There were a lot more no-shows at the June 19–25 American
Library Association (ALA) conference in Toronto because of concerns over SARS
(severe acute respiratory syndrome). Among the missing were Eric Carle, winner
of the Laura Ingalls Wilder Medal, who was scheduled to speak at the June 22
Newbery/ Caldecott/Wilder banquet. Some 176 out of 763 exhibitors canceled their
trip, including last-minute dropouts such as Baker & Taylor, Brodart, Dark
Horse Comics, DC Comics, Linworth Publishing, and McGraw-Hill Children's
Publishing (see June 2003, News , p. 20).