The Global Kids Connect conference, organized by Publishers Weekly and the Bologna Children’s Book Fair, took place on December 2 in New York City’s Masonic Hall. Capping the conference was a party for PW’s just-published Children’s Starred Reviews Issue; many local authors and illustrators whose books were featured in that issue were in attendance, along with many publishers and agents. Here’s a selection of photos from the evening. All photos by Nancy Crampton.

Authors Mac Barnett and Jon Scieszka get the party started.

Agent Rosemary Stimola and publisher Heather Lennon catch up over cocktails.

Authors Elisha Cooper, Mike Curato, and Eric Wight.

Julia Marshall of Gecko Press and self-published author Renée Francis.

Husband-and-wife author team Ted and Betsy Lewin.

S&S’s Jon Anderson with Feiwel and Friends’ Jean Feiwel.

Picture book creators Carin Berger, Selina Alko, and Dasha Tolstikova.

Wheeling and dealing: (from l.) Alexandra Devlin and Allison Hellegers, both of Rights People; Kalah McCaffrey, Franklin & Siegal Associates; and Annie Stone, Alloy Entertainment.

Illustrator JoAnn Adinolfi and publisher Christy Ottaviano.

Paolo Cantori of Topittitori in Italy and Candace Finn of HMH.

Random House’s Barbara Marcus greets author-illustrator Christopher Myers.

(From l.): Victoria Han Farago of Victoria Productions; Joshua Wilson of The Happy Dandelion; and Lynelle Kerstine Woolley of Markelle Media.

PW president George Slowik Jr., flanked by Roberta Chinni (l.) and Elena Pasoli, representing the event’s co-sponsor, the Bologna Children’s Book Fair.

Note to Roaring Brook’s Emily Feinberg: don’t mention deadlines to Nick Bruel at a party.

Author Meghan McCarthy and agent Victoria Wells Arms.

PW’s Natasha Gilmore (l.) greets Finland’s ambassadors to the conference: Laura Palotie and Silja Niemi of the Elina Ahlback Literary Agency.

Panelist Rachel Hecht chats with Rana DiOrio of Little Pickle Press.

Nicolo Boggio and Andrea Pasquino, both from De Agostini in Italy.

Toasting the end of the conference: PW events director Kat Meyer and moderator Kate Wilson of Nosy Crow.