Children’s booksellers attending BookExpo will have ample opportunity to find authors autographing books at their publishers’ booths—where they’ll also find goodies to grab. Here’s a sampling of some of the in-booth signings to be found while browsing the booths.
Celebrating its 40th anniversary, Peachtree will host a quartet of authors and illustrators signing their work in-booth (1811) on June 1 and 2. On June 1, 12:30–1 p.m., Raúl Colón, the illustrator of Miguel’s Brave Knight (Oct.), will sign copies of Margarita Engle’s fictionalized biography, told in verse, of Miguel de Cervantes Saavedra, who wrote Don Quixote.
On June 2, illustrator Kristy Caldwell will be on hand, 9:30–10 a.m., to autograph copies of Flowers for Sarajevo, in which author and singer-songwriter John McCutcheon tells of a boy, inspired by the brave cellist of Sarajevo, who helps to spread peace and beauty in war-torn Sarajevo. From 2 to 2:30 p.m., Lisa Papp signs Madeline Finn and the Library Dog, which shows reading can be fun. And Bethan Woollvin autographs copies of Rapunzel (Oct.), which offers a dark twist on a classic tale, 3–3:30 p.m.
At Disney Worldwide Publishing’s booth (1709) on June 1, 2–3 p.m., Tamara Ireland Stone will sign galleys of her first middle grade novel, Click’d (Sept.). On June 2, Mo Willems will be at the booth, 10:30–11:30 a.m., signing f&gs of Sam, the Most Scaredy Cat Kid in the World (Sept.), his upcoming companion to Leonardo, the Terrible Monster. And Jason Reynolds, a speaker at the Children’s Book & Author Breakfast, rounds out the in-booth roster on June 2, 4–5 p.m., when he autographs galleys of Miles Morales: A Spider-Man Novel (Aug.).
North-South will welcome a handful of book creators to its booth (1527) beginning with author Shana Corey and illustrator R. Gregory Christie, who will sign copies of A Time to Act: John F. Kennedy’s Big Speech at 11 a.m.–noon on June 1. At 2–3 p.m., Jackie Azúa Kramer autographs The Green Umbrella, a friendship story illustrated by Maral Sassouni; after that, Carol Roth will sign Hold Your Temper, Tiger, 3:30–4:30 p.m. And on June 2, 10:30–11:30 a.m., Caroline Nastro will be on hand to autograph The Bear Who Couldn’t Sleep, which follows a bear’s adventures in always-sleepless New York City.
Macmillan will host a trio of authors at its booths (3008, 3009) and have some freebies for booksellers to grab. On June 1, 10–11 a.m., Newbery Medalist Katherine Applegate will be on hand to sign ARCs of her new novel Wishtree (Feiwel and Friends, Sept.), and Macmillan will have a wishtree facsimile at the booth for booksellers to leave their own wishes.
On June 2, 10–11 a.m., Dan Santat will sign copies of After the Fall (Roaring Brook, Oct.), a picture book that reimagines the aftermath of Humpty Dumpty’s mishap. Mitali Perkins appears next, 11:30 a.m.–12:30 p.m., to sign ARCs of You Bring the Distant Near (Farrar, Straus and Giroux, Sept.), a YA novel chronicling three generations of an Indian-American family.
Sourcebooks is celebrating the 10th anniversary of its Jabberwocky children’s imprint, and visitors to the booth (2521) can enter a raffle to win a library of bestselling Jabberwocky titles. The publisher will also be running social media anniversary promotions throughout the show, giving away books and swag (#BookExpo, #Jabb10Years). On June 2, 1:30–2:30 p.m., MarcyKate Connolly will autograph galleys of Shadow Weaver (Jan., 2018), starring a girl who can manipulate shadows.
The Revell booth (214) is gearing up to host debut author Shawn Smucker on June 1, 11–11:45 a.m., who will sign ARCs of The Day the Angels Fell (Sept.), a YA novel about a boy who, after his mother’s death, launches a search for answers that entangles him in an ancient conflict and leads him on a journey to find the Tree of Life.
Penguin will host a roster of authors at its booth (1921). First up, on June 1, is Kristin Cashore, who will be on hand from 2 to 3 p.m. to sign galleys of her new standalone YA novel, Jane, Unlimited (Kathy Dawson Books, Sept.). On June 2, 10–11 a.m., Judy Schachner will autograph prints from Sarabella’s Thinking Cap (Sept.), the story of a creative girl who can’t help thinking outside of the box. Following that, 11 a.m.–noon, Marie Lu will sign galleys of Warcross (Putnam, Sept.), introducing a girl who hacks her way into a reality game—and into a dangerous new world. Tochi Onyebuchi will sign galleys of Beasts Made of Night (Razorbill, Oct.), a YA Buzz pick, 1:30–2:30 p.m., and 2–3 p.m., Reshma Saujani will autograph galleys of Girls Who Code: Learn to Code and Change the World (Viking, Aug.). Peter Bognanni will wrap up the day’s author visits, 4–5 p.m., signing galleys of Things I’m Seeing Without You (Dial, Oct.), a YA novel about finding love after loss.
