This week, Dave Eggers and Shawn Harris help launch a book-giving campaign; Elizabeth Verdick returns to her old stomping grounds; an annual YA book conference turns 14; a YA festival comes of age; Sharee Miller celebrates her debut picture book; and Innosanto Nagara presents his new book to D.C.-area kids.

On the Right Foot

Chronicle Books and First Book co-sponsored an assembly at P.S. 21 Edward Hart Elementary School in Flushing, N.Y, on November 14. Dave Eggers and Shawn Harris, author and illustrator of the picture book, Her Right Foot, were there to kick off Chronicle’s #GiveBooks campaign, which encourages giving books for the holidays and in turn donates books to First Book. Eggers read Her Right Foot, which is about the history and meaning of the Statue of Liberty, and Harris led the students in an interactive art and storytelling activity.

A Winter-Ready Book Launch

The coating of snow on the ground outside provided a perfect set-up for the launch party for Small Walt, the story of a little snowplow, written by Elizabeth Verdick and illustrated by Marc Rosenthal. The event was held at Red Balloon Bookshop in St. Paul, Minn., on November 4, and included a table-top sized Walt crafted by a friend of Verdick. The location was especially appropriate, as Verdick once worked at the bookstore. Here, booksellers Julie Poling (l.) and Lily Tschudi-Campbell (r.) are pictured with Verdick (center), the Walt sculpture, and cake. Readers were also served “snowballs” (powdered-sugar donut holes).

In Conference

Anderson’s Bookshop hosted its 14th annual Young Adult Literature Conference on November 4, in Lisle, Ill. The event brought together teachers, fans, and librarians for a full day of book talks, keynotes, and meet-and-greets with YA authors. Here, Julie C. Dao (l.), author of Forest of a Thousand Lanterns, catches up with Traci Chee (the Sea of Ink and Gold series).

Authors Flock to Rochester

The Rochester Children’s Book Festival, now in its 21st year, was held on November 4 at Monroe Community College in Rochester, N.Y. The event hosted 46 authors and illustrators and more than 3,000 attendees. Seen here, a fan gets the chance to meet Tui T. Sutherland (r.), author of the Wings of Fire series.

Princesses Welcome

Sharee Miller celebrated the launch of her debut picture book, Princess Hair (Little, Brown), about diverse princesses and their different kinds of hair, at Books of Wonder in New York City on November 11. Miller spoke about her inspirations for the book and signed copies for fans.

Portrait of the Author

Author Innosanto Nagara (A Is for Activist), visited Politics and Prose in Washington, D.C., on November 9, to share his new picture book, The Wedding Portrait (Triangle Square). Nagara read the book to a large group of students from area schools.