A learning and sharing community for
DC-area children’s literature professionals since 1945
Katherine Paterson
in conversation with Karen MacPherson
June 12, 2025
Submitted by Barbara Gowan
A Guild member since 1973, Katherine Paterson entertained and inspired over
fifty attendees at the June 12 luncheon at Busboys and Poets. She read from her
newest title and first biography, Jella Lepman and her Library of Dreams: The Woman
Who Rescued a Generation of Children and Founded the World’s Largest Children’s
Library (IBBY). Katherine sees children’s books as a bridge to peace and libraries as a
safe haven for children in war torn countries. A reader from an early age, Katherine was
horrified at the thought of being a mediocre writer and “spilling your guts out.” She was
not a mediocre writer. Her 40+ books have earned numerous accolades including two
Newbery medals, two National Book awards and the Hans Christian Andersen award.
She reminded us to never underestimate your reader and to write from inside yourself.
Her best advice is to “have thin skin to feel all you need to write and the hide of a
rhinoceros to publish.” Her final words were “books are wonderful things.” Everyone
agreed with this 92-1/2 year old living legend.
Guild Welcomes
Kwame Alexander And Dare Coulter for Signature Event
Author Kwame Alexander and illustrator Dare Coulter highlighted the Children’s Book Guild’s Signature Event on May 31—an event that also celebrated the Guild’s 80th anniversary. The Guild also remembered the late Roy Beitler, a member for many years, who honored the guild with a generous bequest.
In remarks to a crowd of several dozen people at The Writer’s Center in Bethesda, Coulter, who grew up in the D.C. area, said, “My favorite thing about art is how it reaches people.” Her slide presentation included not only her art for children’s books but also her public art, such as a mural in North Carolina on a site near where Black people were sold into slavery.
Coulter illustrated Alexander’s 2023 picture book An American Story, which won the 2024 Coretta Scott King Illustrator Book Award.
Alexander, a Guild member who appeared in conversation with Guild Vice President Caroline Brewer, recounted his successes—for example, winning the 2015 Newbery Medal for his middle grade novel in verse The Crossover—as well as lower moments in his career before The Crossover was published.
“It was all low, it was all necessary, and it was part of the journey,” he said.
Alexander, a longtime D.C. area resident, also gave credit to the Guild for supporting him along the way. “People give you seeds of encouragement, and you give…back to them,” he said.
At the conclusion of the program, which was moderated by Guild President Monica Valentine, the Guild presented Alexander with an original piece of Brewer’s art, depicting a sunflower and incorporating material relating to Alexander’s books.
By Deborah Kalb
DARE!
KWAME!
Youth Literacy Grants Announced
For the last eleven years, the Children’s Book Guild has awarded grants to schools to purchase books for their libraries, media centers, or classrooms. In 2025 we chose 6 schools: Cooper Lane Elementary School, in Prince George's County; and Malcolm X, Miner, Nalle, Savoy, and Turner Elementary Schools in Washington, DC. Each school will receive a grant of $500 to buy books from the First Book Marketplace.We are grateful to all the Guild members who made recommendations. Thank you to the librarians from these schools for making the book selections: Lanee Sheffield, Hannah Hong, Molly Murchie, Lisa Stephens, Kerri Redding, and Sherrell Tolbert.
We hope that all of these librarians will be able to join us at our Signature Event in May.
FIND US ON SOCIAL
The Children’s Book Guild of Washington, DC, is committed to the fight for racial justice and support for Black lives. Please click on the links above for information on organizations to support, and readings to help educate and inspire positive change.