The centennial celebration of Children’s Book Week took place April 29–May 5 in schools, libraries, and bookstores nationwide, bringing together book lovers of all ages. We’ve gathered a selection of highlights from the festivities, which included author-illustrator storytimes, costumed characters, musical parades, and more.
(From l.): Jamie and Lorrin, booksellers at The King’s English Bookshop in Salt Lake City, posing with a giant T-rex, inspired by How to Care for Your T-Rex by Ken Baker. Photo: Jamie Ortwein.
Book browsing at the Bay Area Book Festival on May 4 and 5 in Berkeley, Calif. Photo: Jody Colley.
Author Adam Rubin rests his signing hand under a teetering tower of High Five picture books autographed for a sponsored school event at the Country Bookshop in Southern Pines, N.C. The literary nonprofit AIMS-Authors in Moore Schools partnered with the bookstore to provide free books for every kindergartner at Pinehurst Elementary School. Photo: Angie Tally.
Gruffalo in his natural habitat, outside The King’s English. Photo: Jamie Ortwein.
Inside the story tent at the Bay Area Book Festival.
May the 4th be with you! Mid-Continent Public Library in Parkville, Mo., hosted a Star Wars Day at the Library with Star Wars books, coloring sheets, lightsaber battles, and more. Photo: Shannon Thompson.
Hunter the dog stopped by for cuddles and a Chicken Soup for the Soul-filled Sunday at Second Star to the Right Books in Denver. Photo: Britt Margit.
Celebrating Children’s Book Week with Denise Vega, author of If Your Monster Won’t Go to Bed, and her monster friend at Second Star to the Right. Photo: Mariana Calderon.
The Brooklyn Public Library’s Central Branch hosted its fourth annual Spring into Stories Author and Illustrator Festival on May 4. Authors (from l.): Ricardo Cortes, Sharee Miller, Katie Yamasaki, and Stephen Savage. Photo: Leigh Fox.
Author Pamela Tuck reading her new book, Mother of Many, illustrated by Tiffani J. Smith, during a Día de Los Niños/Día de Los Libros celebration at Boyertown Community Library in Boyertown, Pa. Photo: Lisa Rand.
Chapters Books & Gifts in Seward, Neb., welcomed illustrator Ruth Harper, who read her picture book, The Kissing Hand, and her newest book, Otters, Snails and Tadpole Tails, a collection of poems by Eric Ode.
Renee Watson and Ellen Hagan, authors of Watch Us Rise, discuss characters Jasmine and Chelsea and finding their voice, on the set of KidLit TV’s “Creator Corner” in New York City.
Meeting Geronimo Stilton at Prairie West Library in Sioux Falls, S.D. Photo: Alesha Krumwiede.
The Shinbone Alley Stilt band leading Louise’s Literary Parade at New Rochelle Public Library in New Rochelle, N.Y., a costume parade where children were invited to dress as their favorite storybook characters.
See you next year!