As McCormick Place in Chicago, Ill., filled to fit children's and YA publishers, librarians, booksellers, and book lovers alike for BookExpo America, which took place May 11–13, plenty of merriment was captured. See photo highlights from the fair below.

Kristi Yamaguchi signed posters at the top of the John Hancock Center with Amelia Narigon of Sourcebooks.

Featured authors at S&S’s Children’s Breakfast table (from l. to r.): Jason Reynolds, Laurie Halse Anderson, S.J. Kincaid, Jennifer Weiner, and James Hannibal.

Jerry Pinkney (l.) and an irascible Jon Scieszka in the Abrams booth.

Lauren Oliver signed Replica (HarperCollins).

John Corey Whaley coaching teens at the Penguin Teen Trivia Challenge.

Kwame Alexander, Shannon Hale, and Dean Hale posed in the autographing area.

Moderator of the “Middle Grade Marvels” panel Becky Anderson (l.,) with featured authors Richard Peck (The Best Man) and Jennifer L. Holm (Full of Beans).

Raina Telgemeier posed with a blowup of the cover for Ghosts in the Scholastic booth.

Jewell Parker Rhodes signed Towers Falling galleys for fans.

Marketing manager Hannah Moushabeck with one of Chronicle Books’ coveted tote bags.

(From l.) Alexandra Bracken, Shannon Hale, Melissa de la Cruz, and Sara Shepard struck a pose.

(From l.) Mo Willems, Laurie Keller, and Dan Santat signed ARCs of the new Elephant & Piggie Like Reading series.

Erin Berger stacking copies of Our Chemical Hearts.

David Shannon signed Duck on a Tractor.

Sarah J. Maas revealed the cover of Empire of Storms before a large crowd.

Author Robin Yardi signed copies of The Midnight War of Mateo Martinez (Carolrhoda) in the autographing area.

Maggie Stiefvater (The Raven King) being interviewed for Facebook Live.

Jennifer Weiner at her book signing for The Littlest Bigfoot.

Little, Brown editor-in-chief Alvina Ling tried out The Secret Keepers lighthouse.

HarlequinTeen authors (from l. to r.) Jennifer L. Armentrout, Keira Drake, Eleanor Herman, marketing manager Bryn Collier, and Amy Lukavics.

Children’s Breakfast Speaker Gene Yang smiled along with his mini-me (a bookmark in his likeness).

Andrew Smith studying hard for his new role as publisher of children’s books at Abrams.

Oliver Jeffers (l.) and Sam Winston signing prints from A Child of Books (Candlewick).

The authors of the Middle Grade Buzz Panel (l. to r.): , Wade Albert White (The Adventurer's Guide to Successful Escapes), Booki Vivat (Frazzled), Kate Beasley (Gertie’s Leap to Greatness), moderator Holland Saltsman, Ross Welford (Time Traveling with a Hamster), and James R. Hannibal (The Lost Property Office).

The authors of the YA Buzz Panel (l. to r.): Billy Taylor (Thieving Weasels), Aaron Starmer (Spontaneous), Sonia Patel (Rani Patel in Full Effect), Kerri Maniscalco (Stalking Jack the Ripper), Stephanie Garber (Caraval), and moderator Susannah Greenberg.

Matthew Reinhart signing blads of his Frozen pop-up book at the Disney booth.

Alex Gino showed off the E.B. White Read-Aloud Award for George.

Kate Beasley signing advance copies of her debut novel, Gertie’s Leap to Greatness, with her editor, Grace Kendall, and Macmillan Children’s president Jon Yaged looking on.

Illustrator Tom Lichtenheld with the latest version of his book Goodnight, Goodnight, Construction Site.

Aliza Weinberger of Mashable’s Mash Reads moderated the lively Super Hero Creators Unite! panel featuring (l. to r.) Judd Winick (Hilo 2: Saving the Whole Wide World), Jeffrey Brown (Lucy & Andy Neanderthal), Jennifer L. Holm (Little Babymouse and the Christmas Cupcakes), and Lisa Yee (Supergirl at Super Hero High).

Tor Teen author Sarah Porter signing her upcoming novel Vassa in the Night with special guest Erg, the doll that features in the fairy-tale retelling.

Eleanor Herman, dressed as villain Queen Olympias, made it (just barely) to the end of BEA. Until next year!