This week, an author and illustrator go undercover; “gleeful” fans come out to meet an author; an author is honored with her very own day; and an author and illustrator meet for the first time at a festive occasion.

Put on Your (Book) Jacket!

On July 11, the Queens Museum of the Arts held its first annual Children’s Book Celebration, with live readings and art making presented by local children’'s book authors and illustrators in partnership with the Queens Library Summer Reading Program. Pictured here are author Kirsten Hall (l.) and illustrator Dasha Tolstikova, who dressed in human-sized book jackets exactly like the one worn by Book – the main character in their picture book, The Jacket (Enchanted Lion).

Someone Get Colfer a Selfie-Stick!

Actor-turned-author Chris Colfer celebrated the release of Beyond the Kingdoms, the fourth volume in his fantasy series, The Land of Stories (Little, Brown) at Barnes and Noble Union Square on July 7. There were more than 650 attendees, many of whom waited in a line that snaked around the floors of Barnes & Noble. To show his appreciation, Colfer had trays of cookies brought to the waiting fans. At the launch, Colfer read from the book and afterwards answered questions from the crowd before snapping an Oscar-style selfie.

What a Day!

July 9 was declared Tammi Sauer Day in Edmond, Okla., because of the author’s active involvement with the community and the local bookstore, Best of Books. Edmond Mayor Charles Lamb and the Edmond City Council made the day official; here, Sauer stands holding the proclamation at Best of Books, with her family.. Craft activities and refreshments followed Sauer’s speech to attendees at the event. Her next picture book, Your Alien (Sterling), illustrated by Goro Fujita, releases in August.

A Day of Firsts

The Book Cellar in Chicago, Ill., hosted author Audrey Vernick and illustrator Matthew Cordell for the July 10 launch of their book The First Grade Dropout (Clarion). Cordell and Vernick, who met for the first time ever at the event, took part in an outdoor story hour. Here, the author and artist read together from their book.