Booksellers scouting new and upcoming children’s books will have plenty to pore over at this year’s show. Here’s a sampling of some of the projects on display, author signings, and giveaways to grab at the children’s booths. Look for a second installment of booth highlights in tomorrow’s issue.

To greet fairgoers each day of BEA, Abrams has parked near the Javits registration area a shrink-wrapped van touting the November arrival of Jeff Kinney’s eighth Diary of a Wimpy Kid installment; staffers are distributing giveaways tying into the novel. The publisher’s booth (1467) will be busy: Lauren Myracle is signing galleys of Infinite Moment of Us today and tomorrow, 11–11:15 a.m. Today, 3–3:15 p.m., Michael Buckley autographs copies of the first four books in his Nerds series, and promotional giveaways are on hand for the fifth book, Nerds: Attack of the Bullies, due in September. At 1 p.m. tomorrow, an R2D2-costumed character arrives to generate buzz for Tom Angleberger’s 2 p.m. signing of Art2-D2’s Guide to Folding and Doodling. The author will also fold origami to promote his upcoming The Surprise Attack of Jabba the Puppet. At 4 p.m. tomorrow, cake will be served to celebrate the first birthday of Abrams’s Appleseed imprint. And Angleberger returns for a second origami folding demonstration on Saturday at 10 a.m.

HarperCollins welcomes Veronica Roth, Friday’s Children’s Book and Author Breakfast speaker, to booth 2039 today, 1–2 p.m., when she will sign posters promoting Allegiant, the conclusion of the Divergent trilogy. The publisher is holding a raffle for two gift baskets promoting Neil Gaiman’s Chu’s Day and Sharon Creech’s The Boy on the Porch, each containing multiple signed copies of the author’s titles and book-themed items. Booth giveaways include a number of galleys of fall releases, among them the following books by authors attending BEA: Gaiman’s Fortunately, the Milk (HarperCollins), Caroline Carlson’s The Very Nearly Honorable League of Pirates #1: Magic Marks the Spot (HarperCollins), The Year of Billy Miller by Kevin Henkes (Greenwillow), Robyn Schneider’s The Beginning of Everything (Katherine Tegen Books), and How to Love by Katie Cotugno (Balzer + Bray).

Candlewick’s booth (1575) is abuzz with author signings. Today’s agenda includes John M. Cusick signing ARCs of Cherry Money Baby, 10:30–11:30 a.m.; Gareth Hinds autographing blads of his graphic novel, Romeo & Juliet, 1:30–2:30 p.m.; and Monica Edinger signing f&gs of Africa Is My Home: A Child of the Amistad, 3:30–4:30 p.m. Tomorrow’s author lineup is Matt Phelan autographing ARCs of Bluffton: My Summer with Buster Keaton, 9:30–10:30 a.m.; Deb Noyes signing copies of Plague in the Mirror, 11 a.m.–noon; and Brianne Farley autographing f&gs of Ike’s Incredible Ink, 1:30–2:30 p.m. And Stephan Pastis will be at the booth on Saturday, 10–11 a.m., to sign copies of Timmy Failure: Mistakes Were Made.

Scholastic is hosting Kazu Kibuishi at booth 1638–1639 today at 10 a.m., when he will sign limited edition lithographs featuring the new cover art he created for Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone, one of seven Special Edition U.S. trade paperbacks due from Arthur A. Levine books in September. Giveaways at the booth include galleys of and tote books promoting Spirit Animals Book 1: Wild Born by Brandon Mull, which launches a new multiplatform fantasy series, and “I Read YA” totes and buttons. Other galley giveaways by authors attending BEA are Elisha Cooper’s Train and When Lions Roar by Robie H. Harris, illus. by Chris Raschka, both Orchard titles; The Wolf Princess by Cathryn Constable (Chicken House); and The Hypnotists, Book 1 by Gordon Korman, Kirby Larson’s Duke, The Last Present by Wendy Mass, Invasion by Walter Dean Myers, and Jeff Hirsch’s The Darkest Path, all from Scholastic Press.

