The American Booksellers Association is extending registration to May 11 for its inaugural one-day Children’s Institute, which will take place on Wednesday, June 6 at BEA. Tickets, which are available on the ABC Group Web site, include a seat at the children’s breakfast, the speed dating lunch with children’s authors, the ABA/CBC tea with children’s authors and illustrators, priority seating at education sessions, and admission to the annual children’s art auction and reception.
The latter, which is presented by the ABC Group and the American Booksellers Foundation for Free Expression, includes several rare items this year. Among them are: the dummy used in the production of Rosemary Wells’s new Max and Ruby book, a tricycle decorated to promote Michael Buckley’s Kel Gilligan’s Daredevil Stunt Show (Abrams), a handmade baby dress by Ann Martin, and a three-foot high, three-dimensional representation of Greg Heffley, the Wimpy Kid. Walter Dean Myers, the honorary event chair, will share auctioneer duties with his son, Christopher, illustrator of many of his father’s books. A preview of some of the more than 70 pieces of art donated to the auction are available for viewing on flickr.
