Librarians and publishers proved a hardy bunch at this year’s American Library Association annual meeting, held June 26 to July 1 in Las Vegas, where temperatures climbed a high as 110 degrees. But the heat didn’t stop the multitude of authors and illustrators in attendance from mingling with librarians and signing copies of their books. The Newbery-Caldecott banquet bestowed the industry’s top honors to this year’s winners, Kate DiCamillo and Brian Floca, as well as the Honorees. Here we present some of the photographic highlights from the exhibit floor.
Kevin Henkes, who received both a Newbery Honor and a Geisel Award this year, signed books accompanied by his first editor, Greenwillow Books founder Susan Hirschman.
Tom Lichtenheld, illustrator of Goodnight, Goodnight, Construction Site, with Chronicle Books editor Victoria Rock (center) and Little Red Writing illustrator Melissa Sweet.
This year's Caldecott winner, Brian Floca, signed his latest picture book, Elizabeth, Queen of the Seas, written by Lynne Cox (Random House/Schwartz & Wade) for a long line of librarians.
Author Patricia C. McKissack (r.) and her book-loving family, with Holiday House editor Grace Maccarone (second from r.).
Jeff Bridges and Lois Lowry in the green room after the ALA President’s Program.
Oliver Jeffers signed The Day the Crayons Quit (Philomel).
Ryan Graudin behind a wall of advance copies of her new YA novel, The Walled City (Little, Brown).
Jarrett J. Krosoczka and Jon Scieszka clowned around in the Abrams booth during Scieszka's signing of his new middle-grade series, Frank Einstein.
Annette LeBlanc Cate signing her Sibert Honor book, Look Up!: Bird-Watching in Your Own Backyard (Candlewick).
Judy Blume with her first editor, Richard Jackson.
Kathryn Otoshi of KO Kids, with her picture books One and Two.
Kenn Nesbitt, the current Children’s Poet Laureate, signing at the Sourcebooks booth.
Candice Mack, Amanda Jacobs-Foust, and Jack Baur got excited about Cory Doctorow and Jen Wang's In Real Life, due out this October from First Second.
Coe Booth (Kinda Like Brothers) and Christopher Paul Curtis (The Madman of Piney Woods), at the Scholastic booth.
Sleeping Bear Press author Helen Foster James (center) with Carol McPhee (l.) and Jan Mirandette of Hester J. Hodgdon Libraries for All Program, a foundation established in 2003 to support the San Juan del Sur Biblioteca and promote lending libraries in Central America.
For Sterling's Chris Vaccari, it's always Time for a Bath.
Jon Scieszka (l.) hosted a picture book sketch-off with Anna Dewdney, Judy Schachner, Loren Long and Oliver Jeffers (not shown).
Illustrator John Parra and author Roseanne Greenfield Thong, who won both first and second place International Latino Book Awards for Picture Books for Round Is a Tortilla and Green Is a Chile Pepper, signed at the Chronicle booth.
Author Paul Czajak with Josh Plattner from Scarletta Press.
Outside the exhibit floor, Random House had a We Were Liars wall where librarians and fans of E. Lockhart's novel could share their lies.
Brian Floca (back row, center) with the Caldecott committee.
Newbery Honor author Margi Preus on the Book Buzz stage talking about her latest novel, West of the Moon (Abrams/Amulet).
Husband-and-wife writing duo John Parke Davis and Carrie Ryan signed advance copies of their new middle-grade adventure, The Map to Everywhere (Little, Brown).
Author Anna McQuinn (l.) with Charlesbridge's Megan Quinn, and illustrator Rafael López.
K.G. Campbell and Kate DiCamillo signing their Newbery Medal winner Flora & Ulysses.
Author Deborah Wiles, Scholastic's John Mason, and author Ann M. Martin.
Speaking of John Mason, he gave his final ALA performance, as quintessential Vegas entertainer Elvis Presley, and retired directly after. Yes, Elvis has left the building.
