American Libraries

Committee Member: Hello, may I speak with Mr. Neil Gaiman, please?

Committee Member: Terry Pratchett?

Committee Member: Laurie Halse Anderson?

Committee Member: Uri Shulevitz?

Committee Member: Jonathan Friesen?

Committee Member: Good morning. May I speak with Miss Thomas?

(Phone ringing & disconnect tone)

Committee Member: This number's no longer in service.

Committee Member: Well, I think he's really waiting for this call.

(Recorded operator: I have several city options. Please say the city and state again.)

Committee Member: Usually if you swear, it goes straight to the operator...

Committee Member: Hello, is this Marla Frazee?

Marla Frazee: Yes, it is.

Committee Member: Jerry Pinkney? Good morning, Jerry.

Committee Member: Margarita Engle, please? Margarita, I'm going to put on speakerphone—hold on.

Committee Member: Hi, Laurie, this is the Margaret Edwards 2009 Committee calling to congratulate you.

Laurie Halse Anderson: (Laughing) No you’re not!

Committee Member: Yes, we are!

Kathi Appelt: Oh my gosh, thank you. I feel like a princess! (Laughing)

Terry Pratchett: Hello?

Committee Member: Hi, is this Terry Pratchett?

Terry Pratchett: Yes.

Committee Member: We're calling from the American Library Association to let you know you have won a Printz Honor Award for Nation. It's an award for the best teen writing of the year.

Terry Pratchett: Woo!

Shadra Strickland: This is so exciting!

Committee Member: Well, I hated to wake you up this early, but I thought you would like to be wakened.

Committee Member: And we have chosen your book, The House in the Night, as the winner of the 2009 Caldecott Medal.

Beth Krommes: What?

Committee Member: Yes.

Beth Krommes: I've won the Caldecott. Oh my God!

Melina Marchetta: Thank you so much. Oh gosh, I wish I was more awake.

Neil Gaiman: I’m so glad they managed to wake me up.

Committee Member: Marla, this is Nell Colburn calling on behalf of the Association for Library Service to Children. I’m calling you from Denver, and I have some—

Marla Frazee: No way!

Committee Member: Bye-bye. She just kept say wonderful! Wonderful!

Jonathan Friesen: Awesome.

Committee Member: My name is Rose Treviño and I'm the chair of the ALSC John Newbery Awards Selection Committee; and I have some good news for you.

Jacqueline Woodson: (laughing)

Committee Member: I think you're going to be invited to be on The Today Show tomorrow; so you'll be hearing from lots of people

Beth Krommes: I watch that show every morning.

Jacqueline Woodson: I have a speaker in my car and I just pulled the car over.

Laurie Halse Anderson: Wait—how can I thank you for this? This isn't happening—no!

Committee Member: Oh yes, it is.

Laurie Halse Anderson: Oh my goodness, oh my goodness, oh my goodness! Oh, I don't think my head can hold this.

Committee Member: Congratulations, we're all here to cheer you today, so congratulations. We have to go. Bye, Jerry.

Jerry Pinkney: Bye.

Committee Member: Bye, bye.