Bryan Collier shared Knock Knock: My Dad’s Dream for Me in his opening keynote. It’s a compelling story of coping with loss and surviving. Bryan gave a shoutout to teachers and librarians who try to fill the holes some kids live with every day.

Bryan was the lunch speaker at the VAASL (VEMA) conference I chaired in Williamsburg in 2007 and it’s time to bring him back to Virginia. His books Trombone Shorty, Martin’s Big Words, Rosa, Dave the Potter are all Caldecott Honor books.