We’ve done some of the legwork for those eager to attend kids’ books-themed programs on May 31 and June 1. Read on for a schedule of panels and stage events to help you navigate your way. Click here for a companion guide to BookCon children’s events.
Thursday, May 31
YA Editors’ Buzz Panel
Time: 10–10:50 a.m.
Location: Room 1E12/1E13/1E14
Curious about potential breakout fall YA titles? Come hear the following editors spread word of their Buzz picks in a discussion moderated by Len Vlahos from Tattered Cover: Dana Chidiac, associate editor, Dial Books for Young Readers, on Darius the Great Is Not Okay by Adib Khorram; Hali Baumstein, associate editor, Bloomsbury Children’s Books, on Mimi Yu’s The Girl King; Sara Goodman, editorial director, St. Martin’s/Wednesday Books, on Sadie by Courtney Summers; Jenny Bak, editorial director, Little, Brown/Jimmy Patterson Books, on Girls of Paper and Fire by Natasha Ngan; and Annette Pollert-Morgan, editorial director, Sourcebooks Fire, on Rebecca Hanover’s The Similars.
Dear Evan Hansen: The Novel
Time: 11–11:45 a.m.
Location: Downtown Stage
In this program, the creative minds behind the Tony Award winning musical Dear Evan Hansen discuss adapting that production into a YA novel, due from Little, Brown/Poppy in October. Brenda Janowitz, novelist and books correspondent for PopSugar, moderates a panel that features Steven Levenson, who wrote the book for the play; Benj Pasek, co-songwriter (with Justin Paul) of the musical; and Val Emmich, a writer, singer-songwriter, and actor.
Ready, Set, Read!
Time: 1–1:50 p.m.
Location: Room 1E11
Listen in as sound storybooks experts discuss how sound books are a great way to bridge the gap between being read to and reading independently. Panelists include Jennifer Perry, v-p of worldwide publishing at Sesame Workshop, Karen Halpenny, editorial director of Sesame Workshop, and the following Phoenix International Publications staffers: Jennifer Goldstein, executive v-p, creative; Susan Rich Brooke, editorial director; Lynn Sikora, director of marketing; and Laura Whitaker, marketing manager.
Rick Riordan Presents: Imprint Launch with Rick Riordan and Friends
Time: 2:45–3:30 p.m.
Location: Midtown Stage, sponsored by Ingram
“Storyteller of the gods” Rick Riordan introduces his new middle-grade imprint at Disney-Hyperion, Rick Riordan Presents, which focuses on mythologies from around the world. Joining Riordan at this event are the authors of the imprint’s two debut releases: Roshani Chokshi (Aru Shah And The End Of Time) and J.C. Cervantes (The Storm Runner).
In Conversation—Latinx Authors
Time: 2:45–3:30 p.m.
Location: Uptown Stage
Bestselling YA author Daniel José Older (Shadowshaper), actress and debut author Sarai Gonzalez (Sarai Gonzalez and the Meaning of Awesome), picture book artist and muralist Rafael López (We’ve Got The Whole World In Our Hands), and author Diana López (Confetti Girl) discuss their latest projects and the role and representation of Latinx authors in publishing today. Cristina Arreola, senior books editor at Bustle, moderates the panel.
Connecting Children’s Books with Kids: Community, Education, Awareness, Bookselling, Marketing, and Public Relations
Time: 3:30–4:15 p.m.
Location: Room 1E10
Susannah Greenberg, president of Susannah Greenberg Public Relations, spearheads a panel discussion about the importance of connecting kids and books, and how to create community and nurture readers. Participants include Lara Starr, Chronicle Books; Michelle F. Bayuk, Children's Book Marketing Consulting; Yvonne Brooks, McNally Jackson Books; Kristin Freda, Bank Street College of Education; and children’s author-illustrator Sean G. Qualls.
You Trust Me... Right?
Time: 3:45–4:30 p.m.
Location: Downtown Stage
YA fans will want to catch this program, at which authors Lauren Oliver (Broken Things), Victoria Aveyard (War Storm), Kendare Blake (Three Dark Crowns), and Anna Godbersen (When We Caught Fire) will discuss the budding romances, unlikely alliances, and betrayals that fill the pages of their novels. Ebony LaDelle of HarperCollins will serve as moderator.
Social Media Stars as Authors
Time: 4:45–5:15 p.m.
Location: Downtown Stage
At this event, three social media celebrities who are now published authors will tell how they made the leap from screen to page while maintaining their social media roots. Panelists are Zach King, a magician who crafts his tricks for social media (Zach King: The Magical Mix-Up); Elizabeth Pipko, a model who used social media to launch the #PerfectlyImperfect campaign advocating a positive body image (About You); and Stacy Hinojosa, aka StacyPlays, the creator of the Dogcraft series on YouTube (Wild Rescuers: Guardians of the Taiga, Book 1).
The Enduring Appeal of Fairytales and Myths
Time: 4:45–5:15 p.m.
Location: Room 1E07/1E08
Why do readers perennially gravitate to retellings of fairy tales, myths, and folklore? Come hear Laini Taylor (Muse of Nightmares), Naomi Novik (Spinning Silver), and debut author Rena Rossner (The Sisters of the Winter Wood) in conversation with Nivia Evans, associate editor at Orbit, on what makes classic stories unforgettable, and why contemporary retellings are timely and important.
