The Center for Children's Literature at Bank Street College is thrilled to announce the program for the 47th annual BookFest! This will be BookFest's 9th year at Bank Street. Our keynote speaker will be the delightful and very funny Newbery Honor winner, Adam Gidwitz, author of The Inquisitor's Tale: Or the Three Magical Children and Their Holy Dog.

Schedule of Events

9:00 – 9:30 a.m.

Registration, light breakfast and coffee

9:30 – 9:35/Auditorium

Welcome Remarks

Cynthia Weill, Director, Center for Children’s Literature

Bank Street College of Education

9:35 – 10:25 am/Auditorium

Collaborative Couples in Kid Lit

Candace Fleming and Eric Rohman, Strongheart: Wonder Dog of the Silver Screen

Pete Parnell and Justin Richardson, And Tango Makes Three

Wade Hudson and Cheryl Willis Hudson, We Rise, We Resist, We Raise Our Voices

Moderator: Shelley Diaz, School Library Journal

10:25 – 11:15/Auditorium

Authors/Illustrators: How Does Working with Children Impact Practice?

Adam Gidwitz, The Unicorn Rescue Society series

Rita Williams Garcia, Clayton Byrd Goes Underground

Kat Yeh, The Way to BEA

Stephen Savage, Little Plane Learns to Write

Moderator: Emma Otheguy, Ph.D. Children’s Book Author

11:15 – 11:30 a.m.

Break

11:30 – 11:50 a.m./Auditorium

Writing Boxes: The Reading/Writing Connection for Supporting Literacy in the Library

Lisa Von Drasek, Curator, Kerlan Collection, University of Minnesota

11:50 – 12:50/Classrooms

Book Discussion Sessions

(Participants are kindly requested to read all of the work listed for their book discussion session in advance of BookFest.)

12:50 – 1:45 pm/Cafeteria

Pick up Lunch, dine in the cafeteria or lobby

Lunchtime Autographing Session in the lobby

1:45 – 2:35/Auditorium

Bringing the Real World to Life! Illustration in Informational Books

John Parra, Frida Kahlo and her Animalitos

Roxie Munro, Rodent Rascals

Melissa Sweet, Some Writer! The Story of E.B. White

Maira Kalman, Bold and Brave: Ten Heroes Who Won Women the Right to Vote

Zeke Peña, Photographic: The Life of Graciela Iturbide

Moderator: Gillian Engberg, Children’s Literature Consultant

2:30 – 3:00/Auditorium

Closing Keynote

Adam Gidwitz, The Unicorn Rescue Society series

3:00 – 4:00/Lobby

Autographing Session

Books for sale from the Bank Street Book Store

KidLit TV will livestream this event.