I was thrilled to be invited to speak as part of the Charlemae Rollins President's Program at ALA in July. But this bit (part one) is just about the few days I spent in San Francisco first to get over the jet lag in the hope that I would be some bit coherent by the time it came to speak. (So this is the 'unprofessional' part of my blog.)

It was my first time in San Francisco and a real treat. What a wonderful city. I just walked and ate for a few days, taking in all the sights and flavours of the city.

Walking up Hyde Street (so we could go down the famous Lombard Street) we saw that the street was cordoned off for walkers - by the cutest police cars on the face of the planet! Now, I'm a sucker for weird small vehicles and photograph them every where I go. Up until now, the best are to be found in Spain and Portugal, with a few in France and Italy, but I think these trump everything

Can you see that the registration is Go-4 !!! The back was even better - undeterred by it's tiny size, it claims to be an INTERCEPTOR!

Walking by Grace Cathedral I went in and was treated to the highlight of my visit - Graced with Light is an installation by the cathedral's artist in residence, Anne Patterson. With the Grace Cathedral community, she assembled nearly 20 miles of ribbons, each with prayers written on them, then hung them from the vaulted ceiling arches.

When I walked in first I didn't notice them, I just thought that the stained glass windows were casting particularly bright shadows. Then I realised that there were hundreds if not thousands of ribbons strung from high in the arches reaching to only a few feet from the ground.

There is much beautiful art around and much that is clever, but it is rare to find something that is at once simple and clever, and such a beautiful response to its setting. I was awestruck.

Then it was off on a road trip to Big Sur. The views along the coast road were amazing as were the miles and miles of intensively-farmed fields - many with harvesting underway by rows and rows of workers.

Big Sur itself was wonderful and it was nice to get out of the sun into the woods...

Then it was back to San Francisco for one more day before heading to Vegas.

Our last hotel was gorgeous (I think we got some kind of an upgrade). It's actually not the one in the picture above - that was the foyer of another one which I just had to photograph.

I was glad to see (for the first time) requests to reuse towels and conserve energy. However, when we decided to swim in the infinity pool I was taken aback by the amount of towels everywhere - many you could only use once to go from shower to pool etc. It struck me that we have managed somehow to uncouple luxury and excess (in terms of amounts) when it comes to food (plates heaped high are now rather looked down on. But in other areas we really need to catch up. I am personally a bit grossed out by piles of fluffy towels that you only barely use then toss in a basket and for me it ruined the pleasure of the pool (which looked out over the city). But perhaps I'm not the sort of client they have in mind...

Next morning we checked out and it was off to visit Kendra Marcus of BookStop Literary Agency for a catchup. After a wonderful lunch with Kendra and Minju (of Kale and peanut salad - which I just tried this weekend and will henceforth be known as 'Kendra's Salad') we went for fabulous ice-creams in Berkley. I just had to photograph for Margaret Bateson-Hill who numbers paper-cutting among her many talents since she featured them in her picture book Lao Lao of Dragon Mountain. (Unfortunately I was so intrigued by the papercuts, I forgot to include Kendra in the photo!)

Then sadly, it was time to leave San Francisco and head for the next part of the adventure...

When I decided to go to ALA this year, Charlesbridge, the US publishers of Lulu contacted Chicago Public Library who invited me to visit a number of libraries around the city.

I kicked off with help from Karen Mariani-Mondala at Sulzer Library's Children's Department. We had a lovely session and two children even stood up to teach me a new song!

Then it was on to the Lurie Children's Hospital. I was met by the wonderful Mariana Glusman MD and Elise Groenewegen of the American Academy of Pediatrics. Both are so committed to child literacy and gift books to the community as part of the Read-Out-and-Read program.
I met any patients who had appointments that afternoon and we spent some time looking at how a book is made...

from the first ideas,

through roughs, and storyboards to the finished book.

The kids were really fabulous - even those "too old for picturebooks" got caught up in conversations about covers and design and where ideas come from. I was so touched that Abigail brought in a story she'd written and read it to me. It was fantastic - if a little scary!

Moms got involved in the conversation, some more kids joined in, I signed some books and we had just a wonderful afternoon.

A little later, I met some of the babies.

There was time for one last photo before I had to drag myself away!

On Wednesday I headed South to Woodson Regional Library.
I was made welcome from the moment I entered the building - what a fantastic place.
Annette Stewart showed me around the children's section and we were joined by two groups from
Roseland Day Care Center. We looked at how Lola came to be then had some stories and songs. The children lifted the roof with If You're Happy and You Know It!

I was so touched when Miss Quen asked the kids to give a round of applause and instead they all got up and gave me a group hug. I LOVE my job!
Then it was one last photo with the team and I had to drag myself away once again.

