The first-ever Seattle Children’s Book Festival launched for four very busy hours on September 28, hosted by Greenwood Elementary School, north of downtown Seattle. Nearly 50 authors and illustrators attracted more than 7,000 kids—with several thousand adults in tow—for a day of presentations, hands-on literacy activities, and book signings. Attendees bought more than 5,500 books, and the event raised more than $16,000, every dollar of which goes toward purchasing new books for children in low-income schools in the Seattle Public Schools. We’ve gathered a selection of highlights from the festival. All photos by Emily Weaver Brown Photography.

A view of the crowd at one of the author tents. Lines wrapped around more than a city block in anticipation of the gates opening at 11 a.m.

Kazu Kibuishi, author of the Amulet series (Scholastic/Graphix), meets a fan.

Attendees enjoyed panels and individual presentations by Ben Clanton, Troy Cummings, and LeUyen Pham.

Illustrator Yasmin Imamura led a make-a-bug craft inspired by her debut picture book, Evelyn the Adventurous Entomologist: The True Story of a World-Traveling Bug Hunter, written by Christine Evans (Innovation Press).

A young reader takes a look at a book.

Author-illustrator Ben Clanton, designer of the SCBF festival poster and creator of the Narwhal and Jelly series (Tundra), greets kids.

Tui T. Sutherland signs a book from her Wings of Fire series (Scholastic Press).

Author-illustrator Joyce Wan (the Peep and Egg series, FSG) chats with families.

Author-illustrator Keith Negley shared a coloring activity based on his new book, Mary Wears What She Wants (HarperCollins/ Balzer + Bray).

Dan Gemeinhart, author of The Remarkable Journey of Coyote Sunrise (Holt).

Copies of I Can Make This Promise (HarperCollins), written by debut middle grade author Christine Day, sold out shortly before the end of the day.

Author-illustrator Aron Nels Steinke also sold out all the stacks of his books, including Mr. Wolf’s Class (Scholastic/Graphix) and Ariel Cohn’s The Zoo Box (First Second).

A reader shows off her copy of Honeysmoke by Monique Fields, illustrated by Yesenia Moises (Imprint).

A young festivalgoer exchanges a fist bump with Varian Johnson, author of The Parker Inheritance (Scholastic/Levine).