This week, children’s book authors travel to Israel; an author meets one of her idols; Henry Lien has a surprise guest at his book party; chef and author Heather Kim takes her sweet revenge on-air; author Jessie Janowitz has a doughnut-themed book launch; and author Amy Trueblood celebrates the release of her historical YA novel.

An Incredible Journey

Twenty children’s book authors, including Marla Frazee, Kimberly Brubaker Bradley, and Gail Carson Levine, took a recent weeklong tour of Israel that was sponsored by the children’s literacy programs PJ Library and PJ Our Way. The authors visited an archaeological dig, saw the Dead Sea Scrolls, and visited a children’s village called Yemin Orde, among other highlights.

Famously Weird

Author Becky Cattie got to meet one of her idols and an inspiration behind the picture book she co-wrote with sister Tara Luebbe, I Am Famous (Albert Whitman). Cattie attended a Weird Al concert in Chicago on April 7, where she met the performer backstage; she brought a copy of his picture book When I Grow Up to have it signed.

Calling All Future Legends

Henry Lien’s launch event for his novel Peasprout Chen, Future Legend of Skate and Sword (Holt) was held at Children’s Book World in Los Angeles on April 7. Lien (seated, far r.) was joined by his friend, actress Idina Menzel (seated, front row), who gave a surprise performance for attendees.

Sweet!

Pastry chef and author Heather Kim appeared on the Jason Show, a Minneapolis program hosted by Jason Matheson (pictured), to discuss her YA cookbook Sweet Revenge: Passage Aggressive Desserts for Your Exes & Enemies (Capstone). While on the show, she created one of the dishes from the book, “When I Think of Us, Ice Cream.”

‘Dough-Nut’ Touch the Pages

Author Jessie Janowitz celebrated the publication of The Doughnut Fix (Sourcebooks) at Books of Wonder on the Upper West Side on April 7. She was joined by some very eager readers, who also satisfied their own doughnut fixes.

Sky High

Author Amy Trueblood (l.) spoke in conversation with fellow author Kate Watson at the launch for Trueblood’s YA historical novel, Nothing but Sky (Flux). The event was held on Mar. 31 at Changing Hands Bookstore in Tempe, Ariz. The event included a cake that featured the cover image from Trueblood’s book.