Quentella Davis, Annette Stewart, Anna McQuinn and Bing Liu.

On Thursday morning it was off to meet Starr LaTronica, Vice President/President-elect at Association for Library Service for Children, Youth Services/Outreach Manager at Four County Library System and totally good egg. We agreed on the importance of being earnest - about books and literacy and inclusion and access for all. So much to discuss, so little time - isn't it always the same when you make a new best friend!

Then I had the rest of the day off - what to do? The Architectural Boat tour, as recommended by my cousin Beth, was great then we spent the afternoon mooching around, taking in the sights including Anish Kapoor's Bean

and a great wild-flower garden near the Art Institute.

Did I mention that the next Lulu book is all about gardening? Sneak preview here:

Friday it was back to work with a trip to the Harold Washington Library in the center of Chicago.

While I'd noticed these crazy lions (sorry my Boston colleagues) as I mooched around on Thursday afternoon, as an out of towner, I didn't quite grasp the significance...

... that was until my taxi came to a section of street which was entirely blocked off. Since I figured we were only a few blocks from the library, I decided to get out and walk the rest of the way - only to discover that the street was blocked off for the Blackhawks' victory parade and there was no way across! You have to understand - I'm on the left of this madness and the library is across the street and a few blocks along!

So everyone is in high spirits and cheering and waving and I'm trying to push through with a backpack, a suitcase full of soft toys (for Old MacDonald and Five Little Ducks obviously) as well as a guitar! Abandon that idea!

Onto the subway in a panic and thankfully passengers were helpful and pointed me in the right direction. When I emerged, the first person I asked for help turned out to be a member of ALSC on his way to ALA and he walked me to the door. Thanks Dan Rude!

Kelly Hefermann was so kind and helped me to gather myself for a lovely session with great kids from the Children's Depot Playstation, Dolton, alongside some Thomas Hughes Children's Library regulars.

We started with a little story - Lola at the Library of course...

But when we got to the part where Lola sings - well, we just had to have a go ourselves!

I got some more hugs (this time from the lovely staff) and a high five and "good job" from one of the little ones for my storytelling  - I think she saw that I was having a tough morning and needed some encouragement!

Back on the street and it proved just as difficult to get back up town. More panic - I had a meeting scheduled at the McCormick Place Convention Center at 2.00 and had to check into my hotel, change, dump all my stuff and get out there! Eventually I spotted a rickshaw driver  taking fans for little rides and asked if he would take me. He agreed and on I hopped - I quite enjoyed the ride and even more so the astonished faces of the doormen at the hotel when we drew up! (As Donna Spurlock pointed out, since I arrived with a suitcase and then went to check in, they may not have realized I just came from a few blocks down town). So sorry I was too frazzled to take a photo - but found him on the internet - so you just have to imagine me, my suitcase and guitar tootling along! The receptionist at the hotel was not impressed!

But it all meant I made it to my meeting with Brigid Hubberman, Director of the Family Reading Partnership in Ithica which I wouldn't have missed for the world. How great is it to spend time with people with not just a passion for children's literature and literacy, but boundless enthusiasm for DOING things to make sure every child is read to every day. Another new best friend! Now if we ruled the world...

Saturday and I took a whole day off! Went off to tour Frank Lloyd Wright's homes in Oak Park.
Went to the Unity Temple first - so beautiful and still and serene...

OK, that was it on the serenity front. Saturday evening we were off for the noisiest and tastiest dinner I've ever eaten (no - the food wasn't noisy, the cheerleaders at the next table were. I was going to go into battle when they started singing, but Donna, Meg and Julie, despite being part of the fantastic team at Charlesbridge saw singing Twinkle Twinkle with me as just one step too far!)

Next day was off to the McCormick Place Convention Center. Met Samantha Vamos who was signing copies of her new book, Alphabet Trucks and another new friend, Judy Goldman who was there to sign her new book Whiskers, Tails and Wings and speak at Charlesbridge's Book Buzz session about books from Mexico. I had a chance to look around at the exhibits then back to the Charlesbridge Booth to do some signing and hang out with the dream team...

along with lots of other nice Lola fans who happened along - including someone with the best nail do of the convention!

I also 'met' the amazing team from the I'm Your Neighbor project in Maine - except we had convention brain by that point and didn't make the connection! I signed a copy of Lola for Anne Sibley O Brien and smiled at Kirsten Cappy and Lanie Honda! They were at ALA to tell people about their project - they selected My Friend Jamal as one of the nine books for their project and I'm so proud! It was on display right round the corner and I somehow missed it! We were all so focused on that little attention-seeker, Lola!

It was hard to leave and head for the airport - though I did miss everyone from the Stripey Club at Acton library and was glad to see them all again on Tuesday.