For booksellers scouting out new and upcoming children’s books, here’s a sampling of projects on display, authors on hand, and raffles and giveaways at the children’s booths. Look for a second installment of booth highlights in tomorrow’s issue.
At booth 3975, Llewellyn Worldwide’s Flux is hosting a trio of meet-and-greet hours with YA authors. Featured today are Tom Pollock (The City’s Son), 1:30–2:30 p.m., and Suzanne Lazear (Innocent Darkness), 2:30–3:30 p.m. Tomorrow, Karen Mahoney (the Iron Witch series) will be at the booth, 2:30–3:30 p.m., and there will be ARCs of Book One. Also tomorrow, there will be finished copies of In Too Deep by Amanda Grace and Ripper by Amy Carol Reeves. Daily giveaways are ARCs of Peter Adam Salomon’s Henry Franks: A Novel.
Harlequin is hosting two Harlequin Teen Hours at booth 3739, during which YA authors will participate in group signings. Appearing today, 11–11:45 a.m., are Julie Kagawa (The Immortal Rules), Aimée Carter (Goddess Interrupted), Maria V. Snyder (Inside), Rachel Vincent (Soul Screamers, vol. 1), and Cayla Kluver (Allegiance). The second session takes place tomorrow, 11–11:45 a.m., and includes Katie McGarry (Pushing the Limits), Julie Kagawa (The Iron King), Cara Lynn Shultz (Spellcaster), and Kady Cross (The Girl in the Clockwork Collar).
Penguin Young Readers Group’s booth (3922) will be abuzz with authors signing over the next two days. First up on today’s agenda is Ruta Sepetys, autographing Between Shades of Gray (Speak), 11a.m.–noon. (Fan alert: the first 100 people in line for this signing will receive a bound manuscript of Sepetys’s forthcoming novel, Out of the Easy, due in spring 2013). Today, 2–3 p.m., Ally Condie will autograph chapter samplers from Reached (Dutton). And tomorrow’s lineup includes Maile Meloy (The Apothecary, Putnam), 10–10:30 a.m.; Jessica Khoury (Origin, Razorbill), 11 a.m.-noon; Marie Lu (Prodigy, Putnam), 12:30–1:30 p.m.; Ashley Edward Miller and Zack Stentz (Colin Fischer, Razorbill), 1:30–2 p.m.; and Curtis Jobling (Wereworld, Dial), 2:30–3:30 p.m. Penguin has a handful of other galley giveaways, among them Adam Gidwitz’s In a Glass Grimmly (Dutton), Falling Kingdoms by Morgan Rhodes (Razorbill), and Michelle Paver’s Gods and Warriors (Dial).
John Green fans will want to be at the booth on Thursday, 10:30 a.m., when the author will reveal the cover of the paperback edition of An Abundance of Katherines. The teenage winner (out of 300 entrants) of the cover design contest Penguin hosted will be announced—and will be present at the reveal. Signed copies of the new design will be given away.
Fans of Courtney Sheinmel’s Stella Batts series will want to drop by the Sleeping Bear Press booth (3548) this morning and Thursday morning, 9 a.m., when the publisher is giving away tote bags containing the first two books in the series. Sheinmel will be at the booth this afternoon, 3:30 p.m., to talk about the series’ newest installment, Stella Batts: Pardon Me, which continues the story of a girl whose parents own a candy shop. To tie in with the story line, chocolate-covered pretzels will be available. Earlier today, Andy Myer will be in the booth, talking about his Delia’s Dull Day at 11 a.m. Booksellers can stop by at noon to pick up a slice of cake celebrating that title and enter a raffle for an original, signed piece of art from the book; the drawing will take place tomorrow at 4 p.m. Tomorrow, 10 a.m.–noon, Sandra Dallas will be at the booth giving away ARCs of her first middle-grade novel, The Quilt Walk. At noon, visitors can sample cornpone and dried fruit in honor of the book, which follows a family’s journey west by covered wagon on the Overland Trail.
