Recently, a Korean author and her translator visited the U.S. to share their book; graphic novel collaborators came together; authors discussed queer books during a panel; a tour brought an author from overseas to the U.S.; an author celebrated her new picture book; and a bookstore owner made her literary debut.

Welcome to ‘Snowglobe’

On February 27, author Soyoung Park (c.) and translator Joungmin Lee Comfort (l.) celebrated the U.S. release of their YA novel Snowglobe (Delacorte) with a launch event in partnership with Yu & Me Books at the Korea Society in New York City. Author Kat Cho (r.) moderated a conversation, which was followed by a book signing. The dystopian novel stars Cheobam, a teen surviving global icy weather, who is selected to replace a starlet whose death must be kept a secret.


Together at Last

On March 5, readers gathered at Red Balloon Bookshop in St. Paul, Minn., for an event celebrating (from l.) Kekla Magoon, Molly Murakami, and Cynthia Leitich Smith’s graphic novel collaboration Blue Stars: Mission One: The Vice Principal Problem (Candlewick). The trio held a conversation and signing. The first in a series, The Vice Principal Problem follows estranged cousins Riley and Maya as they overcome their differences to stop their vice principal from ending vital school resources.


All for Free Expression

On February 28, the Roosevelt House at Hunter College in New York City hosted a “Banned Books: Free Expression, and LGBTQ Identity” panel, featuring authors (from l.) Kyle Lukoff, Adriana Herrera, Vicki Johnson, and Boon Lin Ngeo. The writers discussed their experiences creating literature centering queer characters for young readers.


A Launch in Cambridge

Porter Square Books in Cambridge, Mass., hosted the launch event on March 12 for Chris Lynch’s (l.) new middle-grade novel Walkin’ the Dog (Simon & Schuster). Lynch traveled from Scotland for his book tour, and for the event was joined by Sara Farizan (r.) for a conversation about their creative processes and more. The pair answered questions from the audience and closed the evening with a book signing.


Just ‘Kitten’

Michelle Knudsen (r.) made an appearance at Lofty Pigeon Books in Brooklyn on March 5 to discuss her new picture book, Luigi, the Spider Who Wanted to Be a Kitten (Candlewick), illustrated by Kevin Hawkes. The event consisted of a reception, a reading from Knudsen, a conversation between Knudsen and Tracey Baptiste (l.), and a book signing. In the picture book, spider Luigi is mistaken for a kitten and after receiving loving care, attempts to keep up the ruse.


From Behind the Scenes into the Spotlight

The Field Museum of Natural History in Chicago welcomed Victoria Scott-Miller, author and owner of Raleigh, N.C.’s Liberation Station Bookstore, on March 2 for an event to present her debut picture book series starter Miss Edmonia’s Class of Wildfires (Paw Prints). In partnership with Brown Babies Books, Scott-Miller held a reading and a signing for attendees. Here Scott-Miller (l.) is joined by Tameca Blossoms-Lyons, founder of Brown Babies Books. In the story, the titular teacher takes her students to a museum where they use art to appreciate unique traits of their own.