New & Upcoming 2022
March Events
Author Visit at Creekside Elementary School in Elgin
Meet my new best friends! I had such a great time visiting this fourth grade dual language class. It’s true what the research says–speaking two languages increases your brain power. Wow! They knew all the trivia answers to my Canned and Crushed quiz. In fact, they got the double bonus questions about raising the stakes for characters. Kudos to Creekside. Here are a few photos.
The excitement builds as I walk down the hall. The class is crowding around the door. I ask my escort Jacob if that wild bunch is his class and he says everyone is really excited. I can’t wait.
After my interactive power point I signed a few books. I was so focused about spelling everyone’s name right, including mine, I forgot to look up and smile.
The happy class. Some must be hiding, I know there were 18. Come out, come out, wherever you are! 🙂
January Events
Check out this really nice website that asked me to recommend some books. It’s a wonderful resource for finding books without relying on Goodreads. I’m featured this month. Woot Woot!
https://shepherd.com/best-books/walk-a-mile-in-my-shoes-books
Author Visit at Swift Elementary in Chicago
These kids read Canned and Crushed, some on EPIC and some checked out my book from the library. We played Canned and Crushed trivia and they crushed it! Author visits are my favorite! 
Poetry Slam at Culbreth MS in Chapel-Hill
This was a virtual poetry slam from my comfy couch. What an honor to listen to the fantastic poems written by seventh graders in Harris and Kroger’s ELA classes. I chose twelve first-place winners and six honorable mentions. Once I’ve received permission I will share some of the winners!
A poet in her own right, Ms. Harris coordinated the poetry slam with her teaching partner, Ms. Kroger. It required hours of perfecting poems, organizing, securing the auditorium and the genius of technology gurus to allow me to be on stage “virtually” while these young poets “slammed” in front of their peers. Thanks to everyone who made it happen. What a phenomenal experience it was for all of us.
“Fall” by Mia
Turn red then brown then barren
Branches bloom again.
People,
People are people
Black or white
Tall or short
Old or young
Kind or mean
We can be violent
But our intentions are always benevolent,
The world that our ancestors gave us we may have failed it
But it’s not over yet
And it will not be over until we fix it
We are human,
And we need to respect that we make mistakes
If we ever cry, most of us, we stand back up every single time
And we help the ones who can’t
And deep down I have hope
Deep down I think we all hope
That one day old and young, tall and short, black and white, our people will come together and our world will be thriving mother nature, our people will be thriving
Will that day be soon we will never know.
But it will happen
I believe
I know
It will happen.
So let’s all be courageous
Let’s all be strong enough
and make it happen.
Through my window I see it all
The men stand upon the hill strong and tall
Arrows are fired in the night
And soon they engulf a great fight
Through my window I see it all
One after the other brave men fall
Cannons fire BOOM! BONG!
If only the two sides could get along
Through my window I see it all
I can hear their wailing calls
One general calls to retreat
And his soldiers run away in defeat
Through my window I see it all
The winning group looks so small
They all look as though they are about to cry
When they look at their friends who have died and deny.
“The Unknown” by Caroline
Death what an unknown thing in this big world
What happens to the soul does it rise up high
Or do we come back, while worlds again uncurl
But do we just vanish? Nothing? We die!
To experience death of a loved one
Grief and pain unlike any other feeling
But knowing they’ve gone is hard, you are stunned
Loss and grief, the wound is never done healing.
The memory of the loved keeps us going
On, on to the future where death takes you
By then someone will love you, and keep growing
With memories that they will cherish, too.
We must look to the future, while remembering the past
But all we need to know is hope dies last.
“Rainy Days” by Landon
Rain pouring on a cold gray day
I didn’t know it could rain this hard in this way
But I like the rain it helps me calm down
I just love the soothing sound
So when the rain started thundering down.
My mood turned upside down.
“Snow Day” by Duncan
Crunch, crackle, pop, drip, drop
The sounds when the snow has arrived
Slipping and Sliding all day long
Through the snow and ice
Snow days are the best.
