Thursday, May 29, 2008

Why I LOVE the Kidlitosphere

No, it isn't my blogiversary. I noticed that post 600 came and went a week or so ago, but that doesn't feel like much of a milestone. Life has been good to me lately, and in small part this is due to my participation in this lovely community. Here are some of the reasons why I love this little corner of the web.
It is a great place for sharing a love of books (and even the kids who read them!) with like-minded folks.

Smart, talented, BUSY authors take precious time from their days to e-mail thank you notes and kinds words for reviewing their books.

Folks who read my stuff and find it informative or interesting highlight my posts on their blogs. (Thanks to you generous people who do this.)

Thoughtful readers who know my blog send me links to articles they know will interest me. Likewise, I can write to others and say "I saw this and was thinking of you."

In a show of support for one our own, we banded together in support of Robert's Snow. The 2007 auction raised more than $63,000 to benefit sarcoma research.

Out of the blue I sometimes receive packages in the mail, like the signed copy of Mia Posada's Cybils nominated book that showed up this week. Thanks, Adrienne!

Generous bloggers hold contests and when you win, they send you things! Elaine, Jama, and MR have sent me books and pictures. How cool is that?

Authors invite you to join blog tours of their books. William and I just finished reading the ARC for this one and can't wait to talk about it!

A group of accomplished poets took a chance on me and included me in an amazing project to write a crown sonnet.

Last year this virtual community got together in Chicago for the 1st Annual Kidlit Conference. They're doing it again this year in Portland!

J. Patrick Lewis sent me an original poem to debut for Poetry Friday. HURRAY!
Yup, you read that last one correctly. Tomorrow I have the honor and pleasure of unveiling an original poem by one of my favorite poets. I could go on, but these are just some of the reasons I love this place. How about you? Why do you love the kidlitosphere?

5 comments:

  1. These are great reasons, Tricia!!

    I can't wait to read Pat's poem tomorrow. (I have one for the next Edge of the Forest too :) )

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  2. Happy 600th!!! I don't get to say that much. :)

    I love it when you ask for help (like when my daughter needed book suggestions for her camp) and people---like YOU---are right there, giving feedback that just can't be matched, both in substance and in joyful generosity.

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  3. Tricia,

    You are one of the reasons why I love the kidlitosphere. I'm just sorry you won't be able to make it to the 2008 Kidlit Bloggers Conference in Portland. I was hoping I'd have an opportunity to finally meet you face to face. Maybe next year???

    P.S. I'm looking forward to reading Pat's poem tomorrow.

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  4. Happy 600th, Tricia! I second all your reasons, and feel the same as Elaine -- where would the kidlit community be without Miss Rumphius?

    Another reason is how much I learn from everyone else. I just wish I could read more blogs and absorb it all!

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  5. I'm late here, but you're welcome! :)

    I agree with all your points. The Kidlitosphere is such a knowledgeable, welcoming, and helpful community. If you need to know something, they're there. If you're new, they welcome you. If someone knows you like a particular author or genre, they'll email if they see something they think you'd like.

    I've had the great good fortune of meeting many Kidlitosphere people IRL, too, and I find that everyone is just exactly as friendly and smart and cool in person as they are online. I'm not sure that's true of all online communities....

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