Booksellers will find plenty of activity in the Capstone booth (421). On June 1, 10–11 a.m., Michael Dahl will sign copies of Good Morning, Superman! and Be a Star, Wonder Woman! (June). And from 2 to 3 p.m., Fran Manushkin will sign copies of Pedro, First Grade Hero. On June 2, Craig Dirkes signs copies of Sucktown, Alaska, 10–11 a.m., and Angie Stanton will autograph copies of Walking in Time, 1:30–2:30 p.m.
At Ingram’s booth (2548C), Cameron + Company’s Cameron Kids imprint will host Linda Olafsdottir on June 1, 11 a.m.–noon, when she will sign copies of her new picture book, Play? This Icelandic author-illustrator’s debut book introduces two children and their stuffed animal friends, and spotlights the delicate negotiations that toddler play involves.
Candlewick’s booth (2421) will be abuzz with authors. On June 1, 10–11 a.m., Christopher Silas Neal will sign lithos of I Won’t Eat That (Nov.), the story of a feline who’s a picky eater. Following that, 11:30 a.m.–12:30 p.m., Amy Hest will autograph lithos of On the Night of the Shooting Star (Sept.), an ode to slow-blooming friendship. And 1–2 p.m., Doreen Rappaport will sign lithos of her Jackie Robinson bio, 42 Is Not Just a Number (Sept.). Next up, 2–3 p.m., will be Sally Lloyd-Jones autographing lithos of His Royal Highness, King Baby (Sept.), a new-sibling tale. Matt Tavares will be on hand, 3:30–4:30 p.m., to sign lithos of Red and Lulu (Sept.), a holiday love story set in New York City.
On June 2, 10–11 a.m., Lindsay Eager will autograph galleys of her middle grade steampunk feminist pirate romp, Race to the Bottom of the Sea (Oct.). From 11:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m., author Jancee Dunn and illustrator Scott Nash will sign lithos of their stuffed-animal caper, I’m Afraid Your Teddy Is in Trouble Today (Oct.). And 1:30–2:30 p.m., Pete Hautman will autograph copies of Slider (Sept.), a novel combining sibling dynamics and competitive eating.
Also spotlighted at Candlewick’s booth will be the following titles, whose creators are attending BookExpo: My Brigadista Year (Oct.) by Katherine Paterson; Mira Bartók’s The Wonderling (Sept.); The Wolf, the Duck, and the Mouse (Oct.) by Jon Klassen and Mac Barnett; and Schomburg: The Man Who Built a Library (Sept.) by Carole Boston Weatherford, illus. by Eric Velasquez.
Fabled Films Press will welcome two authors to the booth (2452A). On June 1, 11 a.m., the debut author-illustrator team Rumur Dowling and Waymond Singleton will sign limited-edition prints featuring artwork from The Nocturnals: The Moonlight Meeting (Sept.), a friendship story set in the nighttime world. And on June 2, at 2 p.m., Tracey Hecht will sign finished copies of another installment in the series, The Nocturnals: The Fallen Star, illus. by Kate Liebman.
Early birds stopping by Sleeping Bear Press’s booth (508) at 9 a.m. on June 1 can pick up the publisher’s “traditional show opener” giveaway—tote bags featuring Courtney Sheinmel’s feisty heroine, Stella Batts. From 10 a.m. to noon, Denise Brennan-Nelson will sign copies of the latest installment of her Willow series, Willow and the Wedding, and—given the protagonist’s snack of choice—there just may be doughnuts.
On June 1, from 2 to 3 p.m., mother-daughter collaborators Gina Cascone and Bryony Williams Sheppard will sign copies of their debut picture book, Around the World Right Now, a travelogue through the time zones. And Sheinmel will sign copies of Stella Batts: Broken Birthday, 4–5 p.m.—when there just may be cupcakes.
On June 2 at 11 a.m., Trina Hakes Noble will sign copies of The Legend of Sea Glass; and 2–3 p.m., William Meyer will autograph copies of the paperback edition of the first book in the Horace j. Edwards and the Time Keepers series, The Secret of the Scarab Beetle.