“A Good Story” by Ruby Mae
When you are done, why do I feel so sad?
You’re non-existent but I love you still
I do enjoy your worlds, yet I feel bad.
And you’re not gone, I can come back–and will!
You are contained in simple paper, and
From outside you look unexceptional
But inside … almost indescribable
Phenomenal, multidimensional
So why, when you’re done, do I miss you so?
No longer on page but in memory
You’ll never stop your story, you’ll ongo
You nevermore will die inside of me
When you must end, I feel so very blue
You’re now my friend, and I do treasure.
“The In-Between Land” by Lilah
Expectations of my nation are much greater than supposition of the child, me.
Imagination alters into the idea of deep desire, to be one higher
Attraction is a choice of those who rejoice
Fear is the safe spot brought by the enemy.
They who take the risk
They who choose the path in which is daring
Venturing out to seek the declaring
They who terminate comparing
They who reach satisfaction within their abstraction
To the point where they find bliss within their abyss
They who lead with compassion, instead of jealousy.
Come restfully into the seek, as much as the find.
“Try” by Sophia
Giving up,
The fall of humanity,
It’s the thing where,
Your world finally tears,
Like buildings unable to repair,
The feeling of despair,
Where there is no hope,
And no way to cope,
The thinness of a hair,
Is the thickness of your confidence,
And it plummets,
To where,
You just don’t care,
But you can choose,
During the fall,
To get back up,
Set sail,
Into the belly of the beast,
And at the very least,
Into the unknown,
You must fly,
And dare to try.
Excerpt from “Your Dream and Mine” by Ever
This is a message to the non-believers:
I want to talk about your dream and mine
Your dream and mine are not the same
This poem is not meant for sorrow or shame
But to realize the difference between your dream and mine
To see the outline
You see a world that is evidently changing
You know what’s happening but you think humans couldn’t possibly
Do all this rearranging
Your dream is for this to go away
The nonsense and chaos to your dismay
You pray that this is a cause made by mother nature
That is your dream
My dream is that one day you will see
The things your saying just don’t add up
The air the world breathes is not the same
In fact unless we do something our existence
Will live in a world of regret and shame
My dream is that we would change our ways
Make a mend to our dreadful days
I want our world to survive and shine
That is the difference between your dream and mine.
October I can’t believe it’s that time of year again. But this year, instead of visiting the beautiful Niles Library for Southwest Michigan’s Writer’s Conference, and spending some contemplative moments marveling at the fall colors of the reflected trees in the peaceful river, we will be tackling 7 Incredible Lessons from the Incredibles via zoom.
September
One of my favorite elementary schools, Creekside Elementary in Elgin, IL is reading Canned and Crushed. We’ve had one short visit for them to ask me questions about why I wrote the book and I’m looking forward to our next visit when we’ll play Canned and Crushed trivia. The lucky winner will get a signed copy of the book.
Ongoing
I’m excited to be working with a group of future authors at Hedrick School in California. In our weekly zoom sessions, we’re exploring how to create rich characters, exciting plots with layers of conflict, and how to describe memorable settings. Watch out agents and editors–you’ll be reading these kids’ books one day.
2019
October
- I love presenting at the Southwest Writer’s Conference. This year I’m talking about Voice.
September
- The Chicago History Museum chose Crossing the Line for its teacher book club. Super excited to meet with those teachers in December to answer questions about Crossing the Line.
- Book Club: 1919 Chicago Race Riots
Saturdays, October 19 and December 14
9:30 a.m.–12:30 p.m.
$50, 6 PD hours
In this two-part book study group, educators will examine two works on the 1919 Race Riot by local authors: Crossing the Line by Bibi Belford (recommended for grades 4–9) and A Few Red Drops: The Chicago Race Riot of 1919 by Claire Hartfield (recommended for grades 7–9).
The first session includes a presentation on the events by CHM assistant curator Julius L. Jones, primary source analysis activities, and time in our Chicago: Crossroads of America exhibition to establish historical context. The second session features facilitated group discussions, teaching strategies, and authors Bibi Belford and Claire Hartfield reading selections from their works, answering questions, and signing books.
