"Sis’s speech was definitely the buzz of the conference—everyone I talked to raved about how moving and powerful he was."

This morning, Buffy Hamilton posted more about the 40th Children's Literature Conference at UGA:

"I had the privilege of hearing Peter Sis speak—-I have been a fan for many years, but I discovered on Friday that not only is he an incredibly talented author and illustrator, but he is also an amazing storyteller. 

We all sat enthralled as he shared stories about his childhood behind the Iron Curtain in Czechoslovakia, his early experiences in the United States, and his journey of becoming a children’s illustrator and author. 

I only wish that I could have heard more of his stories—I easily could have listened to him all afternoon! If you are interested in his work and art, check out my favorite pages at theunquietlibrary/petersis; if you are in Georgia, there are several great (and recent!!!) full text articles about and by Mr. Sis in the Academic Search Complete database from EBSCOhost via GALILEO...

What I find most inspiring about his work is the common theme of celebrating those who dare to dream and to engender change. In his speech (which really felt more like the most wonderful informal conversation of storytelling!), he repeated his admiration of those who bring about change just as he did in this 2003 article he wrote for School Library Journal:

'As an author and artist, I want my work to celebrate innovative thinkers. And I want to show that the discovery process is not easy. Let’s face it, very few individuals have changed the way we view our world. That’s why visionaries like Columbus, Newton, and Einstein continue to inspire me.'

I think the idea of having the courage to believe in your dreams and ideals in the face of difficult circumstances resonated with many of us in the audience... 

Hearing Sis’s own story of overcoming adversity and overwhelming odds personally renewed my spirit and commitment to my vision of school libraries and librarianship. 

For me, being a school librarian is not just a job—it is a way of a life, a calling, an art, a mission. I think that is where the power of story lies—we can often find or even discover ourselves in the stories of others to help us find our way."

To read the entire post, click here. 

Well worth your time.

Go, Unquiet Librarian! 

Love your style.