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Venue: Independence A/B clear filter
Friday, October 16
 

8:00am PDT

Registration, Exhibitors & Continental Breakfast
Friday October 16, 2026 8:00am - 9:00am PDT
Independence A/B

Friday October 16, 2026 8:00am - 9:00am PDT
Independence A/B 808 4th Street Clovis, CA 93612
  All

9:00am PDT

Welcome Address
Friday October 16, 2026 9:00am - 9:15am PDT
Independence A/B

Friday October 16, 2026 9:00am - 9:15am PDT
Independence A/B 808 4th Street Clovis, CA 93612

9:15am PDT

Keynote
Friday October 16, 2026 9:15am - 10:15am PDT
Independence A/B
Brave Instead of Perfect: Smashing Imposter Syndrome in Order to Show Up for Kids (and Ourselves)!
They say comparison is the thief of joy, but in a connected world, the urge to compare ourselves and our work to the "rockstars" in our field can be both impossible to resist and professionally paralyzing. In this keynote, we explore ways to smash imposter syndrome, avoid comparison, and use our networks to pursue bravery instead of perfection so we can be the kind of librarians our kids truly deserve.
Audience: K–12 school librarians and other educators. May also interest school administrators.
Future Ready Librarian Alignment: Leads Beyond the Library; Builds Instructional Partnerships; Cultivates Community Partnerships.
Speakers
avatar for Jennifer LaGarde

Jennifer LaGarde

Director of Reader Engagement Initiatives, Bookelicious
Jennifer LaGarde has spent her entire adult life working in public education. She has served as a classroom teacher, a teacher-librarian, a digital teaching and learning specialist, a district-level support staff member, and a statewide leader as a consultant for both the North Carolina... Read More →
Friday October 16, 2026 9:15am - 10:15am PDT
Independence A/B 808 4th Street Clovis, CA 93612
  Keynote

10:55am PDT

Author Panel Diverse Children Books
Friday October 16, 2026 10:55am - 11:50am PDT
Independence A/B

Speakers
avatar for Margarita Engle

Margarita Engle

Writing a historical novel in verse feels like time travel, a dreamlike blend of imagination and reality. It is an exploration. It is also a chance to communicate with the future, through young readers.

I love to write about young people who made hopeful choices in situations that... Read More →
avatar for Dorina Lazo Gilmore-Young

Dorina Lazo Gilmore-Young

President Redbud Writers Guild, multicultural author & speaker, podcast host for Hear Women, Redbud Writers Guild
Dorina Lazo Gilmore-Young is a published author, speaker, poet, and teacher, who grew up in a multiracial family. Through her storytelling, Dorina loves to help people discover God in creation and the cultures of the world. Dorina is the author of the award-winning picture book, Cora... Read More →
avatar for Crystel Patterson

Crystel Patterson

Crystel Patterson, based in Sacramento, CA, is the creator of the Inspired to Be... series, a collection of empowering children's books that amplify positive Black narratives and promote social-emotional learning and growth mindset for kids. As a proud mother, Crystel writes diverse... Read More →
avatar for Novella Dean

Novella Dean

Novella Dean's passion for storytelling took root in Trinidad and Tobago, her birthplace, where rich folklore is a national treasure. Despite her academic journey leading her to graduate as a scientist, her heart always gravitated towards artistic expressions. The inspiration for... Read More →
avatar for Edward Andre Dennis

Edward Andre Dennis

Who is Edward?He is a visual storyteller who has worked with brands such as Toyota USA, SesameStreet, Mercedes-Benz, Yakima racks, Disney, Giant/Liv Cycling, Shimano, EpicRides, Corel, Anheuser-Busch, Western Union and Giordana cycling. He has beenfeatured in publications such as... Read More →
avatar for Jessica Kulekjian

Jessica Kulekjian

Jessica Kulekjian spent her California childhood climbing trees, swimming, and riding bikes into orchards, where she imagined stories with her friends until the sun went down. As she grew, so did her love of writing, alongside a dream to become an author. Jessica went on to study... Read More →
Friday October 16, 2026 10:55am - 11:50am PDT
Independence A/B 808 4th Street Clovis, CA 93612
  Author Panel

11:55am PDT

Keynote & Lunch
Friday October 16, 2026 11:55am - 12:50pm PDT
Independence A/B

Speakers
avatar for Dr. JaNay Brown-Wood

Dr. JaNay Brown-Wood

JaNay Brown-Wood, PhD, is an award-winning and New York Times Best-Selling children’s author, poet, educator, scholar, and a former professor of Early Childhood Education and Child Development. Her first children’s book Imani’s Moon won the NAESP Children’s Book of the Year... Read More →
Friday October 16, 2026 11:55am - 12:50pm PDT
Independence A/B 808 4th Street Clovis, CA 93612

12:55pm PDT

Author Panel: Signing
Friday October 16, 2026 12:55pm - 1:50pm PDT
Independence A/B

Speakers
avatar for Mae Respicio

Mae Respicio

Mae Respicio is the award-winning author of over 20 books for young readers, including engaging nonfiction and novels that celebrate all the ways that kids find their place in the world. Mae’s books have received starred reviews, the Asian/Pacific American Library Association Honor... Read More →
avatar for Margarita Engle

Margarita Engle

Writing a historical novel in verse feels like time travel, a dreamlike blend of imagination and reality. It is an exploration. It is also a chance to communicate with the future, through young readers.

