Recently, New York Comic Con brought creators together, an author took home an award, dogs made an appearance at an event, an organization spotlighted Italian culture and literature for young readers, a festival celebrated children’s literature, and an author attended a ceremony honoring her book’s subject.


Join the Club

On October 18, the Scholastic Graphix team invited their creators for a party at the Scholastic offices in celebration of New York Comic Con. Here, the Baby-sitters Club adapters (from l.) Raina Telgemeier, Gale Galligan, Gabriela Epstein, Chan Chau, Cynthia Yuan Cheng, and upcoming Baby-sitters Little Sister adapter Shauna Grant celebrate continuing the series legacy.


‘Gather’ Round

Kenneth M. Cadow took home the Kirkus Prize for Young People’s Literature for his YA novel Gather (Candlewick) during a ceremony at the Tribeca Rooftop in New York City on October 16. In Gather, a boy grapples with his mother’s addiction and with becoming responsible for his household, and finds solace in his friendship with his dog, the book’s titular canine. Gather was Cadow’s debut book, and was a 2023 National Book Award finalist.


Canines Take Action

M.T, Anderson made an appearance at the Virginia Children’s Book Festival, which took place on October 16–18 at the Longwood University campus in Farmville, Va. Anderson gave a reading of his 2023 middle grade novel Elf Dog & Owl Head (Candlewick), and held a demonstration of canine agility training with trainer Merissa Dubraque-Kreidler and her dogs Sushi and Lark.


Kid Lit Italian Style

On October 19, Casa Italiana Zerilli-Marimò at New York University invited young guests for its first Children’s Books Art Workshop for Kids, co-organized with Stefania Clementi of Allora Culturale as part of the event series La Casa dei Piccoli. Attendees enjoyed read-alouds and hands-on activities led by illustrator Costanza Musumeci, based on the picture book Pezzettino by Leo Lionni and a story from Telephone Tales by Gianni Rodari.


Just for Kids

On October 19, the 11th annual Morristown Festival of Books in Morristown, N.J., closed out with KidFest, a day full of storytimes and interactive activities for young readers. Here (from l.) authors Nancy Krulik, Tracey West, Heather Alexander, and James Preller enjoy the festivities.


One with Nature

Holly Thompson attended the George Nakashima Woodworkers Peace Award Ceremony on October 20 at the Nakashima Arts Building in New Hope, Pa., to celebrate the release and sign copies of her picture book Listening to Trees, illustrated by Toshiki Nakamura (Holiday House/Porter). The picture book biography highlights the life of Japanese American woodworker George Nakashima.