Tens of thousands of book lovers came together for the 18th annual Library of Congress National Book Festival, which took place September 1 at the Walter E. Washington Convention Center in Washington, D.C. The event featured a lineup of more than 100 authors, including numerous children’s book and YA authors who took part in panels, readings, signings, and more. We’ve gathered a selection of highlights from the festivities.

Supreme Court Justice Sonia Sotomayor (r.), in conversation with Librarian of Congress Carla Hayden, spoke about her two new books for young readers: her picture book autobiography, Turning Pages: My Life Story (Philomel), illustrated by Lulu Delacre, and her middle grade memoir, The Beloved World of Sonia Sotomayor (Delacorte).

Caldecott Medalist Brian Selznick signing copies of J.K. Rowling’s Harry Potter books, for which he designed the 20th anniversary covers.

Robin Benway speaking about the origins of her National Book Award-winning novel Far from the Tree (HarperTeen).

Authors Leigh Bardugo (center) and Tillie Walden (r.), with Macmillan Children’s publicity director Molly Ellis, in front of the U.S. Capitol.

A young fan attempts to join bestselling author Danica McKellar (Do Not Open This Math Book) onstage during her reading at the Library of Congress, as part of a six-month collaborative storytime with the LOC and Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library, which uses her DPIL selected book, Goodnight, Numbers.

Author Kate DiCamillo and illustrator Harry Bliss discuss their picture book tale of canine friendship, Good Rosie! (Candlewick).

Author Jewell Parker Rhodes signing a copy of her new novel, Ghost Boys (Little, Brown).

2018 Caldecott Medalist Matthew Cordell delivered a presentation on the Purple Children’s Stage.

Trudi Trueit, author of Explorer Academy: The Nebula Secret—which kicks off National Geographic Kids’ inaugural fiction imprint, Under the Stars—meets a young reader.

A view of the signing lines.

Author Minh Lê (l.) and illustrator Dan Santat celebrate their new picture book, Drawn Together (Disney-Hyperion).

Authors Nikki Russell (l.) and Rachel Renée Russell greet Dork Diaries fans.

Justina Ireland discussing her YA novel, Dread Nation (Balzer + Bray).

Jacqueline Woodson, National Ambassador for Young People’s Literature, meets with readers following her conversation with Librarian of Congress Carla Hayden on Harbor Me and The Day You Begin (Penguin/Paulsen).

Jessica Kensky and Patrick Downes getting ready to sign copies of Rescue and Jessica: A Life-Changing Friendship (Candlewick), the picture book they coauthored based on Kensky’s real-life bond with her service dog.

Phoebe Connelly (l.) of the Washington Post interviews author Sandhya Menon about When Dimple Met Rishi and From Twinkle, with Love (Simon Pulse).

(From l.): Author Jennifer A. Nielsen, Charlie Young and Tracy van Straaten of Scholastic, author-illustrator David Shannon, and author Christopher Paul Curtis in front of the Library of Congress.