At booth 3339, 3340, HarperCollins Children’s Books has a raffle under way for a gift basket celebrating the 60th anniversary of E.B. White’s Charlotte’s Web. Other happenings at the booth are an appearance by Melissa Marr, who will sign galleys of Carnival of Souls, a September release, this afternoon, 2:30–3:30 p.m., and a joint signing tomorrow, 1–2 p.m., by the participants in the latest Dark Days group author tour, Bethany Griffin (Masque of the Red Death), Elizabeth Norris (Unraveling), Veronica Roth (Insurgent), and Aprilynne Pike (Destined).
There’s considerable author traffic at booth 2663, where Amazon Children’s Publishing (which includes Marshall Cavendish Children) is hosting five autographings. Today, Susan Ee signs ARCs of Angelfall, 11 a.m.–noon, and Debby Dahl Edwardson autographs copies of My Name Is Not Easy, 3:30–4:30 p.m. Tomorrow, Sarah Fine will be on hand to sign ARCs of Sanctum, 11 a.m.–noon, and Katie D. Anderson will sign ARCs of Kiss & Make Up, 2–3 p.m. Thursday’s author guest is Mary Tavener Holmes, who will sign copies of The Elephant from Baghdad, 10:30–11:30 a.m.
At the Disney Publishing Worldwide booth (3351, 3352), half a dozen galleys are up for grabs, as well as a handful of other giveaways, including an ornament promoting Bob Shea’s Dinosaur vs. Santa, a water bottle touting Rick Riordan’s Heroes of Olympus series, a tote bag featuring the It’s a Small World book program, and posters based on the Seven Realms series by Cinda Williams Chima and Riordan’s The Kane Chronicles: The Red Pyramid; The Graphic Novel. Pat Olliffe will be at the booth, signing copies of Captain America Joins the Mighty Avengers this afternoon, 2–3 p.m.
Seven Stories Press is hosting an author signing today, 2–3 p.m., at booth 4050. James Lecesne will talk about and autograph copies of his September YA novel, Trevor, which centers on a boy who is misunderstood by his parents and harassed at school for being different. Lecesne is cofounder of the Trevor Project, a nationwide 24-hour crisis intervention and suicide prevention lifeline for LGBT and questioning teens.
Simon & Schuster Children’s Publishing will welcome a trio of authors to booth 3657. This afternoon, 12:30–1:30 p.m., William Joyce signs copies of his July release, The Fantastic Flying Books of Mr. Morris Lessmore (Atheneum), illustrated by Joe Bluhm, which inspired the Oscar-winning short film of the same name. Following that, 2–3 p.m., illustrator Peter Brown will be on hand to sign Creepy Carrots! (S&S), an August picture book by Aaron Reynolds about a rabbit who fears his favorite treats are out to get him. And tomorrow, Becca Fitzpatrick will autograph Finale (S&S), the October conclusion to the Hush, Hush saga, 9:30–10:30 a.m.
Little, Brown Books for Young Readers has a roster of authors visiting booth 3632. Lemony Snicket makes an appearance today, 11 a.m.–noon, to promote “Who Could That Be at This Hour?” the October launch title of his four-book All the Wrong Questions series, inspired by classic noir novels in the vein of Raymond Chandler and Dashiell Hammett. To promote the book, the publisher is distributing promotional kits designed to look like attaché cases, which contain chapter samplers. This afternoon, 3–4 p.m., James Patterson will be at the booth to sign ARCs of Confessions of a Murder Suspect, his first YA detective novel, due in September. After emceeing tomorrow’s Children’s Book and Author Breakfast, Chris Colfer of TV’s Glee will be at the booth, 11 a.m.–noon, to sign ARCs of his debut book, The Land of Stories: The Wishing Spell, a July release. Tomorrow afternoon, 3–4 p.m., Libba Bray will autograph ARCs of The Diviners, the debut title of a historical paranormal series, due in September. Visitors to the booth will be greeted by a life-size standee monster promoting Patrick McDonnell’s The Monsters’ Monster, a September picture book.
