The 24th annual Texas Book Festival took place on October 26–27 in and around the grounds of the State Capitol Building in Austin, drawing approximately 50,000 book lovers and featuring more than 250 authors, including many acclaimed children’s book creators. We’ve gathered a selection of highlights from the presentations, signings, activities, and more.
Graphix Con Kidnote authors (from l.) Gale Galligan (Kristy’s Big Day: The Baby-Sitters Club Graphic Novel #6), Raina Telgemeier (Guts), and Molly Ostertag (The Midwinter Witch) outside the capitol building.
The “When I Was a Kid: Writing Books Inspired by Our Childhoods” panel brought together (from l.) Newbery Medalist Meg Medina (Merci Suárez Changes Gears, Candlewick), Ibtihaj Muhammad (The Proudest Blue: A Story of Hijab and Family, Little, Brown), Ibi Zoboi (My Life as an Ice Cream Sandwich, Dutton), and moderator Mary Ann Fitch.
Author Laurie Halse Anderson signs copies of her YA memoir told in free verse, Shout (Viking). Photo: Xander Christou, Forever Bookish.
R.J. Palacio (r.), author of the new graphic novel White Bird (Knopf), appeared in conversation with Sharyn Vane at the First United Methodist Church. Photo: Xander Christou, Forever Bookish.
Caldecott Medalist Matthew Cordell (Explorers, Feiwel and Friends) gives a drawing demo.
The “New Chapter Books for Early Readers” panel featured (from l.) Kelly Starling Lyons (Jada Jones: Dancing Queen, Penguin Workshop), Juana Medina (Juana & Lucas: Big Problemas, Candlewick), and Christina Soontornvat (Diary of an Ice Princess: Snow Place Like Home, Scholastic).
Rainbow Rowell (r.) spoke about her new novel, Wayward Son (Wednesday), sequel to Carry On, with Mariko Tamaki (Laura Dean Keeps Breaking Up with Me, First Second). Photo: Xander Christou, Forever Bookish.
Varian Johnson (l.) (The Parker Inheritance, Scholastic/Levine), Barry Wittenstein and illustrator Jerry Pinkney (r.) (A Place to Land, Holiday House/Porter), with Sharon Robinson (Child of the Dream, Scholastic Press), during the “Writing the Civil Rights Movement” panel.
Anna Meriano, author of Love Sugar Magic: A Dash of Trouble (Walden Pond), meets a fan.
(From l.): Eric Velasquez (Octopus Stew, Holiday House) and Matt Tavares (Dasher, Candlewick) getting ready to duel in the “Ready, Set, Draw!” competition.
Ruta Sepetys (l.) (The Fountains of Silence, Philomel) on the “Repeating the Past” panel with moderator Tiffany Yates. Photo: Xander Christou, Forever Bookish.
YA authors (from l.) moderator Kendra Fortmeyer (Hole in the Middle, Soho Teen), Jennifer Mathieu (The Liars of Mariposa Island, Roaring Brook), Randy Ribay (Patron Saints of Nothing, Kokila), Tiffany Jackson (Let Me Hear a Rhyme, HarperCollins/Tegen), and Matt Mendez (Barely Missing Everything, Atheneum/Dlouhy) served on the “What I Never Told You” panel, about spinning secrets.
Author Julie Fogliano and illustrator Christian Robinson signing their new picture book, Just in Case You Want to Fly (Holiday House/Porter).
Andy Griffiths gave out pre-purchased copies of The 117-Story Treehouse (Feiwel and Friends) at Newton Collins Elementary.