Educators must attend both sessions for full credit. Registration includes light breakfast refreshments and a copy of the book of your choice.
- I’m super excited to be a part of #kidsneedmentors this year. My partner class is Mrs. Rieth’s fifth grade at Breton Downs Elementary in Grand Rapids Michigan. We’ve started a Padlet Page to share ideas and get to know each other.
August
- I absolutely love reading out loud and I miss doing it now that I’m retired. I was so lucky to visit Mrs. Lipsker’s first grade on two days to read two of my favorite books. Bob and What’s the Time Grandma Wolf. We had sooooo much fun. Here’s a few of their precious thank you notes. Remember, school visits are usually free with minimum book purchases.
May
- Exciting news. I’m a guest at Bookie’s Bookstore in Homewood on May 3rd at 5 P.M. and at Bookie’s Bookstore in Chicago on May 4th at 2 P.M.
- One of my favorite visits of all time was to Elle Harris’ fifth-grade class at Westlake Christian Academy in Grayslake, IL. I still treasure the book they made me and the mementos they collected to go with Crossing the Line. And they’ve invited me back on May 7th.
- This will be my third visit to Ms. Sawyer’s Dual Language fourth grade class at Creekside Elementary in Elgin, IL. Her students know more about my books than I do! They always clean up at Canned and Crushed Trivia. Let’s see how they do this year at Another D for DeeDee Trivia! Can’t wait. I’m coming for you!
April
- I can’t wait to speak to the Aurora Kiwanis Club Aurora Kiwanis Club on April 2nd about Crossing the Line.
- I’m heading back to Writer’s Institute on April 5th for the Writer’s Success Panel.
- It’s my first Podcast. April 25th. Holland Webb and Amy Bowlin have a great podcast–The Afterword: A Conversation About the Future of Words. I’m talking about how books change lives.
- I’m going back to Ms. Peara’s fourth grade at Gary D. Wright in Hampshire, IL. I visited them in November and had an awesome visit but now I’m going back to do a writing workshop with them. We’re all excited. They’ve read Another D for DeeDee and Crossing the Line.
March
- Allen School Family Night celebrates Dr. Suess and I’m reading one of my favorites, The Cat in the Hat.
February
- I’m tickled pink, well, I’m always pink, but I am excited about Anderson’s Annual Lit Breakfast on February 23rd. Talking to librarians and teachers and readers about my books is fun, but listening to the great author speakers gives me inspiration and a little humiliation, too.
- Loyola University is using Crossing the Line in one of their education classes and I’m going to talk to them on February 26th about where the books idea came from and how I researched to write it.
- Venus Zook’s fourth grade class at Allen School, my old stomping ground, just finished Crossing the Line and have questions for me. I hope I know the answers. I guess I’ll find out on February 27th.
Past Author Visits
YIKES! I’m giving a workshop “Editing like The Princess Bride,” at the Writer’s Institute in Madison Wisconsin. https://uwwritersinstitute.wisc.edu/ https://news.continuingstudies.wisc.edu/writers-institute-gives-aspiring-authors-a-pathway-to-publication/
AUGUST 27, 2017 – Bibi Belford will be at SPLIT LIT BOOK FAIR in Berwyn, IL Click here to get tickets. Bibi will be signing books at the event, including the newest CANNED AND CRUSHED paperback and the NEW release of CROSSING THE LINE!
Bibi Belford Facebook Page Split Lit Book Fair Event Info.
Stay tuned for updates about upcoming events and author appearances with Bibi Belford!
If you would like to contact Bibi Belford about scheduling an event or author appearance, visit the contact page.
Check out this post for a gallery of recent event photos.
Just for fun… a recent celebrity sighting while Bibi was at a bookstore on a summer 2017 trip to Australia.
One of my favorite students working hard on learning to read at the same time he’s learning English. And he’s a big fan of my book Canned and Crushed.
