The 2015 L.A. Times Festival Of Books - Highlights, and a Publishers Weekly Shout-Out

What a great festival!

Left to right, on the YA Stage: Adam Rex, Melissa de la Cruz, Me(!) and Pseudonymous Bosch

My panels of PB and MG superstars were amazing, the audiences enthusiastic (and smart!) and overall a great book-loving time was had by all. Some of my highlights:

1. The seven-year old in the audience asking Salina Yoon if the trees in her Bear series weren't the same trees as in her Penguin series. (This after Salina had said the two worlds don't overlap.) Salina admitted they were the same trees, and had even considered giving one of the Bear-book trees a scarf (a penguin-book theme.) The young person who asked was delighted, and the 100+ people in the audience were too. Everyone applauded the young reader.

2. Starting the introductions of my MG panel with Adam Rex, Melissa de la Cruz, and Pseudonymous Bosch by saying, "Okay, let's start with the hardest name to pronounce first..." And Adam jumping in and saying, "It's Adam, Lee. Adam." Everyone cracked up (including me!) and it was a hilarious and fascinating ride from there.

3. Getting to spend time with friends and kid lit industry peeps including Jo Knowles, Martha Brockenbrough, Suzanne Young, Steven Reigns, Julie Strauss-Gabel, Aaron Hartzler, Greg Pincus, Rita Crayon Huang, Michael Bourret, Dan Santat, Ken Wright, Holly Goldberg Sloan, and my awesome agent, Danielle Smith! (Who took the perfect photo above - thanks, Danielle!)

4. Hearing Jacqueline Woodson say, of her stunning Brown Girl Dreaming, "I wanted those mirrors on the page." YES!

5. Learning that Japan at one point was ruled by female shamans. (Marie Mutsuki Mockett shared this in her life-affirming panel on books about dying that also featured my friend Claire Bidwell Smith) I want to know more about that untold history!

6. Getting to see my friend and Open This Little Book author Jesse Klausmeier showing Levar Burton her picture book's dedication... to him. Awesome moment!

A shot I took on Jesse's camera for her, uploaded to her Instagram account

7. Oh, and this lovely shout-out in Publisher's Weekly for the festival featured my awesome panel of PB superstars!

Hurray!
Lee

Join Me This Weekend at The LA Times Festival Of Books!

It's a free celebration of books and reading, this April 18 and 19, 2015 at the USC campus near downtown Los Angeles.

I'm honored to be moderating two great panel discussions at the festival:

On Saturday, April 18, 2015 in the Andrus Gerontology Center,

TELL ME A STORY: The Art of Children's Books (Conversation 1043)

With

Jon Agee

Jon is the author/illustrator of many books for children, including "It’s Only Stanley," along with a series of popular wordplay books, among them, "Go Hang a Salami! I’m a Lasagna Hog!" His stories — of mysterious painters, hard-luck magicians, guffawing grumps and forgotten astronauts — have been called quirky, absurdist and above all, humorous. His sophisticated wit appeals to children and adults alike.

Jon will be talking about (and signing) his latest book, "It's Only Stanley"

Bob Shea

Bob is the author-illustrator of several picture books, such as "Unicorn Thinks He's Pretty Great," and the Dinosaur Vs. series. He has also created animations, graphics and logos that have been seen on PBS, Nick Jr. and Noggin. He and his wife run their own graphic design company called Perfectly Nice, and their son Ryan inspired the character Dinosaur.

Bob will be talking about (and signing) his latest book, "Dinosaur Vs. Mommy"

and

Salina Yoon

Salina is the award-winning author/illustrator of nearly 200 books for children, including "Penguin and Pinecone," "Penguin on Vacation," "Penguin in Love," "Penguin and Pumpkin" and "Found!" She lives in San Diego with her family.

Salina will be talking about (and signing) her latest book, "Stormy Night"

Please note this panel, an "indoor conversation" requires a free ticket, which you can get here. 



And on Sunday April 19, 2015 on the YA Stage,

MIDDLE GRADE FICTION: Extraordinary Adventures 

With

Melissa de la Cruz

Melissa is the author of many best-selling novels, including the Blue Bloods series and the "The Ring and The Crown." She lives in Los Angeles with her husband and daughter.

Melissa will be discussing her latest novel, "The Isle of the Lost"

Adam Rex

Adam is the New York Times best-selling author and illustrator of "Frankenstein Makes a Sandwich." His other books include "Fat Vampire," "Pssst!" and "Smek for President!" He also illustrated the Brixton Brothers series, "Billy Twitters and his Blue Whale Problem" by Mac Barnett and "Chu's Day" by Neil Gaiman. He lives in Tucson, Arizona. Adam wrote the remarkable "The True Meaning of Smekday, which was made into the movie "Home" which is currently in theaters.

Adam will be discussing (and signing) his latest novel, "Smek For President!"

and

Pseudonymous Bosch

Pseudonymous is the author of the New York Times best-selling Secret Series and "Bad Magic," which School Library Journal praised as "a clever and playful novel ... a delight to read." He loves rich chocolate and fine cheese. His identity is a closely guarded secret.

Pseudonymous will be discussing (and signing) his latest novel, "Bad Magic"

There's so much else going on at the festival, with a number of my very talented friends (looking at you, Martha Brockenbrough, Suzanne Young, Aaron Hartzler, Tim Federle, Catherine Linka, Claire Bidwell Smith, Sonya Sones, and Jacqueline Woodson!) who'll be speaking about their books and moderating other panels. Here's the link to the full list of authors and performers, listing the sessions they'll be part of.  And here's a link to the schedule.

It should be an amazing two days...

Hope to see you there!
Lee

The American Library Association announces their Stonewall Book Award - Mike Morgan & Larry Romans Children's & Young Adult Literature Award

Given annually to English-language children’s and young adult books of exceptional merit relating to the gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender experience.

(drumroll...)

The winner of the 2015 Stonewall Children's and Young Adult Literature Award is:

“This Day in June,” written by Gayle E. Pitman, Ph.D., illustrated by Kristyna Litten and published by Magination Press, an imprint of the American Psychological Association.

Three Honor Books were selected:

“Beyond Magenta: Transgender Teens Speak Out,” by Susan Kuklin, photographed by Susan Kuklin and published by Candlewick Press.

“I’ll Give You The Sun,” written by Jandy Nelson, published by Dial Books, an imprint of Penguin Group (USA) LLC.

“Morris Micklewhite and the Tangerine Dress,” written by Christine Baldacchio, pictures by Isabelle Malenfant, published by Groundwood Books / House of Anansi Press.

Have fun reading them all - I know I will!