Those stopping by the Sleeping Bear Press booth (C1585) at 9 a.m. today can pick up an autographed copy of Digger and Daisy Go to the Zoo by Judy Young, illus. by Dana Sullivan. From 11 a.m. to noon Sullivan, who’s also author of Ozzie and the Art Contest, will be on hand to create original Ozzie-themed drawings for visitors. Ozzie-inspired snacks will be available. Debut author Kate Sullivan will be at the booth, 2–3 p.m., to perform the original score from her On Linden Square and other songs on her musical saw.

The winners of raffles for pieces of original art by both Dana Sullivan and Kate Sullivan will be announced at 4 p.m., when cake will be served to celebrate Sleeping Bear’s 15th anniversary, and Stella Batts totes containing two books will be given out. Tomorrow, 12:30–1:30 p.m., Dana Sullivan returns to the booth to promote Digger and Daisy Go to the Zoo, which launches a new early chapter book series. On Saturday, Stella Batts creator Courtney Sheinmel will be at the booth, 9–10 a.m., to sign copies of Stella Batts: Who’s In Charge? an August release, and earlier books in the series. Additional tote bags with books will be given out at this time.

Random House Children’s Books (2739) hosts a steady stream of authors at two in-booth autographing tables during the convention. Today’s lineup includes Anna Jarzab, signing ARCs of Tandem: The Many-Worlds Trilogy, Book 1 (Delacorte), 9–10 a.m.; Emily Winfield Martin, signing copies of Dream Animals (Random House), 9:30–10:30 a.m.; Lauren Kate, autographing ARCs of Teardrop, 12:30–1:30 p.m.; Patricia MacLachlan and Steve Kellogg, signing f&gs of Snowflakes Fall (Random House), 1–2 p.m.; James Dashner, autographing ARCs of The Eye of Minds (Delacorte), 2:30–3:30 p.m.; and Brandon Sanderson, signing ARCs of Steelheart (Delacorte), 4–5 p.m.

Friday brings a quartet of author appearances: Jarrett J. Krosoczka autographing copies of Lunch Lady and the Video Game Villain (Knopf), 10:30–11:30 a.m.; Mary Pope Osborne and Natalie Pope Boyce signing copies of Magic Tree House: Stallion by Starlight and Magic Tree House Fact Trackers: Horse Heroes (Random House), noon–1 p.m.; David Levithan autographing ARCs of Two Boys Kissing (Knopf), 12:30–1:30 p.m.; and Cynthia Voigt signing ARCs of Mister Max 1: The Book of Lost Things, 2:30–3:30 p.m. Saturday’s roster features Chris Raschka signing f&gs of Daisy Gets Lost (Schwartz & Wade), 12:30–1:30 p.m.; Tad Hills autographing posters promoting Rocket’s Mighty Words and copies of Rocket Writes a Story (Schwartz & Wade), 1–2 p.m.; and Robin Wasserman signing ARCs of The Waking Dark (Knopf), 1:30–2:30 p.m.

At the Capstone Young Readers booth (C975), the winner of the Capstone/DC Comics Fan Family “Be a Super Hero. Read!” online contest will be announced at 9 a.m. today, when DC Super Heroes Superman/Wonder Woman tote bags will be given away. Other DC Super Heroes freebies are available throughout the show. The publisher welcomes Kate McMullan to the booth, 11 a.m.–noon, when she signs copies of Hit the Road, Helen!, a September addition to her Myth-o-Mania series. From 4 to 5:30 p.m., cake will be served to celebrate Capstone Young Readers’ first birthday, and 4:30–5:30 p.m., Dana Meachen Rau will sign copies of Dessert Designer: Creations You Can Make and Eat! Tomorrow, 10–11 a.m., Michael Dahl autographs copies of Goodnight Baseball, a picture book created in partnership with Sports Illustrated Kids and illustrated by Christina E. Forshay. From 2 to 3 p.m., John Seven signs ARCs of The Time-Tripping Faradays: The Alchemist War, illus. by Craig Philips. And Saturday, 9:30–10:30 a.m., Beth Bracken and Kay Fraser will be on hand to autograph copies of their April fantasy, Faerieground: Wish.