I love to write about young people who made hopeful choices in situations that... Read More →
avatar for Dorina Lazo Gilmore-Young

Dorina Lazo Gilmore-Young

President Redbud Writers Guild, multicultural author & speaker, podcast host for Hear Women, Redbud Writers Guild
Dorina Lazo Gilmore-Young is a published author, speaker, poet, and teacher, who grew up in a multiracial family. Through her storytelling, Dorina loves to help people discover God in creation and the cultures of the world. Dorina is the author of the award-winning picture book, Cora... Read More →
avatar for Crystel Patterson

Crystel Patterson

Crystel Patterson, based in Sacramento, CA, is the creator of the Inspired to Be... series, a collection of empowering children's books that amplify positive Black narratives and promote social-emotional learning and growth mindset for kids. As a proud mother, Crystel writes diverse... Read More →
avatar for Novella Dean

Novella Dean

Novella Dean's passion for storytelling took root in Trinidad and Tobago, her birthplace, where rich folklore is a national treasure. Despite her academic journey leading her to graduate as a scientist, her heart always gravitated towards artistic expressions. The inspiration for... Read More →
avatar for Edward Andre Dennis

Edward Andre Dennis

Who is Edward?He is a visual storyteller who has worked with brands such as Toyota USA, SesameStreet, Mercedes-Benz, Yakima racks, Disney, Giant/Liv Cycling, Shimano, EpicRides, Corel, Anheuser-Busch, Western Union and Giordana cycling. He has beenfeatured in publications such as... Read More →
avatar for Jessica Kulekjian

Jessica Kulekjian

Jessica Kulekjian spent her California childhood climbing trees, swimming, and riding bikes into orchards, where she imagined stories with her friends until the sun went down. As she grew, so did her love of writing, alongside a dream to become an author. Jessica went on to study... Read More →
avatar for Amanda Rawson Hill

Amanda Rawson Hill

I grew up in the mountain desert of southwest Wyoming with a library right out my back gate. I can still walk into that library today and feel totally at home.

Today I live in central California, where the miles and miles of orchards and farmland never seem to end, the summers are... Read More →
avatar for Joan Schoettler

Joan Schoettler

I grew up in the San Francisco Bay Area where memories of trips to the ocean, picnics in parks, walks through San Francisco, museum visits, and gatherings of family and friends continue to draw me back to my beginnings. Hikes in the Sierra, late dinners on warm summer nights, gardening... Read More →
avatar for Lisa Schmid

Lisa Schmid

Lisa Schmid is the author of the middle grade novels Hart & Souls and Ollie Oxley and The Ghost, children's paranormal fantasy adventures filled with heart, humor, friendship, and a touch of mystery. She is also the co-host of the Writers With Wrinkles podcast. When not scaring up... Read More →
avatar for Dr. JaNay Brown-Wood

Dr. JaNay Brown-Wood

JaNay Brown-Wood, PhD, is an award-winning and New York Times Best-Selling children’s author, poet, educator, scholar, and a former professor of Early Childhood Education and Child Development. Her first children’s book Imani’s Moon won the NAESP Children’s Book of the Year... Read More →
Friday October 16, 2026 12:55pm - 1:50pm PDT
Independence A/B 808 4th Street Clovis, CA 93612
  Author Panel

2:00pm PDT

Author Panel: Middle/High School
Friday October 16, 2026 2:00pm - 2:55pm PDT
Independence A/B

Speakers
avatar for Mae Respicio

Mae Respicio

Mae Respicio is the award-winning author of over 20 books for young readers, including engaging nonfiction and novels that celebrate all the ways that kids find their place in the world. Mae’s books have received starred reviews, the Asian/Pacific American Library Association Honor... Read More →
avatar for Janet Wile

Janet Wile

District Librarian, Central Unified
Janet Wile is Supervisor of Library Services for Central Unified School District and currently the Co-Administrator for the CYRM committee. I am blessed to be a Lilead Fellow and adjunct faculty at FPU in the Teacher Librarian program. I recently adopted 2 rescue dogs, Gracie and... Read More →
avatar for Amanda Rawson Hill

Amanda Rawson Hill

I grew up in the mountain desert of southwest Wyoming with a library right out my back gate. I can still walk into that library today and feel totally at home.

Today I live in central California, where the miles and miles of orchards and farmland never seem to end, the summers are... Read More →
avatar for Joan Schoettler

Joan Schoettler

I grew up in the San Francisco Bay Area where memories of trips to the ocean, picnics in parks, walks through San Francisco, museum visits, and gatherings of family and friends continue to draw me back to my beginnings. Hikes in the Sierra, late dinners on warm summer nights, gardening... Read More →
avatar for Lisa Schmid

Lisa Schmid

Lisa Schmid is the author of the middle grade novels Hart & Souls and Ollie Oxley and The Ghost, children's paranormal fantasy adventures filled with heart, humor, friendship, and a touch of mystery. She is also the co-host of the Writers With Wrinkles podcast. When not scaring up... Read More →
Friday October 16, 2026 2:00pm - 2:55pm PDT
Independence A/B 808 4th Street Clovis, CA 93612
  Author Panel

3:10pm PDT

Closing Remarks & Prizes
Friday October 16, 2026 3:10pm - 3:30pm PDT
Independence A/B

Friday October 16, 2026 3:10pm - 3:30pm PDT
Independence A/B 808 4th Street Clovis, CA 93612
  All
 

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Friday, October 16
Clovis Veterans Memorial Hall
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