But That’s Another Story Podcast, Featuring Leigh Bardugo
Time: 5:15–6 p.m.
Location: Downtown Stage
Leigh Bardugo, author of the Grisha trilogy, shares the story of how books have shaped her life, in this podcast hosted by Will Schwalbe (The End of Your Life Book Club).
Friday, June 1
Children’s Book & Author Breakfast
Time: 8–9:30 a.m.
Location: Main Stage
The five speakers headlining this year’s ticketed event are recently appointed National Ambassador for Young People’s Literature Jacqueline Woodson, who will discuss her forthcoming middle grade novel Harbor Me, and her picture book, The Day You Begin, illustrated by Rafael López, both due from Penguin/Paulsen; Dave Eggers, whose What Can a Citizen Do? (Chronicle) explores what it means to be a citizen; Caldecott Honor artist Yuyi Morales, who tells her own immigration story in Dreamers (Holiday House/Porter); Meg Medina, author of the forthcoming middle grade novel, Merci Suárez Changes Gears (Candlewick); and Oscar, Tony, and Emmy Award-winning actress Viola Davis, who wrote Corduroy Takes a Bow, based on the characters created by Don Freeman and illustrated by Jody Wheeler (Viking).
Meet BookExpo Young Adult Buzz Authors
Time: 10–10:30 a.m.
Location: Uptown Stage
Come hear 2018’s YA Buzz authors—all BookExpo first-timers, hailing from Ontario, Paris, Northern California, and Kansas City, Mo.—talk about their forthcoming novels. The roster includes Adib Khorram (Darius the Great Is Not Okay); Mimi Yu (The Girl King); Courtney Summers (Sadie); Natasha Ngan (Girls of Paper and Fire); and Rebecca Hanover (The Similars).
Middle Grade Editors’ Buzz Panel
Time: 11–11:50 a.m.
Location: Room 1E12/1E13/1E14
Get an early peek at fall’s promising middle grade releases at this panel discussion moderated by Summer Laurie from Books Inc. in San Francisco. Editors and the books they are touting are Diana M. Pho, editor, Tor/Starscape (Everlasting Nora by Marie Cruz); Reka Simonsen, executive editor, Atheneum (I’m Ok by Patti Kim); Rotem Moscovich, executive editor, Disney-Hyperion (Sanity & Tallulah, Book 1 by Molly Brooks); Russ Busse, associate editor, Little, Brown (Mark Tatulli’s Short and Skinny); and Alex Ulyett, associate editor, Viking (Damien Love’s Monstrous Devices).
ABC/CBC Author Speed Dating Luncheon
Time: 12:15–1:45 p.m.
Location: Room 1E07/1E08
Attendees will enjoy a lively lunch with more than a dozen children’s book authors as they pitch their new projects. Preregistration and prepayment are required.
Chris Colfer: The Land of Stories, in Conversation with Pamela Paul
Time: 1-1:45 p.m.
Location: Uptown Stage
Book huggers will want to listen in as actor and author Chris Colfer talks with New York Times Book Review editor Pamela Paul about the success of Colfer’s bestselling The Land of Stories series, its film adaptation now in development by Twentieth Century Fox, and its fall installment, The Land of Stories: The Ultimate Book Hugger’s Guide.
Meet BookExpo Middle Grade Buzz Authors
Time: 2–2:30 p.m.
Location: Uptown Stage
After hearing their editors present their books at Friday morning’s Buzz Panel, the middle grade authors themselves will take the stage to talk about their works. Come meet Marie Cruz (Everlasting Nora); Patti Kim (I’m Ok); Molly Brooks (Sanity & Tallulah, Book 1); Mark Tatulli (Short and Skinny); and Damien Love (Monstrous Devices).
We Need Diverse Books Presents: Life Cycle of a Diverse Book
Time: 2–2:50 p.m.
Location: Room 1E16
Five individuals from various sectors of the publishing community will discuss the barriers and challenges diverse literature faces in making it to bookshelves, and celebrate the successes in this area. Sharing their perspectives are agents Marietta B. Zacker and Beth Phelan from Gallt & Zacker Literary Agency; Alvina Ling, editor-in-chief of Little, Brown Books for Young Readers; Sara Hines, co-owner of Eight Cousins Books; and author Renée Watson (Piecing Me Together).
Spotlight on African-American Children’s Books
Time: 2:45–3:30 p.m.
Location: Uptown Stage
Authors of African American-themed middle grade titles will discuss their books and how they are helping to fill a void in the marketplace. Vanesse Lloyd-Sgambati, founder of the African American Children’s Book Project, moderates a panel featuring Sharon M. Draper (Blended), Cheryl Willis Hudson (We Rise, We Resist, We Raise Our Voices), Varian Johnson (The Parker Inheritance), and T.R. Simon (Zora and Me: The Cursed Ground).
Rise Up!
Time: 3:30–4:30 p.m.
Location: Uptown Stage
YA authors discuss resilience and resistance in the face of adversity, in this panel moderated by Veronica Chambers, author of Resist, which centers on prominent activists throughout history. Participants include Tahereh Mafi (A Very Large Expanse of Sea), Ibi Zoboi (Pride), and Adam Silvera and Becky Albertalli (What If It’s Us).