The Little, Brown Books for Young Readers booth (1829) has a flurry of author signings scheduled. Today, 11 a.m.–noon, Lemony Snicket signs ARCs of All the Wrong Questions: “When Did You See Her Last?” T-shirts promoting this follow-up to “Who Could That Be at This Hour?” will be available at the booth. Kami Garcia signs ARCs of Unbreakable, a YA urban fantasy that launches the Legion series, 1–2 p.m. A double author signing takes place, 2–3 p.m., when Peter Brown autographs posters for Mr. Tiger Goes Wild and Jerry Pinkney autographs posters for The Tortoise and the Hare. Holly Black will be at the booth tomorrow, 11 a.m.–noon, to sign ARCs of The Coldest Girl in Coldtown, which the publisher is promoting with a branded glow-stick giveaway. From 2 to 3 p.m., Paolo Bacigalupi autographs ARCs of Zombie Baseball Beatdown, his first middle-grade novel. In addition to numerous galleys to grab, freebies include pens tying into Lisi Harrison’s The Pretenders, paper unicorn horns promoting the publisher’s My Little Pony publishing program, and tote bags touting TheNovl.com, LB Teen’s Tumblr site.

The Peachtree booth (631) is showcasing a “Little Things Make a Big Difference” theme at BEA, which fits nicely with two of the featured titles at the booth. Due in September, The King of Little Things by Bil Lepp, illus. by David Wenzel, tells of a king who rules happily over all things small in his tiny kingdom, and can’t be defeated by the power-hungry ruler of another realm. Lepp will sign copies of the book today, 10–11 a.m. Between 10 a.m. and 4 p.m., the publisher is holding an hourly contest to see which visitors to the booth can produce a specific “little thing” (a button, a penny). Hourly winners will receive a signed copy of the book and be entered into a drawing for the grand prize: a framed, signed print from The King of Little Things. Another spotlighted picture book, Lion vs. Rabbit by Alex Latimer, also centers on a small being who defeats a bullying beast.

Houghton Mifflin Harcourt hosts Amy Rose Capetta in booth 1657 today, 11–11:30 a.m., when she signs ARCs of Entangled, a debut novel being presented at this morning’s Young Adult Editor’s Buzz Panel. Tomorrow, 10:30–11:30 a.m., Joelle Charbonneau autographs ARCs of Independent Study, a sequel to The Testing. Three-time Caldecott medalist David Wiesner signs keepsake broadsides of Mr. Wuffles, 2–3 p.m., the story of tiny aliens who tangle with a cat after crash-landing on Earth. Giveaways include bumper stickers promoting Jasper Fforde’s The Song of the Quarkbeast, Curious George picture frame magnets, and Independent Study pens.

Barefoot Books welcomes Emmy-winning actress Debra Messing to booth 1671 today, 2–3 p.m., when she will sign posters promoting The Little Red Hen by Mary Finch, illus. by Kate Slater. Messing narrated the accompanying CD for the fall release, as well as the CD packaged with the forthcoming The Barefoot Book of Jewish Tales by Shoshana Boyd Gelfand, illus. by Amanda Hall. Among the other titles featured at the booth are the inaugural volumes in the Greek Myths series, retold by Hugh Lupton and Daniel Morden, illus. by Carole Henaff, and A Hole at the Bottom of the Sea, adapted by Jessica Law, illus. by Jill McDonald, sung by the Flannery Brothers. Greek Myths posters are being given out.

At booth 1557, Macmillan is giving away tote bags promoting its Fierce Reads initiative, an online community for book-loving teens, at 9 a.m. each morning. Today, 10:30–11 a.m., Jack Gantos will sign sample chapters from From Norvelt to Nowhere and paperback copies of Dead End in Norvelt (Farrar, Straus and Giroux). Galleys of Tumble and Fall by Alexandra Coutts (FSG) will be given out at 11 a.m., and Laura Overdeck autographs Bedtime Math (Feiwel and Friends), 3–3:30 p.m. Tomorrow at 10:30, galleys of Gennifer Albin’s Altered (FSG) will be distributed. And the author lineup tomorrow includes Rainbow Rowell, Fangirl (St. Martin’s Griffin), 11:30 a.m.–12:30 p.m.; Paul Pope, Battling Boy (Roaring Brook/First Second), 2–2:30 p.m.; and Brandon Sanderson, The Rithmatist (Tor Teen), 3–3:30 p.m.

