This week, Sophie Blackall presents her new lighthouse-themed picture book; ‘Rock Star’ authors visit a Dallas elementary school; love is in the air at a YA anthology launch; Daria Peoples-Riley enjoys a musical welcome for her debut picture book; and Vashti Harrison celebrates “little leaders” from black history.

Team Lighthouse

Caldecott Medalist Sophie Blackall attended a Little, Brown Books for Young Readers Picture Book Event on February 9, which invited educators, booksellers, and press to preview forthcoming LBYR titles. Here (from l.) Blackall is joined by editor at large Susan Rich and publicity manager Kristina Pisciotta as she presents images from her new picture book, Hello Lighthouse.

Seeing ‘Rock’ Stars

The Texas Book Festival held Reading Rock Stars events earlier this month. The program, which is part of an initiative to promote literacy throughout Texas, brings authors into Title 1 schools. On February 8, authors (from l.) Mac Barnett, Roda Ahmed, and Vanessa Brantley Newton visited Thomas Tolbert Elementary in Dallas. Ahmed shared Mae Among the Stars, Barnett read from The Terrible Two Go Wild, and Brantley Newton presented Grandma’s Purse.

Love at First ‘Meet Cute’

Five author contributors to the YA romance anthology Meet Cute (HMH) gathered for a reading on February 12 at Books Are Magic in Brooklyn. In attendance at the event were (from l.) Ibi Zoboi, Dhonielle Clayton, Kass Morgan, Jocelyn Davies, and Kate Cotugno, each of whom read their stories, answered questions from the audience, and indulged in sweet treats and champagne.

What a Day!

Debut author-illustrator Daria Peoples-Riley celebrated the release of her book This Is It (Greenwillow), about a young dancer, with a launch at the Eclipse Theater in Las Vegas on February 10. Ballerinas from Nevada School of Dance performed at the event, along with musician Kiara Musik. Here, Peoples-Riley visits with a young fan named Jordan.

A Bold Book Launch

Author Vashti Harrison met students from Kiptopeke Elementary School during an event at The Book Bin in Onlley, Va., on February 10. Vashti read her debut book, Little Leaders: Bold Women in Black History, to the students and other attendees.