This year’s ALA midwinter conference, which took place February 9–13 in Denver, brought together librarians, publishing professionals, and other gatekeepers in the children’s literature community for a series of educational sessions and discussions. The meeting also featured the much-anticipated announcement of the ALA Youth Media Awards, including the 2018 Newbery, Caldecott, and Printz Awards. We’ve gathered a selection of photo highlights from the conference.

The 2018 Newbery Committee celebrates Erin Entrada Kelly’s win for Hello, Universe (Greenwillow).

Authors Patrisse Cullors (When They Call You a Terrorist: A Black Lives Matter Memoir) (l.) and Marley Dias (Marley Dias Gets It Done: And So Can You!) onstage during the opening session.

Barbara Marcus, president and publisher of Random House Children’s Books (center), joins authors Tae Keller (l.) and Sara Saedi at the company’s preview luncheon.

Dave Eggers, author of Her Right Foot (Chronicle), and Sandra Farag, youth materials selector for New York Public Library and Brooklyn Public Library, in conversation.

Patrick Downes and Jessica Kensky, co-authors of Rescue and Jessica: A Life-Changing Friendship (Candlewick Press), with Jessica’s service dog, Rescue.

Elizabeth Acevedo discusses her debut novel, The Poet X (HarperTeen).

Little, Brown authors Paolo Bacigalupi (Ship Breaker series) and Jewell Parker Rhodes (Ghost Boys).

Librarians take part in a hands-on activity inspired by Maker Lab Outdoors and Maker Lab: 28 Super Cool Projects by Jack Challoner (DK).

Author Dashka Slater holds her YALSA Nonfiction Finalist and Stonewall Award-winning book, The 57 Bus: A True Story of Two Teenagers and the Crime That Changed Their Lives (FSG).

Nic Stone signs her debut novel, Dear Martin (Random House/Crown), for a fan.

Story Pirates actors mimic the characters on the cover of Stuck in the Stone Age by The Story Pirates and Geoff Rodkey (Rodale), after their stage presentation inspired by the book.

Claire Legrand, author of the YA fantasy Furyborn (Sourcebooks Fire), speaks with librarians while she signs galleys.

Sterling’s Chris Vaccari and Sari Lampert Murray celebrate the opening night of ALA Midwinter and author Natasha Wing’s Bagel in Love.

Laurel Croza, author of The Whirlpool, and Matt James, author-illustrator of The Funeral, sign books for Groundwood.

Author-illustrator Jillian Tamaki (They Say Blue, Abrams) leads a drawing demonstration at the Denver Public Library.

(From l.): Author Varian Johnson (The Parker Inheritance) with Scholastic editor Arthur A. Levine and author Eric Gansworth (Give Me Some Truth).

A father reads Quantum Physics for Babies by Chris Ferrie (Sourcebooks Jabberwocky) to his sleepy daughter.

Bill Nye (l.) and Greg Mone discuss their Jack and the Geniuses series (Abrams/Amulet) during the ALA Closing Session.