Fans of Nick Bruel’s Bad Kitty can meet the costumed character on Saturday, 9:30–10:30 a.m., when the feline “pawprints” paperback copies of Happy Birthday Bad Kitty (Square Fish). James Preller will sign Home Sweet Horror (Feiwel and Friends), the debut title of his Scary Tales series, 10:30–11 a.m. And the publisher is hosting a party to mark the launch of Swoon Reads, its crowdsourced romance imprint, 11 a.m.–noon.

Visitors to the DK booth (1529) will spy six-foot-tall Lego sculptures of two of the characters from Lego’s newest play theme, Legends of Chima. Fall titles featured at the booth are LEGO Play Book (of which a limited quantity of promotional samples will be given out today and tomorrow, noon–1 p.m.) and LEGO Minifigure Year by Year: A Visual Chronicle. Video book trailers of the new Lego titles are playing in the booth throughout the show. From 11 a.m. to noon each day, DK will give away tote bags. On Saturday, the publisher will hold a raffle for Power Reader attendees. The winner, who will be contacted via e-mail on June 7, will receive a LEGO Play Book giveaway and a complete library of DK’s fall list.

American Girl (booth 1274–1275) is introducing its Bitty Baby picture book line based on the company’s baby dolls, written by Newbery Honor author Kirby Larson, illus. by Sue Cornelison. Larson will be at the booth today, 1–2 p.m. and tomorrow, 11 a.m.–noon, to sign copies of Bitty Baby & Me. Tomorrow, 1–2 p.m., Cara Natterson will be on hand to autograph copies of The Care and Keeping of You 2: The Body Book for Older Girls. And Saturday, 11 a.m.–noon, Jessie Haas will autograph copies of Saige, a novel centering on American Girl’s 2013 Girl of the Year.

At booth 1721, Disney Publishing Worldwide is hosting Ally Carter this morning, 10–11 a.m., when she’ll sign a chapter sampler from Gallagher Girls #6. Gallagher Girls notebooks will also be given out. And tomorrow afternoon, Mo Willems fans will want to head to the booth to attend a 10th anniversary party for Don’t Let the Pigeon Drive the Bus! From 3 to 4 p.m., the author will sign copies of an anniversary edition of that bestseller and copies of A Big Guy Took My Ball!, his latest Elephant & Piggie adventure. Costumed characters of that duo will be on hand for photo ops—and cupcakes will be served.

Those browsing the aisles will get quite a visual surprise when they reach the booth of Penguin Young Readers Group (1520). A 3-D creature from Robert Paul Weston’s The Creature Department, due in November from Razorbill, has sprung to life on-screen (courtesy of the Framestore visual effects studio) and is interacting with BEA attendees as they pass through the booth. The publisher has a hefty roster of authors in-booth. Today John Bemelmans Marciano signs Madeline and the Old House in Paris (Viking), 10–11 a.m.; Julie Berry signs All the Truth That’s in Me (Viking), 2–3 p.m.; and Oliver Jeffers autographs The Day the Crayons Quit (Philomel), 3–4 p.m.

Tomorrow’s schedule includes Marie Lu signing chapter samplers of Champion (Putnam), 9:30–10:30 a.m.; Giada de Laurentiis autographing galleys of Recipe for Adventure (Grosset & Dunlap), 11 a.m.–noon; Holly Goldberg Sloan autographing Counting by 7s (Dial), 2–3 p.m.; Matthew Ward signing galleys of The Fantastic Family Whipple (Razorbill), 2–3 p.m.; and Rick Yancey autographing The 5th Wave (Putnam), 3–4 p.m. Saturday’s author-signing lineup includes Melissa de la Cruz and Michael Johnston, Frozen (Putnam), 9:30–10:30 a.m.; DJ MacHale, Sylo (Razorbill), 11 a.m.–noon; and Jan Brett, Cinders (Putnam), 1–2:30 p.m. Visitors to the Javits restrooms will notice peel-off decals featuring BEA-themed Mad Libs questions, which Penguin created to keep fairgoers entertained while waiting in line.

