IRA, eh?

While record numbers of people stayed away from IRA this year, Charlesbridge had a great time in Toronto--our neighbor to the north.

It was great to have meaningful conversations with teachers from all over the U.S. and Canada. We gave away copies of Camel Rider and The Golden Dreydl, so all you teachers out there: share them with your classrooms and let us know what you think.

Our favorite part of IRA, besides meeting teachers and talking books, was our brief exploration of Toronto. An evening run along Lake Ontario, dinner at The Queen Mother Cafe on Queen Street (highly recommend this understated restaurant with a pub-like atmosphere and an empirical and eclectic menu), sheepishly considering going into an establishment called Philthy McNasty's with an author (highly inappropriate for children's book publishers), and going to the top of the CN Tower--the tallest structure in the world, not "building," "structure." I don't know, that's what the guide book said.

If you didn't get a chance to go to IRA this year, we'll see you next year in Hotlanta! And if you were in Toronto, it was good to see you!