Children’s booksellers, authors, and publishers were out in force among the approximately 1,400 Winter Institute attendees—many of whom braved extreme weather—who gathered in Pittsburgh February 23–26. There were plenty of memorable events: during the WI2026 kickoff presentation (two back-to-back panel discussions on the state of contemporary bookselling), Brein Lopez, general manager of Children’s Book World in Los Angeles, told booksellers to curate an inventory that reflected children’s interests, rather than their own preferences. Booksellers jammed a ballroom in the David L. Lawrence Convention Center to score ARCs and finished copies signed by any of 72 authors; about 20 of them were children’s authors and illustrators. And, best of all, there was LeVar Burton—author, television celebrity, and literacy advocate—reminding booksellers at Tuesday’s breakfast keynote that they were in Mr. Rogers’s neighborhood that week and to “act accordingly.” All photos by Claire Kirch, unless noted.


Children’s Book World’s Brein Lopez (r.) joined Allison Hill (l.), CEO of the American Booksellers Association, and Nic Bottomly (c.) of Mr. B’s Emporium of Earthly Delights in Bath, England, for the opening keynote on February 23 on how publishers and booksellers can effectively counteract the decline of reading among young people.


Kate Larson (r.) of Ballast Book Company in Bremerton, Wash., got an ARC of Soman Chainani’s Young World (Random House, May) signed by the writer, at the author reception.


Two-time Newbery Medalist Erin Entrada Kelly (r.) signed her latest offering, The Second Life of Snap (Greenwillow, May) for Mallory Hayes of the Red Balloon Bookshop in St. Paul, Minn.


LeVar Burton (r.) and Janet Webster Jones of Source Booksellers in Detroit conversed about their lives, passion for books, and commitment to literacy advocacy during the February 24 breakfast keynote, “Reading Is Power: How Storytelling and Imagination Can Liberate Us and Shape a Better World.”


At the author reception, Melinda Powers (l.) of Bookshop Santa Cruz in Santa Cruz, Calif., met Sarah Dessen, who signed a galley of her new YA novel, Change of Plans (S&S, May).


Scholastic trade district managers Doris Allen (l.) and Sarah Phillips (c.) promoted their author signing at the evening reception along with Scholastic VP of publicity Seale Ballenger (r.).


Chanel Miller (l.) signed a copy of her latest middle grade book, The Moon Without Stars (Philomel, out now), for Abby Dan from Booked in Evanston, Ill., at the author reception.


LeUyen Pham (r.), illustrator of As I Dream of You, written by Jennifer Lee (First Second, May), chatted with Holly Weinkauf (l.), owner of Red Balloon Bookshop in St. Paul, Minn.


Candlewick/Holiday House/Peachtree hosted a dinner on February 25 to connect five of its authors with booksellers at Ritual House in Pittsburgh.


Liniers brought his watercolors and created original art as he autographed each copy of Come Along (Magic Cat, Apr.), written by Cosmo Sheldrake. Photo: Nathalie op de Beeck.


Booksellers Simeon Tsanev (l.) of Unabridged Bookstore in Chicago and Fisher Nash of Carmichael's Bookstore in Louisville, Ky., waited for the ink to dry on their personalized copies of Come Along. Photo: Nathalie op de Beeck.


Ama Ofosua Lieb (r.) autographed her debut novel, Goldenborn (Scholastic Press, May), an Indies Introduce Winter/Spring 2026 selection, for Linda Duggins of the National Association of Black Bookstores.


Laurel Snyder (l.) greeted Todd Dickinson of Aaron’s Books in Lititz, Pa., and signed her forthcoming release, Shrinking Violet (Chronicle, Mar.).