The 99th annual Children’s Book Week took place April 30 through May 6. More than 800 libraries, schools, and bookstores nationwide organized more than 2,500 storytimes, activity hours, and author and illustrator events celebrating the joy of children’s books. We’ve rounded up a selection of highlights from the festivities.

In celebration of Independent Bookstore Day and Children’s Book Week, Chapters Bookshop and the Conservatory of Dance & Theatre in Galax, Va., hosted Storytime Ballet, featuring Charlie and the Chocolate Factory, on April 28 at the bookstore. Photo: Tina Vaughn.

On May 3, Philip Stead appeared at the Library of Congress in Washington, D.C., for a conversation with Lee Ann Potter, director of educational outreach at the LOC, about the story behind the discovery and recent publication of The Purloining of Prince Oleomargarine, a previously unfinished Mark Twain folktale brought to life by the Caldecott Medal-winning author-illustrator couple Philip and Erin Stead. Photo: Library of Congress.

Author Dianne Ochiltree read from her picture books It’s a Seashell Day, It’s a Firefly Night, and Molly, By Golly at Copperfish Books in Punta Gorda, Fla., in celebration of Indie Bookstore Day and CBW. The reading was one of 50 Spotlight Events that took place during Children’s Book Week. Photo: Serena Wyckoff, co-owner of Copperfish.

A young reader does her best Judy Moody impression at The King’s English Bookshop in Salt Lake City. Photo: Jamie Ortwein.

Indian Trail Elementary School in Indian Trail, N.C., held an outdoor Books and Blankets event. Photo: Victoria Landon.

Chef Gino, author of Chef Gin’s Taste Test Challenge, led a pasta-making session at Charlie’s Corner in San Francisco. Photo: Carine Roch.

Maira Kalman, author of Cake, signed books and shared treats at the Brooklyn Public Library.

Audrey Penn, bestselling author of the Kissing Hand series, visited the Country Bookshop in Southern Pines, N.C. Chester Raccoon also made an appearance. Photo: Angie Tally, the Country Bookshop.

Students at Miller Elementary School in Levittown, Pa., cast their ballots for the Children’s Choice Book Awards. Photo: Catherine Riley.

Teachers paid tribute to the Harry Potter series during Dress Like a Book Character Day at DaVinci Academy in Ham Lake, Minn.

Author Ame Dyckman stopped by the Storytelling Lab at Stories Bookshop in Brooklyn to share her new book, Misunderstood Shark, for a Children’s Book Week storytime. Photo: Maggie Pouncey, co-owner Stories Bookshop + Storytelling Lab.

Bookstores from coast to coast participated in the annual Children’s Book Week display contest. Treehouse Toys in Portland, Me., channeled the jungle-themed Book Week poster, which was designed by author-illustrator Jillian Tamaki. Photo: Rania Levine.

Nine-year-old Ainsley with American Girl author Mary Casanova at Bentonville Public Library during the fourth annual Youth Literature Festival in Bentonville, Ark., on April 28. Casanova shared what’s like to be a writer and how she researches and creates her books. Photo: Megan Byrnes, library specialist, Bentonville Library.

Clifford the Big Red Dog made a special appearance at Silver Lake Library in Silver Lake, Kans. Photo: Tracey DeShazo. See you next year for the 100th annual Children’s Book Week!

For more Children’s Book Week photos, visit the Every Child a Reader Facebook page.