Today and tomorrow at 9 a.m., visitors to the booth of Macmillan Children’s Publishing Group (3358) can pick up tote bags commemorating the 50th anniversary of Madeleine L’Engle’s A Wrinkle in Time. The publisher will host three in-booth author autographings during the show: Gennifer Albin will sign ARCs of Crewel (FSG) today at 11:30 a.m., and author Philip Stead and illustrator Erin Stead will sign copies of Bear Has a Story to Tell (Roaring Brook) this afternoon at 3 p.m. Tomorrow, Michael Grant and Katherine Applegate will autograph ARCs of Eve and Adam (Feiwel and Friends) at 2 p.m. The publisher is giving away galleys of Eve and Adam today at 2 p.m. and of Crewel tomorrow at 11 a.m. Tickets for each day’s signings and galley giveaways will be handed out in the booth starting at 9 a.m. the morning of the event. And throughout BEA, fans of Lane Smith can have their photo taken with a life-size standee of Abraham Lincoln, created by the author for his Abe Lincoln’s Dream, an October novel from Roaring Brook.
Visitors to American Girl Publishing’s booth (2657, 2658) will get a sneak preview of the company’s newest historical character as well as of the 2012 Girl of the Year, McKenna. A fourth-grader who is a skilled gymnast and struggles with reading, McKenna is the star of two January releases, McKenna and McKenna, Ready to Fly! by Mary Casanova. The author will sign copies of McKenna at the booth today, 1–2 p.m., and tomorrow, 11 a.m.–noon. Giveaways at the booth include copies of I [Heart] Art by Aubre Andrus, Marie-Grace treasure totes, and Cécile treasure totes.
Among the authors making headlines at the Headline Books booth (2976) is Tim Packman, whose Funny Dan the Race Car Man (NASCAR Library Collection) recently received a Mom’s Choice Award. Packman will sign copies of the book, which is illustrated by Brendan Sellaro, this morning, 9–10 a.m., and again tomorrow at 11:30 a.m.
Those visiting the Sourcebooks booth (4112) will learn that the publisher is commemorating its 25th anniversary and the fifth anniversary of its children’s imprint, Sourcebooks Jabberwocky. The company’s 25th anniversary promotions and giveaways at the booth are highlighted on page 28. Author signings at the booth include Kristi Yamaguchi (It’s a Big World, Little Pig!), today, 1–2 p.m.; mother-daughter authors Sheryl Berk and Carrie Berk (The Cupcake Club: Recipe for Trouble) today, 3–4 p.m.; Len Berman (Great Moments in Sports: Upsets and Underdogs), tomorrow, 1–2 p.m.; and Marissa Moss (Mira’s Diary: Lost in Paris), tomorrow, 3–4 p.m.
Visitors to the National Center for Youth Issues booth (3283) can meet author Julia Cook, who will be spending several hours there each day of the show. Julia will be accompanied by Jake and Angus, two service dogs certified by Child Watch, which Cook uses to talk with children about “stranger danger.” The most recent books by the author, who addresses issues that affect kids, are Wilma Jean the Worry Machine, recipient of a Mom’s Choice Award, and Blue-loon, which addresses depression.
At the Scholastic booth (3439), in addition to celebrating four anniversaries—Clifford’s 50th, Klutz’s 35th, Goosebumps’s 20th, and Captain Underpants’s 15th—staffers are giving out an assortment of ARCs of lead fall titles. Booksellers can pick up Maggie Stiefvater’s The Raven Boys (Scholastic Press); James Dashner’s A Mutiny in Time, the launch title of Infinity Ring (Scholastic); Captain Underpants and the Terrifying Return of Tippy Tinkletrousers by Dav Pilkey (Scholastic); Kirsty McKay’s Undead (Chicken House); and Stealing Air by Trent Reedy (Arthur A. Levine).
