The 25th annual Library of Congress National Book Festival took place on Saturday, September 6, at the Walter E. Washington Convention Center in Washington, D.C. Library of Congress spokesperson estimated that there were “tens of thousands of attendees. It was another very successful festival.” As always, children’s authors and programming to promote reading were major attractions. Here we present a selection of photos of authors and illustrators who gave presentations, read from their books, spoke on panels, and signed books for fans.
At the festival’s opening celebration on Friday night: (from l.) authors Raúl the Third, Jerry Craft, Tiffany Jackson, R.L. Stine, and Gale Galligan.
“That Boy Is Cute (But Let Me Save the World First)” panelists Susan Dennard (l.) and Tahereh Mafi (c.) in a conversation moderated by Ashley Dickerson (r.) from the Library of Congress.
Kate Messner presenting her books How to Save an Otter and How to Save an Owl to kids on the STEM District Stage. This was an interactive session inviting young ecologists along on a wildlife rescue to help injured or orphaned animals, based on Messner’s real experiences volunteering at a wildlife hospital.
The YA panel “Weird Times in Otherworldly Novels” featured Ransom Riggs (l.) and Caroline O’Donoghue (r.), and was moderated by radio personality Chilli Amar.
NPR’s Scott Simon (l.) interviewed John Green (l.) about his new nonfiction book, Everything Is Tuberculosis, on the Main Stage.
Gale Galligan created live drawings for the audience at their Illustrator Draw-Off.
Selfie time! Eleanor Spicer Rice, author of The Deadliest series, posed with fans from her signing line.
Clay Smith (l.), literary director of the Library of Congress, chatting with R.L. Stine on the Main Stage.
Leigh Bardugo (r.), creator of the bestselling Grishaverse series, who appeared with John Picacio (l.) in support of their new picture book collaboration, The Invisible Parade, with Raúl the Third (c.).
National Ambassador for Young People’s Literature Mac Barnett had a busy festival: he greeted guests at the opening celebration, held a “Meet Mac Barnett” session on Saturday morning, had a book signing for his new book, The First Cat in Space and the Wrath of the Paperclip, and (here) ended his festival appearance with a well-attended reading of Triangle.
Saturday afternoon’s “Don’t Corner Me; I Bite!” panel, featuring (from l.) moderator Shanetia P. Clark and authors Maritza Moulite, Maika Moulite, and Kelly Andrew.
Jerry Craft (c.) and Kwame Alexander (r.) before their session on their cowritten novel J vs. K, with Megan Halsbad (l.), reference librarian at the Library of Congress.
The “Spiders! Volcanoes! Our Scary and Amazing World” program featured authors Eleanor Spicer Rice (c.) and Jorge Cham (r.), and moderator JJ Harbster (l.), head of the LOC’s science section.
Christy Mandin, author-illustrator of Millie Fleur's Poison Garden and its new sequel, signs the National Book Festival poster.
“It’s me!” Needy Little Things author Channelle Desamours points out her Saturday morning presentation, called “What You Need in the Game of Life with Channelle Desamours.”
