So much excitement in Shanghai this week, on top of the regular day to day thrills of living in a city with over 20 million others.

The weekend started with me reading more about the HUGE children’s book fair happening at the Shanghai Expo Center. Once I discovered that Erin and Philip C. Stead would be presenting, there was no stopping me. I called on my friend Amy to ‘GRAB EVERY “STEAD” YOU CAN’ from our library and raced down to be at the Expo in plenty of time. Being able to meet Emily and Phil, hear them present, listen to Phil READ their Caldecott winning A Sick Day for Amos McGee, and then having them sign a dozen books to our Pudong Elementary Students was worth battling the crowd of thousands.

Then on Monday night, our Shanghai American School librarians were thrilled to catch up with our favorite visiting authors, Sara Holbrook and Michael Salinger. I’ve lost count of how many times they have visited SAS, at least 5-6, and every time they are such a huge hit with Teachers, Parents and most importantly, Students. Michael and Sara never disappoint, have their finger on the poetry pulse and know their stuff. We had a great dinner, with lots of laughs and travel stories, and were thrilled to hear Sara is finished with her first novel, coming out in 2017, stay tuned for “The Enemy-Detroit, 1954”.

Tuesday saw Yong Zhao, another frequent visitor to SAS for the past 7 years, taking time to eat lunch with a keen dozen educators to talk design, perception and all things education. I was one of the keen, and thoroughly enjoyed chatting it up, listening and learning, for 90 minutes with someone who has a finger on the pulse. We have all of Dr. Zhao’s books in our libraries, and I reference him frequently.

I couldn’t let Wednesday go by without seeing someone famous and wonderful, so I began the three hour trek out to Nanjing at 6 am to visit Nanjing International School as their librarian Michelle Rinker had told me that Emily Gravett was visiting for the week. Emily has been writing and illustrating children’s books for just ten years, and already has a huge body of wonderful award winning work. She has won then Kate Greenaway Medal twice and this year celebrates the 10th year anniversary of the wonderful Wolves.

Seeing Emily present to three grade levels, K, 3rd and 5th, on three different books, Wolves, Bear and Hare go Fishing, and Little Mouse’s Big Book of Fears, was so cool. She is certainly an adaptive presenter with an ability to engage children, and staff, of all ages. Her talk was interactive, informative and inspirational. Thanks so much to the friendly and welcoming staff of NIS for making me so at home. Brian Lockwood, Michelle and John Rinker and Emily Johnson, thanks for sharing your space, time and stories.