VAASL 2024 Annual Conference: Full Schedule

Welcome to the VAASL 2024 Fall Conference App!
Telling Our Story through an incredible program of sessions and events.

10:00am EST

Meet the Authors - Elementary

Thursday November 7, 2024 10:00am - 10:45am EST

Tidewater CD

Ten Virginia and DC Authors who write for Elementary Readers will present information about their Author Visits and answer questions. One participant will win a free virtual author visit from one of the presenting authors.

Speakers

Laura Murray

Author

I am very excited to be connecting with the wonderful librarians at VAASL this year! I am the author of the VRC award-winning – THE GINGERBREAD MAN LOOSE IN THE SCHOOL picture book series and the BRAND NEW GINGERBREAD MAN GRAPHIC NOVELS for YOUNG READERS series. The Gingerbread... Read More →

Tracey Kyle

Picture Book Author

Tracey Kyle is the author of six rhyming picture books, including PEPE AND THE PARADE and THE LUCKY GRAPES: A NEW YEAR'S EVE STORY. She taught Spanish for 30 years at the secondary level and enjoys sharing her love of the Spanish language and culture with kids. Her next book, PEPE... Read More →

Laura Renauld

Children's Author

Debra Shumaker

Author, MidAtlantic SCBWI

I write fiction and nonfiction picture books with both heart and humor. Two of my books, FREAKY, FUNKY FISH: ODD FACTS ABOUT FASCINATING FISH and PECULIAR PRIMATES: FASCINATING FACTS ABOUT THESE CURIOUS CREATURES are rhyming nonfiction with lots of back matter. They are published... Read More →

Cynthia Cliff

Author/Illustrator, SCBWI Mid-Atlantic

I am a self-taught illustrator and author who grew up in a tiny historic village in rural Virginia surrounded by farms and woodlands. This upbringing provided me with a love of history, nature, and folklore—themes that find their way into my whimsical, folk-art inspired story telling... Read More →

Alyssa Colman

Author

Alyssa Colman is the author of Where Only Storms Grow (2025), The Tarnished Garden, and The Gilded Girl, which won the 2021 Northern Lights Book Award for middle grade fantasy and was a Bank Street Best Book of the Year. Publishers Weekly called the story “a thoughtful and imaginative... Read More →

Dionna Mann

Author, SCBWI

Salutations!My name is Dionna L. Mann. I'm an independent researcher and children’s book author who loves uncovering inspiring human-interest stories hidden within African American history. As a work for hire author, I've written 20 children's books, both fiction and nonfiction... Read More →

Leah Moser

Author

Leah Moser is a children’s book author living in Northern Virginia. With degrees in Elementary Education and Psychology, Leah has spent years as a classroom teacher. She loves sharing her passion for picture books with her husband, three daughters, dog, and readers of all ages... Read More →

Kim Norman

With nearly 20 years experience, Kim Norman has spoken to more than a quarter of a million students across the U.S. all of whom now know that dogs are her favorite pets. She’s the author of more than 20 children's books published by Penguin/RandomHouse, Macmillan, Candlewick, Scholastic... Read More →

Erica Perl

Author, Erica S. Perl

I am the author of more than forty books for young readers, including middle grade novels (White Bird: A Novel, with R.J. Palacio), picture books (How Carrot Met Cookie, The Three Little Guinea Pigs), chapter books (Craftily Ever After series, Arnold and Louise series), and early... Read More →

Thursday November 7, 2024 10:00am - 10:45am EST
Tidewater CD

Instruction Literature Programming

AASL Inquire, Include, Collaborate, Explore, Engage
Audience Elementary School - Primary, Elementary School - Intermediate

11:00am EST

Easy Advocacy for Elementary Librarians

Thursday November 7, 2024 11:00am - 11:45am EST

Tidewater CD

Already overwhelmed by all the roles a librarian has to fill and think you never have time for advocacy? Think again! Easy Advocacy for Elementary Librarians will leave you feeling empowered and with easy, integrated ideas you can begin in your libraries next week!

Speakers

Michelle Bergstresser

School Librarian, Albemarle County Public Schools

I'm an elementary school librarian at a beautifully diverse dual immersion (Spanish & English) Title I school. Let's chat about diverse books, easy advocacy, and positive relationship as the key to your library being the heart of your school!

Heather Gonzalez

Librarian

Thursday November 7, 2024 11:00am - 11:45am EST
Tidewater CD

Instruction Programming

AASL Inquire, Include, Collaborate, Curate, Explore, Engage
Audience Elementary School - Primary, Elementary School - Intermediate

12:00pm EST

Blank Brain? AI to the Rescue! (Utilizing AI as an Elementary Librarian)

Thursday November 7, 2024 12:00pm - 12:45pm EST

Tidewater CD

Are you navigating the complexities of using AI as a Librarian? Get a practical guide to understanding and integrating AI in your work. Explore how to leverage AI tools to enhance teacher efficacy, save valuable time and prevent teacher burnout, all while reducing your anxiety about this new technology. We will explore the basics of ChatGPT, Magic School AI, Diffit and Gemini. (BYOD)

Speakers

Jacquelyn McGuire-Day

Library Media Specialist, VBCPS

Erin Berens

Library Media Specialist, Virginia Beach City Public Schools

Jeannette Reynolds

LMS, VBCPS

Thursday November 7, 2024 12:00pm - 12:45pm EST
Tidewater CD

Professional Growth Technology

AASL Inquire, Curate, Explore, Engage
Audience Elementary School - Primary, Elementary School - Intermediate

1:00pm EST

AUTHOR JASON CHIN

Thursday November 7, 2024 1:00pm - 1:45pm EST

Tidewater CD

TBD

Speakers

Jason Chin

Author/Illustrator - Keynote

Caldecott medalist Jason Chin is the author and illustrator of manyacclaimed books, including Grand Canyon, Redwoods and Your Place inthe Universe. He received the 2022 Caldecott Medal for Watercress, byAndrea Wang and a Caldecott Honor, Sibert Honor, and the NCTE OrbisPictus award... Read More →

Thursday November 7, 2024 1:00pm - 1:45pm EST
Tidewater CD

2:30pm EST

Dynamic Diverse Books for Your Library

Thursday November 7, 2024 2:30pm - 3:15pm EST

Tidewater CD

Step into the world of diverse books with the founders of VA READS! Join us and walk away with a wish list of over 75 book titles! We will share all the amazing diverse middle grade (upper elementary and middle school) titles we read over the past year. We'll share our faves as well as those that miss the mark.

