The fifth Children’s Institute, which was held in Portland, Ore., from April 5–7, brought together more than 240 booksellers, over half of whom attended for the first time. Although the days of educational programming were intense, there was still time for partying at Powell’s Books, at a reception with dozens of authors, and at the close of the conference. The featured talks with Ilsa Govan, Jason Reynolds, Philip and Erin Stead, and 12-year-old Marley Dias also stood out.

During the book-swap at the opening reception, held at Powell’s Books, booksellers and industry professionals chose new titles to take home. (From l.): Caitlin Jordan (Kepler’s Books in Menlo Park, Calif.), Summer Dawn Laurie (Books Inc. in San Francisco), and Lillian Welch (Island Books on Mercer Island, Wash.).

At Powell’s opening night party: (from l.) Ellen Towell at Karel Dutton; Jill Braithwaite and Livy Traczyk at Lerner Publishing; Jim Nichols at Consortium; Meghan Dietsche Goel at BookPeople in Austin, Tex.; and Annie Farrell at Labyrinth Books in Princeton, N.J.

Jason Reynolds at his breakfast keynote on “Karibu Means Welcome.”

Marley Dias (l.), who launched #1000BlackGirlBooks and is the author of Marley Dias Gets It Done (And So Can You!) (Scholastic, Jan. 2018), in conversation with Suzanna Hermans, co-owner of Oblong Books & Music in Rhinebeck, N.Y.

Shopping the galley room.

(From l.): Jessica Townsend, author of Nevermoor (Little, Brown), and Susan Patterson, author of Big Words for Little Geniuses (LB/Jimmy Patterson).

Earl Dizon at Green Bean Books in Portland, Ore., chats with Victoria Jamieson, author of All’s Faire in Middle School (Dial).

Tim Miller signs Moo Moo in a Tutu (HarperCollins) for Rebecca Crosswhite at Rediscovery Books in Boise, Idaho.

Cornelia Funke, author of The Book That No One Ever Reads (Breathing Books), with Susan Reckers of Orinda Books in Orinda, Calif.

Eucabeth Odhiambo poses with her book, Auma’s Long Run (Lerner).

Miranda Paul, author of Blobfish Throws a Party (Little Bee).

Author Daniel José Older offers a “book toast” about his upcoming project, Shadowhouse Fall, and the influence of booksellers on his life at the Scholastic Meet & Treat Afterparty.

Philip and Erin Stead at the author reception for The Purloining of Prince Oleomargarine (Doubleday, Sept.), an unfinished children’s story by Mark Twain, which they completed.