We are thrilled to be bringing the National Ambassador for Young People's Literature, Gene Luen Yang, as the keynote speaker. We also have Bret Foster, Redesigning Learning Spaces expert, as a featured speaker. We will also have a wide variety of workshops focused on literacy, inquiry, making, and, of course, river's end bookstore! As always, we will also be hosting a large exhibition display to introduce you to all the newest and best in services and products for school librarians and classroom teachers.

Keynote Speaker:
Gene Luen Yang
National Ambassador of Young People's Literature
Gene began making comics and graphic novels in the fifth grade. In 2006, his book American Born Chinese was published by First Second Books. It became the first graphic novel to be nominated for a National Book Award and the first to win the American Library Association's Printz Award. It also won an Eisner Award for Best Graphic Album – New.

In addition cartooning, he teaches creative writing through Hamline University's MFA in Writing for Children and Young Adults. Gene teaches alongside amazing authors like Anne Ursu, Gary Schmidt, Laura Ruby, Matt De La Pena, and more.
In January 2016, the Library of Congress, Every Child A Reader, and the Children's Book Council appointed Gene the National Ambassador for Young People's Literature.

We know the vision: it's time for action!
Let's roll up our sleeves and get down to work.
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