Booksellers will find plenty of activity at Sourcebooks’s booth (829). This morning at 9 a.m., staffers are giving away canvas totes holding copies of The Snatchbook by Helen Docherty and Thomas Docherty. David Adler signs ARCs of Danny’s Doodles: The Jelly Bean Experience, 10–11 a.m., and CJ Lyons will autograph galleys of Broken, 3–4 p.m. Tomorrow, actress Jessica Lange will sign a broadsheet for her debut picture book featuring her photos, It’s About a Little Bird, 10–11 a.m.; and Mari Mancusi will autograph ARCs of Scorched, 3–4 p.m. Tomorrow at noon, the publisher will distribute ARCs of Bill Cotter’s Don’t Push the Button! Saturday signings feature YA authors Zoraida Córdova, The Savage Blue, 9–10 a.m.; Laurie Boyle Crompton, Blaze (or Love in the Time of Supervillains), noon–1 p.m.; and Jessica Verdi, My Life After Now, 1:30–2:30 p.m.

At booth 2527, staffers at Toronto-based ECW Press are spreading word of their expanding middle-grade and YA fiction publishing program. The publisher is hosting both a middle-grade and a YA author at the booth this afternoon. Evan Munday signs ARCs of Dial M for Murder, the second book in the Dead Kid Detective Agency series, 1:30–2:30 p.m., and Chantel Guertin will autograph ARCs of her debut YA novel, The Rule of Thirds, which launches the Pippa Greene series, 3:30–4:30 p.m.

Visitors to Amazon Children’s Publishing booth (C1675) can meet author Bill Thomson, who is signing prints from Fossil and copies of Chalk this morning, 10–11 a.m. Onur Tukel autographs copies of Rainstack, 1:30–2:30 p.m., and Thomas Gonzales, illustrator of Gandhi by Alice B. McGinty, signs copies of that title, 3–4 p.m. Tomorrow, Michele Scott will sign copies of Silent Harmony, 2–3 p.m. And autographing on Saturday are Rebecca Donovan, Reason to Breathe, 9:30–10:30 a.m.; Chuck Wendig, The Heartland Trilogy: Under the Empyrean Sky, 11 a.m.–noon, and Roxie Munroe, Busy Builders, 12:30–1:30 p.m.

Attending BEA for the first time, speculative fiction publisher Month9Books is welcoming a number of authors to booth 2346 today and tomorrow. This afternoon, Lisa M. Basso signs A Shimmer of Angels, 2–2:30 p.m., and Georgia McBride and Shannon Delany sign Praefatio, an anthology of legends, folklore, and tales of superstition, 2:30–3 p.m.; a portion of the book’s proceeds will benefit SPCA International. Tomorrow, Scott Craven signs Dead Jed: Adventures of a Middle School Zombie, 2–2:30 p.m.; Shannon Duffy autographs Gabriel Stone and the Divinity of Valta, 2:30–3 p.m.; Heather L. Reid signs Pretty Dark Nothing, 3–3:30 p.m.; and Dorothy Dreyer autographs My Sister’s Reaper, 3:30–4 p.m.

At the Simon & Schuster booth (2638–2639), two children’s author appearances are planned. Today, Peter Brown, illustrator of the 2013 Caldecott Honor Book, Creepy Carrots! by Aaron Reynolds, will sign copies of that title, 11:15 a.m.–noon. Tomorrow, Academy Award–winning actress and Children’s Book and Author Breakfast speaker Octavia Spencer will sign ARCs of Randi Rhodes, Ninja Detective: The Case of the Time-Capsule Bandit, 11 a.m.–noon. Fairgoers will want to be on the lookout for a red-headed ninja handing out swag promoting this title on the show floor.

Among the fall titles featured at the booth is Paula Wiseman Books’ 25th anniversary edition of Patricia Polacco’s The Keeping Quilt. The author has expanded the story of her family quilt to include her own two children and has added original material describing the quilt’s home at the Mazza Museum in Findley, Ohio. Booth giveaways include tote bags promoting Rachel Renee Russell’s Dork Diaries. And fans of Ian Falconer’s Olivia will be pleased to know that a costumed character of this feisty pig will be making occasional appearances at the booth between 10 a.m. and 5 p.m. tomorrow and Saturday.