Winter Institute 2024 took place last week in Cincinnati, and approximately 950 booksellers met more than 100 authors of books for all ages. More than 30 of the featured authors were children’s book creators, ranging from debut authors to well-known names. We’ve gathered a selection of photos from the events, which included formal signings hosted by the American Booksellers Association, as well as offsite celebrations at local restaurants, where publishers presented their authors during dinners for booksellers.
(From l.): Laurie Halse Anderson (Rebellion 1776, Atheneum/Dlouhy) with Ellen Hall and her daughter, Emily Schroen (r.), the owners of Main Street Books in St. Charles, Mo. Photo: Claire Kirch.
(From l.): Jasmine Atkins of Birdsong Bookstore in Locust Grove, Ga.; Fatuma Hyara of Tuma’s Books in Mt. Vernon, N.Y.; children’s book author, publisher, bookseller, and literacy advocate Artika Tyner of Planting People Growing Justice in St. Paul, Minn.; and Zsamé Morgan of Babycake’s Bookstack mobile bookstore in St. Paul. Photo: Kirch.
Debut middle grade author Allie Millington (Olivetti, Feiwel and Friends) with Erica Caldwell of Author’s Note Bookshop in Medina, N.Y., during the Indies Introduce book signing. Photo: Kirch.
Ray Xu (l.), author of the graphic novel Alterations, spoke with bookseller Anju Gogia of Another Story Bookshop. Both are from Toronto. Photo: Nathalie op de Beeck.
Connie Schultz (l.), author of Lola and the Troll (Razorbill), signing a copy of her book for Kate Schlademan, owner of The Learned Owl in Hudson, Ohio, during the authors reception. Photo: Kirch.
Poet Toby Keith Jr. talking with booksellers, including Ari Wagoner of White Whale Bookstore in Pittsburgh, about his debut YA memoir in verse, How the Boogeyman Became a Poet (HarperCollins/Tegen), during the HarperCollins Children’s Publishing dinner at Moerlein Lager House Restaurant. Photo: Kirch.
(From l.): Loretta Lopez, the author of City Girls (Triangle Square), with her editor, Claire Kelley, who is also director of library and academic marketing at Seven Stories Press. Photo: Kirch.
On February 13, the marketing teams for sister companies Holiday House, Peachtree, Pixel+Ink, and Candlewick hosted a dinner for booksellers with creators from each publishing house: (top row, from l.) Kekla Magoon (The Secret Library and Blue Stars: The Vice Principal Problem, Candlewick), Lauren Castillo (Just Like Millie, Candlewick), Will Hillenbrand (Turtle-Turtle and the Wide, Wide River, Holiday House), Scott Kurtz (Table Titans Club, Holiday House), Karen Walsh (executive director of marketing and publicity, brands and key titles at Candlewick Press), (bottom row, from l.) Jane Hillenbrand (Turtle-Turtle and the Wide, Wide River), Elise Supovitz (executive director, independent retail and Canada sales at Candlewick Press), Colleen Oakes (Second Favorite Daughters Club 1: Sister Sabotage, Pixel+Ink), Elyse Vincenty (trade marketing manager at Holiday House/Peachtree/Pixel+Ink), Erica Ivy Rodgers (Lady of Steel and Straw, Peachtree Teen), and Michelle Montague (executive director, marketing at Holiday House/Peachtree/Pixel+Ink). Photo courtesy of Sara DiSalvo.
(From l.): Zoe Hana Mikuta, author of the Korean-inspired sapphic fantasy Off with Their Heads (Disney Hyperion), and Maryan Liban, education and community relations lead bookseller at Cover to Cover Books for Young Readers in Columbus, Ohio. Photo: Kirch.
Jonathan Todd (l.) signed his graphic novel Timid (Scholastic/Graphix) for booksellers Jillian Hartline and Lauren Tiedemann of Book Ends in Winchester, Mass. Photo: op de Beeck.
Lorraine Wilburn (l.) of Little Sparrow Bookshop in North Canton, Ohio, and Megan Lally, the debut YA author of That’s Not My Name (Sourcebooks Fire). Photo: Kirch.
Phuc Tran got into character as a moody construction worker for his picture book Cranky (HarperCollins), illustrated by Pete Oswald. Photo: op de Beeck.
