Thousands gathered on the Texas State Capitol grounds in Austin, Tex., on October 25 and 26 to attend the 18th annual Texas Book Festival. Among the 296 authors in attendance were Jacqueline Woodson, Jon Scieszka, Linda Sue Park, Varian Johnson, Nathan Hale, Andrea Davis Pinkney and Jack Gantos. Panels ranged from middle grade magical realism to a #WeNeedDiverseBooks session, and a meet-and-greet with the Kirkus Prize finalists. Here we share some of the festival's photographic highlights.

(From l.) Authors Rick Yancey, Lindsay Cummings, and Dayna Lorentz, deep in the heart of Texas.

Authors Cece Bell and Mac Barnett at the Texas Book Festival’s Literary Gala.

Jacqueline Woodson, whose memoir, Brown Girl Dreaming, is a National Book Award finalist, meets a young reader.

Tad Carpenter celebrates I Say, You Say Feelings! with students as part of the TBF’s Reading Rockstars program.

Duncan Tonatiuh says a few words after hearing that his picture book Pancho Rabbit and the Coyote is on the Texas Bluebonnet Master List.

From the “Beginning, Middle, End: A Trio of Trilogies” panel: (from l.) Deron Hicks, Edward Carey, Topher Bradfield, and Adam Gidwitz.

Authors Deborah Wiles (Revolution), Trent Reedy (If You’re Reading This), and Natalie Lloyd (A Snicker of Magic) catch up in the Author Hospitality Room.

Michelle Knudsen is greeted by students at Hillcrest Elementary School in Austin, where she read her picture book, Argus, to students.

From the “SA-WOON” panel: (from l.) moderator Sarah Pitre, author Rebecca Serle, author Stephanie Perkins, and author Jennifer E. Smith.

“Capers, Cons, and Catastrophes” panelists and local authors: (from l.) Varian Johnson (The Great Greene Heist), Jennifer Ziegler (Revenge of the Flower Girls), and Greg Leitich Smith (Little Green Men).

Dragonbreath fans showed off their new Dragonbreath hats.