Authors & Illustrators

From intellectual freedom to AI, there was plenty to learn and discuss at the 2023 SLJ Summit in Atlanta. Here are just some of the ideas that came from those on panels and in breakout sessions.

PEN America's report, Spineless Shelves: Two Years of Book Banning, shows the spread of copycat book bans, as well as how several titles from an author were targeted after one of their works was banned.

We love our creators of children's and YA books and so do readers. Here are the five most popular stories centering writers whose stories inspired us over the past year. 

In his SLJ Summit keynote address, the best-selling "Wimpy Kid" author shared the memorable titles from his youth, as well as those that have opened his eyes to his privilege and the lives of those not like him.

“You've made it your life's work to make sure we see the humanity in one another,” author Jeff Kinney said, speaking at the SLJ Summit 2023 in Atlanta this weekend. “Books might be empathy machines, but librarians are the beating hearts of the communities they serve.”

The "Wimpy Kid" author headlines SLJ's flagship annual event, featuring sessions on the biggest issues facing school librarianship, from empowerment in the face of book bans, to making the case to stakeholders and engaging the AI revolution.

Esteemed editors, authors, and translators discuss their work behind the scenes to bring children's books from all over the world to the U.S. market. Foremost on their minds? Young readers. Join the live program December 14.

Whether for witty wordplay, star-crossed love stories, or bloody history, the Bard's plays still inspire—in particular, they inspire YA adaptations.

Angeline Boulley, Cynthia Leitich Smith, and Debbie Reese discussed Native work for young readers—and Boulley made a big announcement.