Clare Vanderpool (l.) and Erin Stead accepted the Newbery and Caldecott Medals at ALA's annual conference.

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The Big Easy played host to librarians, publishers, and writers who ventured to New Orleans June 23-28 for the ALA's annual conference. Library Journal reported that attendance was down this year, with 20,186 attendees and vendors at the show, but there was no shortage of excitement for children's books. The Newbery-Caldecott banquet bestowed top honors on Clare Vanderpool, winner of the Newbery Medal for Moon Over Manifest, and Erin Stead, who was awarded the Caldecott for A Sick Day for Amos McGee.

In her acceptance speech, Vanderpool said winning the Newbery is "like having a baby if you didn't know you were pregnant. There are no months of preparation. No pre-Newbery vitamins to build up for the big event. And no book called What to Expect When You Win the Newbery to guide and instruct." Accepting the Caldecott, Stead said, "The news of winning was overwhelming. I'm not sure if it was a faulty speakerphone or my own shocked ears that added static to your voices. After we hung up, I called my editor and made him repeat everything. Slowly."

Read on for our photo-gallery of the authors, events, and festivities. It's just like being there (minus the Sazeracs and seafood)!

Erin Stead accepted the Caldecott Medal for 'A Sick Day for Amos McGee' (Roaring Brook/Porter), a picture book written by her husband, Philip.

Newbery Medalist Clare Vanderpool (l.) with fellow Random House author Jennifer L. Holm, who picked up a Newbery Honor for 'Turtle in Paradise.'

Grace Lin, who received a Theodor Seuss Geisel Honor for 'Ling and Ting: Not Exactly the Same!' (Little, Brown) shows off her award.

Six's a crowd: Scholastic authors (l. to r.) Maggie Stiefvater, Sarah Weeks, Chris Raschka, Jeff Hirsch, Allen Say, and Brian Selznick.

On Bourbon Street: 'Ladder to the Moon' (Candlewick) collaborators Yuyi Morales (l.) and Maya Soetoro-Ng.

National Ambassador for Young People's Literature Katherine Paterson signed copies of 'The Day of the Pelican' (Clarion).

At Penguin's cocktail party Richard Peck signed advance copies of 'Secrets at Sea' (Dial).

'Darth Paper Strikes Back' (Abrams/Amulet) author Tom Angleberger with a (non-origami) Darth Vader on the show floor.

Scholastic threw a "red-cape attire" party for Dav Pilkey, seen here signing posters, to celebrate the publication of 'Super Diaper Baby 2: The Invasion of the Potty Snatchers.'

Colleen Houck, author of the Tiger's Curse series (Sterling/Splinter) visited SF icon Orson Scott Card, who signed copies of 'Pathfinder' (Simon Pulse).

Printz Award winner (and National Book Award finalist) for 'Ship Breaker' (Little, Brown) Paolo Bacigalupi and his wife, Anjula, at the Printz Award ceremony.

L. to r.: Nancy Paulsen of Penguin, Meredith Level, author Tomie dePaola, and June Level. DePaola accepted the Laura Ingalls Wilder Award for his “substantial and lasting” contribution to children’s literature.

Actress Molly Shannon shows off her new picture book, 'Tilly the Trickster,' illustrated by Ard Hoyt (Abrams) with Andrew Medlar of the Chicago Public Library.

There were Simon & Schuster authors aplenty at the Debut Fiction Author Reception. Top row (l. to r.) Jenny Han ('We'll Always Have Summer'), John Corey Whaley ('Where Things Come Back'), Frances O'Roark Dowell ('Ten Miles Past Normal'), and Michelle Hodkin ('The Unbecoming of Mara Dyer'). Bottom row (l. to r.) Jessica Martinez ('Virtuosity'), Jessi Kirby ('Moonglass'), Elana Johnson ('Possession'), and David Hilton ('Kings of Colorado').

'Divergent' author Veronica Roth (r.) and her editor Molly O’Neill.

Shane Evans signs his forthcoming picture book, 'Chocolate Me!' (Feiwel and Friends), written by Taye Diggs.

Author Blythe Woolston signed copies of her novel 'The Freak Observer' (Carolrhoda Lab).

At the Newbery-Caldecott banquet illustrator Yuyi Morales (second from l.) was joined by (l. to r.) Anne Irza-Leggat, Kristen Nobles, Sharon Hancock, Karen Lotz, and Jenny Choy of Candlewick.

Patrick McDonnell with a fan at the Little, Brown booth for his signing of his Jane Goodall picture-book biography, 'Me... Jane.'

Chef/author Matthew Locricchio (l.) demonstrates recipes from 'Teen Cuisine,' (Marshall Cavendish) on stage, assisted by New Orleans chef Frank Brigtsen and Allison Richard.

Allen Say and his editor Andrea Davis Pinkney show off his latest, the autobiographical 'Drawing from Memory' (Scholastic Press).

Marcus Sedgwick signed copies of 'Revolver' and 'White Crow,' both published by Roaring Brook.

Leanna Renee Hieber (second from r.), author of 'Darker Still' (Sourcebooks Fire), with school librarians (l. to r.) Leanna Mills, Nicole McMickens, and Meg Brooke.

Laini Taylor shows off a poster for her forthcoming novel, 'Daughter of Smoke and Bone' (Little, Brown).

Author Erica Perl got into the spirit of her picture book 'Chicken Butt's Back!', illustrated by Henry Cole, with some very special headgear.

Author Mike Mullin signed 350 advance copies of his forthcoming YA novel 'Ashfall' (Tanglewood) at the show.

Authors Francisco X. Stork and Cynthia Lord at the Scholastic booth.

Penguin authors Carolyn Mackler (l.) and Ruta Sepetys.

Newbery Honor winner (for 'Dark Emperor and Other Poems of the Night') Joyce Sidman and editor Ann Rider, signing at the HMH booth.

Author Carla Killough McClafferty signed 'The Many Faces of George Washington: Remaking a Presidential Icon' at the Lerner booth.

At the Macmillan booth, Julie Halpern signed copies of 'Don't Stop Now' (Feiwel & Friends).

'Zora and Me' authors T. R. Simon (l.) and Victoria Bond (r.) with executive editor Mary Lee Donovan at the Coretta Scott King Breakfast, where they were honored for the John Steptoe New Talent Author Award.

Authors Pam Muñoz Ryan and Tracy Mack at the Pura Belpré Quineañera, celebrating the award's 15th year.

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