At 3 p.m., the publisher will hold a raffle for signed prints by David C. Gardner, illustrator of Noble’s fall title, Rettie and the Ragamuffin Parade (Sept.). A note to booth visitors: bring pennies! To celebrate the publication of this book, centered on children living in Manhattan tenements in 1918 who solicited pennies during an annual parade, the publisher will donate one book to a New York City literacy group for every penny donated by BookExpo attendees.
At the Workman booth (2807), Algonquin Young Readers will host three author signings. On June 1, 9:30–10:30 a.m., Tracey Baptiste will sign ARCs of The Rise of the Jumbies (Sept.), a follow-up to The Jumbies, an adventure that offers twists on Caribbean and West African mythology. On June 2, 2–3 p.m., Samantha Mabry will autograph ARCs of All the Wind in the World (Oct.), a YA Buzz title, and Adele Griffin will be on hand, 3–4 p.m., to sign copies of Be True to Me (June), a drama set in the gilded world of the very wealthy that explores first love and the high price of fitting in.
Little, Brown (booth 2502) is marking the 10th anniversary of the publication of Sherman Alexie’s The Absolutely True Story of a Part-Time Indian with a “booth takeover,” on June 1, from 4 to 5 p.m. The memoir has sold more than 1.5 million copies, and Fox 2000 has acquired film rights, with Alexie writing the screenplay. On June 2, at 3 p.m., Holly Black will be at the booth signing ARCs of The Cruel Prince, the launch of a new faerie series.
At 9:30 a.m., Harlequin staffers (booth 2921, 2927) will start the day with a visit from two Harlequin Teen authors, Sasha Alsberg and Lindsay Cummings, who will sign ARCs of their novel, Zenith: The Androma Saga, Vol. 1 (Jan. 2018), a space opera that was originally self-published and became #1 on the New York Times e-book bestseller list.
At booth 1921, Random House Children’s Books will continue its yearlong celebration of Little Golden Books’ 75th anniversary. The publisher invites booksellers to climb aboard the Little Golden Bus (parked by booth 2627), which has rolled into town after a nine-city national tour. The bus, whose exterior is wrapped in the classic artwork and characters from Little Golden Books, features a walk-through, interactive history and art display spotlighting notable milestones in Little Golden Books’ years of publishing.
On June 1, in-booth author appearances include R.J. Palacio, 9:30–10:30 a.m., signing copies of her picture book, We’re All Wonders (Knopf). From 2:30 to 3:30 p.m., E. Lockhart will autograph ARCs of her psychological thriller, Genuine Fraud (Delacorte, Sept.). And NASA astronaut Scott Kelly lands at Table 2, 3:30–4:30, to sign prints from his picture book, My Journey to the Stars (Crown, Oct.).
The June 2 lineup: YA Buzz author Nic Stone signs Dear Martin (Crown, Oct.), 10:30–11:30 a.m.; Philip Stead signs prints from The Purloining of Prince Oleomargarine (Doubleday, Sept.), a never-before-published unfinished tale by Mark Twain, illus. by Erin Stead, 10:30–11:30 a.m.; Leigh Bardugo autographs Wonder Woman: Warbringer (Random House, Aug.), first in the DC Icons series, 1:30–2:30 p.m.; Chris Grabenstein signs ARCs of Mr. Lemoncello’s Great Library Race (Random House, Oct.), 2:30–3:30 p.m.; and 3:30–4:30 p.m., David Barclay Moore signs ARCs of his Middle Grade Buzz pick, The Stars Beneath Our Feet (Knopf, Sept.).
Rodale Books (booth 3002) is offering an early look at some of its titles and authors from its new imprint, Rodale Kids. On June 1, 11 a.m.–noon, Kira Willey, musician and author of Breathe Like a Bear (Dec.), a collection of 30 exercises to help kids feel calm, focused, or energized, will sign blads of her book and perform songs.
Four Simon & Schuster Books for Young Readers authors will sign books at booth 1420. On June 1, 1–1:45 p.m., Ainsley Earhardt, cohost of TV’s Fox & Friends, autographs copies of Take Heart, My Child, a picture book inspired by the birth of her daughter. Earhardt is promoting her November follow-up book, Through Your Eyes: My Child’s Gift to Me.
On June 2, 11–11:45 a.m., Jason Reynolds will sign ARCs of Long Way Down (Oct.), his first YA book since All American Boys—and his first novel written in verse. The author is also sharing word of Patina (Aug.), his upcoming sequel to Ghost, which continues the story of an inner-city track team. Rachel Renée Russell will autograph copies of The Misadventures of Max Crumbly 2: Middle School Mayhem (June), 1–1:45 p.m. And Jennifer Weiner will be on hand, 2–2:45 p.m., to sign copies of The Littlest Bigfoot, her first children’s book. Weiner continues this mystery adventure in a sequel, Little Bigfoot, Big City (Oct.)
