To the Editor:

Getting so many of the rock stars of the children’s book world together in one place couldn’t have been easy—but the stars were certainly in alignment for Newtown last weekend. It was truly a thrill for me and dozens of other adults and children to attend “Turning the Page: New Stories for Newtown” at the Middle School and meet these very talented (and very friendly) authors and illustrators in person. I came away with a new appreciation for their dedication and imagination, and new insights into the creation of books that will delight young readers year after year after year.

To all the kind and generous authors who took time from their busy schedules to participate, please know how much joy and inspiration you brought to everyone in the audience. To Alana Bennison and Janice Bernard of the C.H. Booth Library, heartfelt thanks for all the hours you spent organizing and coordinating this incredible event, with cosponsorship by the Children’s Book Council and a Barnard Foundation Grant. Finally, a special thank you to the publishers (Abrams, HarperCollins, Holiday House, Little Brown, MacMillan, Penguin, Random House, Scholastic, and Simon & Shuster) that generously donated books for attendees to have autographed as treasured souvenirs.

Gratefully,

Marian Wood

Great Ring Road, Sandy Hook                    May 20, 2013