Today at 4 p.m. at booth 2968, Capstone will host a launch party for Capstone Young Readers, a new imprint that encompasses board books, early- and middle-grade fiction, graphic novels, and novelty and craft books. Four in-booth author signings are scheduled. Today, Michael Dahl autographs ARCs of Troll Hunters, 10–11 a.m., and returns tomorrow, 10–11 a.m., to sign ARCs of Hocus Pocus Hotel. Tomorrow, 10–11 a.m., Fran Manushkin will be on hand to autograph ARCs of Katie Woo Rules the School, and on Thursday, Art Baltazar will sign posters promoting DC Super-Pets!, 9:30–10:30 a.m. Booksellers stopping by the booth can pick up a Capstone book bag, a Hocus Pocus Hotel deck of cards, and a Troll Hunters postcard.
In addition to Candlewick Press’s raffle at booth 2758 to win a set of 20 books to mark the house’s 20th anniversary and an anniversary T-shirt giveaway, the publisher is hosting a roster of authors at its booth. Today, Geoffrey Hayes will sign ARCs of Benny and Penny in Lights Out, 11:30 a.m.–12:30 p.m., and M.T. Anderson will autograph ARCs of Feed, 3:30–4:30 p.m. On hand tomorrow are Lesléa Newman, signing galleys of October Mourning, 10:30–11:30 a.m.; Wendy Delsol, autographing galleys of Flock, 1:30–2:30 p.m.; and Steve Light signing lithographs from Zephyr Takes Flight, 3–4 p.m. Other giveaways include baseball caps promoting Jon Klassen’s This Is Not My Hat, posters for Gary Ross’s Bartholomew Biddle and the Very Big Wind and for Toon Books’ A Trip to the Bottom of the World with Mouse by Frank Viva, and—well attuned to fairgoers—“B is for Bookseller” posters tying into Paul Thurlby’s Alphabet, a Templar title.
Exhibiting in the Independent Book Publishers Association booth (3044) is Little Valley Books, an imprint of Woodglen Publishing that was founded to publish “Books by Kids for Kids.” Two of the imprint’s young authors will appear at the booth today to sign their new books. Seven-year-old Finnoula Louise will autograph copies of Cookies Cookies: A Year of Holiday Treats, a collection of gluten-free recipes, 10–10: 30 a.m. And nine-year-old Christopher John will sign copies of Marvin the Shark, an illustrated story about a shark who stands up to bullies, 10:30–11 a.m.
At booth 3940, Random House Children’s Books will be abuzz with author autographings during the show. Appearing today are Candace Fleming and Eric Rohmann, author and illustrator of Oh, No!, signing f&g’s, 1:30–2:30 p.m. Tomorrow’s lineup includes Kadir Nelson, signing ARCs of I Have a Dream, 10:30–11:30 a.m.; N.D. Wilson autographing ARCs of The Drowned Vault, 1–2 p.m.; Rebecca Stead, signing ARCs of Liar and Spy, 1:30–2:30 p.m.; and John Stephens, autographing chapter samplers from The Fire Chronicle, 2:30–3:30 p.m. On deck Thursday are James Dashner, signing ARCs of The Kill Order, 9–10 a.m.; author Judy Sierra and illustrator Marc Brown, autographing f&g’s of Wild About You!, 10:30–11:30 a.m.; David Levithan signing ARCs of Every Day, 1–2 p.m.; and Mark Frost signing ARCs of The Paladin Prophecy, 1:30–2:30 p.m.
And at the Bloomsbury booth (3458), where the publisher is celebrating the 10th anniversary of Bloomsbury Kids, booksellers can enter a raffle for an iPad loaded with selections from books on Bloomsbury’s adult and children’s lists. Featured fall titles and the times that galleys of them will be given away are Beautiful Lies by Jessica Warman (today, 9:30 a.m.), Shannon Hale’s Princess Academy: Palace of Stone (today, 3 p.m., and tomorrow, 2 p.m.), Dark Lord by Jamie Thomson (tomorrow, 9:30 a.m.), and Throne of Glass by Sarah J. Maas (tomorrow, 11:30 a.m. and 3 p.m.).
