Authors and illustrators visited Sandy Hook Elementary School on Tuesday for the first assembly program since moving into its new building following the December 14, 2012 shooting that took the lives of 26 children and staff at the school. Pictured (from left to right): Vincent Kirsch, Alan Katz, Katie Davis, Bruce Degen, Tracy Dockery, Mike Rex.

Vincent Kirsch with his Toy Theatre.

Attendees convened for the 3rd annual Book^2 Camp conference in New York City Sunday February 10 to discuss the future of the book and other issues related to publishing.

Random House authors N.D. Wilson, Jeanne Birdsall, and Rebecca Stead at a lunch with librarians in New York City, discussing writing for middle school students. Photo by Rocco Staino.

Author Meg Rosoff and illustrator Sophie Blackall at the 14th Annual Society of Children Book Writers and Illustrators (SCBWI) Conference in NYC. Photo by Rocco Staino.

“Origami Yoda” (Abrams/Amulet) author Tom Angleberger walks on stage at ALA Midwinter 2013 dressed as Origami C3PO with R2D2.

Tom Angleberger with Princess Leia and Origami Princess Leia (costume worn by Kim Baker, author of Pickle (Roaring Brook, 2012).

Sarah Skilton, author of Bruised and Cat Winters, author of In the Shadow of Blackbirds (both Amulet/Abrams, 2013), pose at the Abrams booth at ALA Midwinter.

Fans Sasha Zacharia, Elazar Nudell and Max Schnaper outside of Carnegie Hall holding their loot from John and Hank Green’s An Evening of Awesome. Nudell & Schnaper traveled from Springfield MA to attend the event. Photo by Rocco Staino.

The Belleville Public Library in New Jersey recently celebrated Three Kings Day on Monday January 7. This holiday follows Christmas that is observed on January 6 and commemorates the Biblical story of the three kings who followed the star of Bethlehem. More than 350 children attended the event, which was sponsored by Friends of the Library and included a magic show and snacks. Photo by Richard Yanuzzi.

Two young library patrons wait for the magic show to start. Photo credit by Richard A. Dickon.

Students read at the elementary and secondary libraries at the Van Meter Community School.
Photo courtesy of Shannon Miller.

A group from Saugatuck Elementary School supported librarian Rae Anne Locke who received the “I Love My Librarian” award on December 18 at the New York Times Center in Manhattan. Photo by Rocco Staino.

Children at the Darien Public Library participate in a Stuffed Animal Sleepover. After an evening of songs and stories, each child leaves their stuffed companion overnight at the library, where the librarians photograph the toys’ various antics. Photos courtesy of the Darien Public Library.

A stuffed dog and teddy bear read together.

The toys curl up by a roaring fire.

Participants in the National Book Foundation’s BookUp program, an after-school reading program led by writers, visit the “Lunch Hour” exhibition at the New York Public Library as part of the program’s monthly field trip to literary sites around New York City. Photo credit: National Book Foundation.

Children involved in the BookUp program. Photo credit: National Book Foundation.

Famed nonfiction author Shirley Glubok attended a 50th Anniversary Celebration for Ezra Jack Keats’s The Snowy Day (Viking, 1962) at the Society of Illustrators in New York City. Photo by Rocco Staino.

Hope Larson, author of the graphic novel adaptation of A Wrinkle in Time (2012) and Leonard S. Marcus, author of Listening for Madeleine: A Portrait of Madeleine L’Engle in Many Voices (2012, both Farrar) autographing books at the dedication of Saint John the Divine as a Literary Landmark in New York City on November 29 in honor of Madeleine L’Engle. Photo by Rocco Staino.

SLJ‘s Book Review editor Trev Jones holds a piece of the original art from Ted Lewin’s Look (Holiday, 2013) at Holiday House‘s Spring 2013 New Book Preview December 4.

Author Libba Bray sings with her band Tiger Beat at Soho Press’s launch party for their new imprint, Soho Teen, November 29th at Sidewalk Cafe in New York City. Photo by Chelsey Philpot.

Newbery Medalist Jerry Spinelli was in New York City to meet with librarians to discuss his new book Hokey Pokey (Knopf, 2013) due out in January. Photo by Rocco Staino.

Author Chris Crutcher signs books at the National Council of Teachers of English Convention, a conference for educators of English studies, literacy, and language arts, held November 15-18 this year in Las Vegas, Nevada. Photo taken on November 17 by Daryl Grabarek.

Author Cat Patrick signs books at the NCTE Convention. Photo taken on November 17 by Daryl Grabarek.

Host Jon Scieszka displays a series of mock book covers at the National Coalition Against Censorship Award Gala on Monday, November 12.

Award-winning author Ellen Hopkins, left, was honored at the NCAC Award Gala. Pictured also, Pat Scales, whose SLJ column “Scales on Censorship” tackles tough questions from teachers and librarians.

National Book Award winner, William Alexander with his editor, Karen Wojtyle, at the National Book Award Ceremony Wednesday, November 14. Photo by Rocco Staino.

National Book Award finalist Steve Sheinkin with his wife, Rachel Person. Photo by Rocco Staino.

Rocky the Raccoon takes shelter at the Queens Library at Baisley Park after Hurricane Sandy. Children who visit the library named him, made him a home, and read to him through the window glass of the library’s atrium.

The Queens Library  Far Rockaway branch opened to provide emergency supplies to the community, as well as information on applying for grants and resources.

The Mobile Library, parked in the Rockaways, was a haven for many without heat or light.

Teenagers take shelter at Princeton Public Library in New Jersey on October 31 in the aftermath of Hurricane Sandy.

Teenagers make use of Princeton Public Library‘s Wi-Fi and electrical outlets in New Jersey on October 31 in the aftermath of Hurricane Sandy.

Former School Library Journal Editor-in-Chief Lillian N. Gerhardt, former Library Journal Editor-in-Chief John N. Berry III, former LJ Editor-in-Chief Francine Fialkoff, and former SLJ and LJ Vice President/Group Publisher Fred Ciporen at a farewell party honoring Fialkoff on October 23 at 25CPW Gallery. Photo by Mike Rogers.

New Jersey librarians Craig Anderson (Kean University Library); Megan Kociolek (Nutley Public Library); Michael Maziekien (Rockaway Township Public Library); Ty Rousseau (Monroe Township Public Library) presented The Library as Mythic Oracle at New York Comic Con, a fan convention dedicated to comics, video games, graphic novels, and more. Photo by Rocco Staino.

Author Lesléa Newman gives a reading from her novel in verse, October Mourning: A Song for Matthew Shepard, about the death of Matthew Shepard at New York City’s Bluestockings Bookstore on October 15. Photo by Mahnaz Dar.

Author Margaret Willey at the Bookman bookstore in Grand Haven, MI at a Book Launch Party for her recent novel Four Secrets, on September 27.

Author Margaret Willey converses with fans.

Author Vaunda Micheaux Nelson and illustrator R. Gregory Christie at the Horn Book Colloquium on September 29 at Simmons College in Boston. Their novel, No Crystal Stair (Carolrhoda Lab, 2012), won a Boston Globe-Horn Book Award for Fiction. Photo by Daryl Grabarek.