Join authors as they feature their furry friends that inspire them, keep them company, and offer support when getting into the writing zone. Animal characters are a great way to learn about life and empathy, and can serve as great inspiration for stories (plus they’re pretty darn cute and cuddly!)

Renowned picture book illustrators Adam Rex (UNSTOPPABLE), Molly Idle (CORAL), Juana Martinez-Neal (SWASHBY AND THE SEA), and Shannon Wright (TWINS) draw spontaneous suggestions made by YOU, the live viewing audience. A nail-biting no-holds-barred competition that will lay bare just how easy it is for artists to approach the same subject in vastly different ways—and lead […]

What happens when kid lit authors have to create a plot on the spot? Find out when bestselling authors Sarah Mlynowski (WHATEVER AFTER), Max Brailler (LAST KIDS ON EARTH), Stuart Gibbs (TYRANNOSAURUS WRECKS), and Christina Soontornvat (A WISH IN THE DARK) join forces to play a hilarious improv storytelling game!

How does real life became art? Children get a glimpse of Jennifer Keelan-Chaffin’s daily life at home in her motorized wheelchair, followed by a short discussion by Annette Bay Pimentel about the process of interviewing Jennifer for the picture book biography about her: ALL THE WAY TO THE TOP. The video concludes with a studio […]

What happens when kids become the heroes of their own story? Authors Mike Jung (THE BOYS IN THE BACK ROW), Donna Barba Higuera (LUPE WONG WON’T DANCE), and Daniel Nayeri (EVERYTHING SAD IS UNTRUE) explore how their characters become the source of incredible connections—forming bonds and agreements—despite their different perspectives or approaches to a particular […]

Bestselling author Marie Lu, (LEGEND Series, DC’s BATMAN), reveals how moments in history inspired her latest work, how she is staying hopeful during the pandemic, and talks about how she overcame the fear of rejection.

What does home and belonging mean to you? After a short reading of their work, celebrated kid lit authors will have a candid conversation about what home and belonging mean to them personally. Readers will be invited to draw a picture or write a poem or story that describes what these things mean to them […]

This is a panel about art, math and yes—love. Author Amy Alznauer and illustrator Daniel Miyares (THE BOY WHO DREAMED OF INFINITY) share their backstory, their techniques in real-time (with a live-drawing demo), and finally how they continue to discover a rich world of STEAM activities through the book they create. Come dream of infinity, […]

Award-winning Author Cynthia Leitich Smith gives insight into how real life inspired her YA novel (HEARTS UNBROKEN), reads from her groundbreaking picture book (JINGLE DANCER), and talks about what it’s like to write for many age groups. We even get to meet her pup!

Do you love K-Pop, K-dramas, Korean food, or any of the amazing books from Korean authors coming out this year? Well let’s take a virtual trip to South Korea! Authors Kim Hyun Sook (Banned Book Club), Robin Ha (Almost American Girl), and Erin Yun (Pippa Park Raises Her Game) will show you how to read […]