Julie Hedlund – Top 10 Picture Book Summit Moments
Today it’s my turn to share my Top 10 favorite moments from 10 years of Picture Book Summit! Although as Katie said, it’s impossible to choose ONLY 10, so here is a small sampling of some of the magical experiences I’ve enjoyed as one of the founders of this incredible conference.I found myself quite emotional after writing this post. I’m so proud to be part of the Picture Book Summit team, and I can honestly say I’m looking forward to the next 10 years!
1. First Day Jitters
Somehow, I drew the straw of interviewing our first speaker (author/illustrator Peter Brown) of the first Summit. I was SO nervous, and the night before I barely slept because I had stress dreams all night (the usual—showing up late, forgetting to wear clothes, not being able to log in…). But the interview was, of course, amazing! Afterward, I just knew the rest of the day was going to be incredible – that we had really created something special.
2. David Shannon’s Big Oops!
I love myself a great pun. I also love stories where authors and illustrators we love share their goofs and gaffes with us. Like David Shannon telling us how important it is for illustrators to revise for consistency in their illustrations. In the first edition of Duck On a Bike, all of the illustrations featured a bell on the bike except the last one, which was missing the bell. He got called on it by a kid and decided to make bell stickers. From then on, when any kid wrote in to point out the lack of a bell on the last bike, he sent a sticker saying they received the “No-Bell Prize.” Get it? Get it? (laugh emoji)
When we first started Picture Book Summit, I had no thought of doing it for a decade. I had no idea how many we would end up helping, both our attendees, as well as the charities we would give a portion of the proceeds. Now, as I look back and think of my top 10 memories of the last 10 years of dozens of brilliant presentations, I’m overwhelmed with options. So I’m lying here. These aren’t my top 10. They are among dozens of stellar memories of Superstar Speakers. But I had to choose 10, so here are the first 10 that popped into mind, in no particular order.
