Recently, children’s creators gathered to honor AAPI Heritage Month, an author accepted an award, authors went on a friendship-themed tour together, an editor joined an author for a launch event, a pup made an appearance at an event, and a nonprofit hosted students for a visit.
Celebrating AAPI Heritage Month
The Smithsonian National Museum of Asian Art in Washington, D.C., hosted a children’s book fair on May 3 to kick off Asian American, Native Hawaiian, and Pacific Islander Heritage Month celebrations. Guests were invited to the Arthur M. Sackler Gallery Flex Space for an evening of book readings and presentations, crafts, and giveaways. Here, author and illustrator Lian Cho gives a drawing demonstration.
A Standing Ovation
During the NYLA/SSL Annual Conference on May 2 in Fairpoint, N.Y., Ann M. Martin, the author behind the beloved Baby-Sitters Club series, accepted the 2025 Knickerbocker Award for Juvenile Literature. The award celebrates a New York author or illustrator who holds an outstanding body of work. Martin received a standing ovation for her acceptance speech. Here, she prepares to sign books at the conference.
Friends Forever
On May 6, Beacon Hill Books & Café in Boston welcomed authors Carrie Kruck (l.) and Kari Allen for their joint friendship-themed tour stop. The duo held storytimes for their recent releases, Alfred Blooms (Random House Studio) from Kruck and Maddie and Mabel Make a Friend (Kind World) from Allen, in addition to making crafts.
An Author-Editor Chat
Readers gathered at the Barnes & Noble on Atlantic Ave. in Brooklyn, N.Y. on May 6 to join Sloan Harlow (l.) in celebrating the release of her YA novel All We Lost Was Everything (Putnam). The thriller centers on diner worker River Santos who begins questioning everyone and everything after her father dies and she receives an anonymous donation of two million dollars. Harlow was joined by Putnam associate editor Simone Roberts-Payne for a conversation.
Paws Up!
Author Jamie Michalak and her muse, Pep the dog, stopped by Brookline Booksmith in Brookline, Mass., on May 4 as part of her Hazel the Handful (Candlewick) book tour. Illustrated by Matt Myers, the picture book follows the titular pup, who struggles when a new baby steals all the attention. Michalak and Pep signed and “paw-tographed” copies of the book.
Joy All Around
On May 9, author/illustrator Yesenia Moises celebrated the release of her picture book Sounds Like Joy (Versify) with a presentation to students at P.S. 5 in the Bronx, N.Y., with nonprofit Start Lighthouse. The picture book follows Joy, a young mermaid, who works together with her aquatic friends to make enjoyable sounds. Moises gave a reading to fifth grade students.
