BookExpo America 2010: A Children's Books Photo-Essay

As booksellers, librarians, publishers, and book-lovers gathered in New York City last week for BEA, photographers were there too, documenting the show's events, activity, and mood. Here, we gather a selection of images from the children's book side of the show. Click through to catch up on the conference's activity—and maybe a few things you missed!

BookExpo America 2010: 21,919 'Verified' Attendees at This Year's Event

Total attendance at this year's BookExpo America was 21,919. BEA management used a new measuring system this year that includes verified attendance for both exhibitors and other attendees. Saying that because the show has evolved into more than just publishers selling books to booksellers, the number of book buyers isn't being broken out. "We feel it is an outdated standard of measurement," said spokesperson Roger Bilheimer.

Digital Deals At BEA

From the overflow attendance at the International Digital Publishing Forum to a panel of digitally skeptical publishing CEOs, one way or another e-books and digital publishing were at the heart of this year's BEA.

BEA 2010: Short but Sweet

BookExpo America 2010: A Spotlight on Spanish-Language Publishing

At this year's BEA the show's international focus was on Spain, with many panels on Tuesday about Spanish-language publishing. "New Digital Technologies in Spain and the U.S." looked at the future of e-books and the anticipated launch of Libranda, a new digital platform created by several Spanish publishers, while other panels explored the publishing panorama in Spain, mainly fiction and children's literature.

BookExpo America 2010: Stewart and More Wake Up Booksellers at Thursday Breakfast

Booksellers and other BEA attendees showed up in full force Thursday morning for what master of ceremonies satirist Jon Stewart derided as a "muffin bucket" breakfast. But despite the early hour and the slim culinary pickings, the packed room of early risers was treated to a full serving of Stewart's biting wit.

BookExpo America 2010: Split Decision on Return to Three-Day Show

The quick decision by BookExpo America executives to return to a three-day show next year was met with mixed reaction that was pretty much divided between the New York-based publishers who liked the two-day event and most everyone else, particularly booksellers, librarians and international publishers, who favored a return to a longer show.

BookExpo America 2010: Authors Lunch Highlights and Lowlights

Yesterday's BEA Authors Lunch honored sales rep of the year Ronald Koltnow of Random House and bookseller of the year City Lights in San Francisco. And Patton Oswalt, Christopher Hitchens, Sara Gruen, and William Gibson pitched their new books, in what can only be described as "an uneven few hours."

BookExpo America 2010: Show Returning to Three Days

While this year's BookExpo America has drawn mostly high marks, one change has not been met with widespread approval--cutting the exhibit floor time from three days to two. On his blog, event director Steve Rosato has confirmed reports that the exhibit hall will move back to three days beginning next year, running from Tuesday through Thursday with the seminars on Monday.

BookExpo America 2010: Booksellers Look Forward

Yesterday afternoon's Town Hall Forum led by ABA president Michael Tucker, president and CEO of Books Inc. in San Francisco, and v-p Becky Anderson of Anderson's Bookshops in Naperville, Ill., focused on where the organization will be five years from now, if there will be an ABA--and the lack of WiFi and women's bathrooms at the Javits Convention Center.

BookExpo America 2010: 'The Passage' An Early Favorite

The Passage has been a hot book at the fair so far, but there are lots of other titles drawing praise from booksellers.

BookExpo America 2010: Change is Good

The exhibition floor of the restructured BookExpo America opened for business Wednesday morning and most exhibitors expressed satisfaction with traffic levels on day one. There were some complaints about the move to midweek, but most publishers and booksellers were happy to once again be meeting face-to-face.

BookExpo America 2010: Publishing in the Age of Abundance

Copyright may not be dead, but it is irrelevant, noted Cursor's Richard Nash at a Wednesday morning panel entitled Rights, Royalties & Retailers: What Works. In his opening remarks, Nash spoke about publishing in the "age of abundance," telling attendees that success in the digital age is no longer about securing lifetime monopolies associated with copyright, or controlling the content pipe, but about "your moxie."

BookExpo America 2010: Two Days Not Enough for Some Overseas Visitors

While publishers visiting from abroad are delighted by the level of traffic at BEA, there is a growing chorus of disapproval that the show was cut from three days to two. The discontent is fueled by what's perceived to be a lack of clarity on the Web site (which refers to a three-day event) and elsewhere as to what precisely is happening when. Some publishers arrived for meetings Tuesday only to find they were unable to gain access to the floor without an exhibitor pass.

BookExpo America 2010: Technochondria at 7x20x21

If there was a theme to this year's 7x20x21 panel, it was this: things are changing; don’t be afraid, but don’t be stupid, either.

BookExpo America 2010: Publishing for the Age of Abundance

Copyright may not be dead, but it is irrelevant, noted Cursor's Richard Nash at a Wednesday morning panel entitled Rights, Royalties & Retailers: What Works. In his opening remarks, Nash spoke about publishing in the "age of abundance," telling attendees that success in the digital age is no longer about securing lifetime monopolies associated with copyright, or controlling the content pipe, but about "your moxie." Nash, who announced his upstart Cursor model in PW last year, showcased the centerpiece of his business: three-year deals. "That doesn’t mean after three years, you lose your author," Nash noted. "You renegotiate."

BookExpo America 2010: Children's Breakfast Report

Children's book fans at the show turned out bright and early last Wednesday morning during BEA for the annual Children's Book and Author Breakfast, presented with the support of the ABA, ABC, and CBC. Given her late-breaking influence-peddling scandal, all eyes were on master of ceremonies Sarah Ferguson, the Duchess of York, who showed off a self-deprecating sense of humor in her opening remarks.

Booth Offer Correction

An error was made in the Around the Booths BEA Exhibitor Guide (April 26 issue) for the American Girl Publishing listing. There is no drawing for an American Girl doll at the booth, but rather, for an order of $1000, accounts will get free freight plus a doll drawing display for their store. American Girl Publishing can be found at booths 2458 and 2459. PW regrets the error.

BookExpo America 2010: Buzzing about Books

Editors were advised to keep it interesting at Tuesday's Editor's Buzz panel and they did not disappoint. One of the six buzz books flogged has a three-page sex scene between a talking monkey and a woman. "It's not bestiality," said Cary Goldstein, the book's editor at Twelve, "It's love."

BookExpo America 2010: 'Nelson Mandela's Favorite African Folktales' Takes Audie Honors

The Audio Publishers Association presented the 15th annual Audie Awards, celebrating another year of record submissions and exceptional production and marketing of audiobooks, last night at the Museum of the City of New York. Nelson Mandela's Favorite African Folktales (Hachette Audio) took top honors for Audiobook of the Year.