Speakers

Ami Schroder

Librarian, Fairfax County Public Schools

In addition to being a school librarian, I am the co-founder of VA READS and love to talk about diverse books for all ages!#VAREADSTwitter: @anilawc Insta: schroderrific

Katie Bruechert

Middle School Librarian, Fairfax County Public Schools-Thoreau Middle

I have twenty-three years of experience as an educator, including twelve years as an elementary school librarian. Currently, I'm in my second year as a middle school librarian. I've served on the 2024 John Newbery Award Committee, co-founded VAREADS, and I'm currently the VAREADS... Read More →

Thursday November 7, 2024 2:30pm - 3:15pm EST
Tidewater CD

Collection Development Literature

AASL Include, Curate, Explore
Audience Elementary School - Intermediate Grades, Middle School

8:00am EST

Meet the Authors - Secondary

Friday November 8, 2024 8:00am - 8:45am EST

Tidewater CD

Five Virginia and DC Authors who write for Middle School and High School Readers will present information about their Author Visits and answer questions. One participant will win a free virtual author visit from one of the presenting authors.

Speakers

Erin Teagan

author

Erin Teagan is the author of the Luciana series, American Girl’s 2018 Girl of the Year, The Friendship Experiment (HMH), and Survivor Girl (Clarion, 2019). She has a background in science and worked in drug research for more than ten years. She uses many of her experiences from... Read More →

Terry Jennings

Author

I am a Cuban American author of children's books. I am the author of The Little House of Hope, a book about an immigrant family who shares their home with other immigrants to give them a leg up in their new country. The Definitely Dominguita series is a chapter book series about a... Read More →

Edie Hemingway

Author

I am co-author of two Civil War novels, both licensed by Scholastic Book Fairs and optioned for films. My middle grade novel, Road to Tater Hill (Delacorte Press), won a Parents’ Choice Gold Award and was listed on Bank Street College’s Best Books List and several state lists... Read More →

Jen Furlong

Author, MPC Publishing

Author of award-winning YA series The Unimaginables: Hidden City, Tattooed Angel, Magick Squared. Meredith’s World Series (middle-grade humorous adventures) Meredith at The Met, Meredith for Congress. Children’s picture book: Mrs. Cheesely Loves Cheese. Co-Author of Antagonists... Read More →

Heather Murphy Capps

Author, SCBWI Mid-Atlantic

I’m an award-winning author of upper middle-grade books. I write historical fiction and use magical realism—topics I love to talk about, especially with young readers and educators.

Friday November 8, 2024 8:00am - 8:45am EST
Tidewater CD

Literature Programming

AASL Inquire, Include, Collaborate, Explore, Engage
Audience Middle School, High School

11:00am EST

Does Diversity Matter? (Hint: Yes!)

Friday November 8, 2024 11:00am - 11:45am EST

Tidewater CD

Who gets to write what, and why? One author's point of view about creating books for young people - the roadblocks, readers' responses, and why this is so important for all voices to be heard.

Speakers

Lisa Yee

Author - Keynote

Lisa Yee’s groundbreaking Millicent Min, Girl Genius, featuring one of the first Asian American protagonists in contemporary literature, debuted in 2003. Her most recent novel, Maizy Chen’s Last Chance, has garnered numerous awards including a Newbery Honor, National Book Award... Read More →

Friday November 8, 2024 11:00am - 11:45am EST
Tidewater CD

Collection Development Literature Programming

AASL Include, Collaborate, Curate, Engage
Audience All Levels

12:00pm EST

Reading as a Revolutionary Act

Friday November 8, 2024 12:00pm - 12:45pm EST

Tidewater CD

Join author Samira Ahmed for a candid discussion about the ongoing attacks on the freedom to read, the role of libraries as lighthouses of our democracy and why art is revolutionary. She will share personal stories of being "cancelled" and banned including work she's doing with Authors Against Book Bans and invites you to share your experiences as well.

Speakers

Samira Ahmed

Author - Keynote

Samira Ahmed is the New York Times and indie bestselling author of numerous works for young people including Love Hate & Other Filters, Internment, Hollow Fires, This Book Won’t Burn, the Amira & Hamza duology and Ms. Marvel: Beyond the Limit. She was born in Bombay, India and grew... Read More →

Friday November 8, 2024 12:00pm - 12:45pm EST
Tidewater CD

Literature Professional Growth

AASL Inquire, Explore, Engage
Audience All Levels

1:00pm EST

VRC High School Titles for 2024-2025

Friday November 8, 2024 1:00pm - 1:45pm EST

Tidewater CD

Come learn about the new VRC high school titles for this year as well as how to join the committee, and nominate titles. Come with some of your favorite reads of the year to share with others!

Speakers

Elyse DeQuoy

School Librarian, James Wood High School

Megan Watson

English Teacher, LCPS

Friday November 8, 2024 1:00pm - 1:45pm EST
Tidewater CD

Collection Development Literature

AASL Curate
Audience High School