We’re so excited that Children’s Institute 2025 is in Portland, Ore.—a sanctuary city, a paradise for foodies, and the home to amazing independent bookstores,” says Allison Hill, CEO of the American Booksellers Association. “We’ve heard that booksellers are already mapping their bookstore tour routes and restaurant visits, and planning their costumes for the opening reception.”
Political unrest and retail uncertainties make 2025 “a challenging time for booksellers—professionally and personally,” Hill acknowledges. “We hope CI2025 offers a chance to support one another and recharge. I know the keynotes will speak to that, offering space for joy and bravery in these difficult times.”
Children’s Institute last met in the Rose City in 2017, when 230 booksellers convened in a hotel. This year, some 340 booksellers, 140 publishers’ reps, and 27 vendors are expected to attend the show, which runs Wednesday–Saturday, June 11–14, and CI2025 will venture beyond the Hyatt Regency Portland, with proceedings scheduled at the Oregon Convention Center along the Willamette River. In addition to four keynotes and an exhibitors area, the event features 27 education sessions, an Indies Introduce lunch, and receptions with 65 authors.
Gen de Botton, ABA senior manager of children’s bookselling programs and education, says that Children’s Institute’s evolution has been “nuanced” since 2017. “The two Trump administrations, Covid-19, book bans, inflation, tariffs, the national decline in literacy, and social movements have shaped children’s booksellers in ways no one could have anticipated,” she explains, and the show’s programming reflects those changes.
The ABA focuses on “the sustainability and success” of its members, de Botton says, “but we’d be remiss if we didn’t also address the impact that the political climate, people’s well-being, and our lived experiences have had on not only children’s access to literature, but on booksellers’ ability to serve their communities.”
The conference kicks off on Wednesday with two pre-con networking events: the Buddy Meet and Greet, for new booksellers and their mentors, and the Pathways mixer exclusively for BIPOC participants.
CI2025 proper starts rolling on Thursday with sessions ranging from one for current booksellers aspiring to become store owners to one on successful staffing. Concurrent with the education sessions, ABA offers bookstore tours, with full-day and half-day options. After the tour buses return, library advocate Mychal Threets will present the opening keynote, “Libraries & Bookstores: Joining Forces for Joy!,” followed by the always raucous opening night reception and costume party.
Friday begins with the breakfast keynote “There Is No Such Thing as a Silent Ally,” by a group of LGBTQ+ authors calling for visible and vocal activism in the children’s and YA realm. Additional presentations range from a session on the First Amendment with American Booksellers for Free Expression associate director Philomena Polefrone to “Boomer Buyers and Millennial Money,” a conversation on connecting with parents and grandparents of middle grade readers. The busy day will end with wall-to-wall signings at the evening author reception and Scholastic’s Graphix afterparty celebrating the 20th anniversary of the comics imprint.
Saturday begins with the breakfast keynote “How Can I Be Brave?” by YA author Samira Ahmed, followed by more education sessions. To send booksellers off on an energetic note, the show will conclude with the Book Industry Charitable Foundation’s popular Heads or Tails fundraiser; the closing keynote, “Behold, the Picture Book!,” featuring National Ambassador for Young People’s Literature Mac Barnett; and Drag Story Hour’s karaoke party, where ABA superstars can show off their musical talents.
Read more from our Children's Institute 2025 feature.
Children's Institute 2025: From General to Genre: A Look Inside Portland’s Bookstores
Children's Institute 2025: Behold, the Picture Book: PW Talks with Mac Barnett
Children's Institute 2025: Spreading Library Joy: PW Talks with Mychal Threets
Children's Institute 2025: Wrinkles in Time: PW Talks with Samira Ahmed
Children's Institute 2025: Graphix Celebrates Two Decades of Kids’ Comics
