About Us
The Children's Literature Council of Southern California is a non-profit organization that promotes greater interest in literature for children and young people and encourages excellence in the production and selection of books in that field. The work of the Council is accomplished through the cooperative effort of its members who include school and public librarians, teachers, authors, illustrators, publishers, booksellers, parents, and others interested in children's and young adult literature. This diversity means that members share a wealth of expertise.
Board of Directors
2023-2024
OFFICERS
President
Lynn Kysh, Clinical Scholarship Librarian
Lynn is a medical librarian with the heart of a children's services librarian. She currently works at the Institute for Nursing and Interprofessional Research at Children's Hospital Los Angeles where she supports clinically-based quality improvement, evidence-based practice, and research.
1st Vice President (Fall Gala)
Alethea Allarey
Alethea co-founded Bridge to Books, a grassroots literacy group, with educator Alyson Beecher; they jointly won the Dorothy C. McKenzie award for distinguished service to the field of children’s literature in 2017. She is a former bookseller, a book blogger, and life-long lover of words, language, and literature.
2nd Vice President (Communication)
Marissa Wasseluk-Stuart , Creative Content Producer & Marketing Strategist
3rd Vice President (Other Events)
Jeff Sweat, Author
Treasurer
Joanna K. Fabicon, Public Librarian
Joanna is the Senior Librarian of Children's Services for the Los Angeles Public Library. She has served in various roles for CLCSC (Awards, Spring Workshop, Membership) and was part of the Newbery 2021 Committee.
Secretary
Katherine Adams, Public Librarian
Katherine is a Regional Youth Services Coordinator for LA County Library.
BOARD OF DIRECTORS
Dr. Marjorie Arnett
Marjorie retired in 2009 after 42 years as a classroom teacher, reading specialist and administrator in public and private schools in Indiana, Ohio, Wisconsin, and California. She was western regional coordinator for IRA Teacher Book Choice Award, founding board member of Wisconsin Independent School Educators (WISE), Founding Board Member, member of Smiley Public Library Family Day Planning committee, and Coordinator of Charlotte S. Huck Children's Literature Festival at the University of Redlands.
Annalisa Engh, Public Librarian
Annalisa is a children's librarian at LA County Library. In this role, she helps young children discover books that reflect and expand their worldviews so they can develop a lifelong love of learning.
Kyle Horne, CNP is the Program Manager for Literally Healing at Children’s Hospital Los Angeles where he oversees literacy programming and book gifting for hospitalized children. This include both a recreational library, which gifts over 65,000 free books to patient families every year as well as a therapeutic library, which supports patients and families with specialized books to help them cope with difficult diagnoses, prognoses, procedures, and associated feelings. He is currently getting his MPH from UCLA. Kyle’s favorite childhood book is The Giver.
Judith Kantor, School Librarian
Judith is the librarian at the UCLA Lab School.
Andrea J. Loney, Author
Andrea is an award-winning author of children’s picture books. She earned her BFA and MFA in Dramatic Writing at New York University, and currently teaches computer classes at Los Angeles Trade Technical College. Her works include Take a Picture of Me, James Van Der Zee! (Lee & Low Books, 2017), Bunnybear (Albert Whitman & Company, 2017), and Double Bass Blues (Random House Knopf, 2019).
Charmetria Marshall, Public Librarian
Charmetria has worked in libraries for over 10 years. She is a Library Manager with LA County Library and is an advocate for equal access to information and helping patrons to be lifelong learners.
Dana Middleton, Middle Grade Author
Dana is a middle grade author who lives in Los Angeles. Her books include: Not a Unicorn (Chronicle Books), Open If You Dare and The Infinity Year of Avalon James (Feiwel & Friends). You can find her on Instagram @danamiddletonbooks.
Erika Morris, Public Librarian
Erika is a Youth Services Librarian at LA County Library and lover of eBooks and audiobooks.
Helen Moses
Bio coming soon
EMERITUS
Christine Allen
Christine is District Librarian for grades K-12 in Riverside, California.
Serenna Day
Serena retired from the Los Angeles Public Library and served as Past President of FOCAL.
Caroline Gill
Pamela M. Greene Retired Children’s Librarian and Technology Teacher, Media Reviewer for Common Sense Networks, Web Designer, and creator/designer of “Flannelboards by Pamela .” Pamela served on the CLCSC board from 1999 – 2019, and was responsible for ushering the Council into the digital age by creating the first CLCSC website.
Roger Kelly
Roger has served on the Board since 1996. He is the Coordinator of Children's and Teen Services for the Santa Monica Public Library.
Maxine Lucas
Maxine is a retired School Librarian. She has been a CLCSC member since 1991.
Penny Markey
Retired Public Librarian, Advocate, Libraries and Literacy, Children and Families
Lynne Mook
Retired Book Distributor - Mook and Blanchard
EMERITUS IN MEMORIAM
Sue Alexander
Sue was a prolific author of children's books, including Nadia the Willful, World Famous Muriel, Dear Phoebe, and Behold the Trees.
Carolyn Johnson
Carolyn was the director of the Fullerton Public Library after being a children's librarian for many years.
Peggy Miller
Peggy was instrumental in establishing libraries in the elementary schools in the Los Angeles Unified School District. She worked with the district staff to convert a space, get shelving put in, and purchase a core collection in school after school over an eighteen-year period. Peggy also taught Children's Literature classes at USC for 16 years in addition to editing the Booklist for Elementary School Library Media Centers, a core collection published and distributed state-wide. She was president of CASL during the time when this state school library organization and the state school media organization, CAEMAT, laid the groundwork for their merger into CMLEA. Peggy also served on the first California Young Reader Medal Committee, helping to develop guidelines for our own state book award, the winners of which are decided by votes from children. She was one of the pioneering members of the Children's Literature Council of Southern California—CLCSC—formerly, SCCLCYP and a founding member of FOCAL, the support group of the Children's Literature Department of the Los Angeles Public Library. She also served on numerous ALA Committees including the Newbery/Caldecott, Notable Books, Reluctant Readers, and Best Books for Young Adults.