Jane Yolen, Mo Willems, Mark Teague, and Ellen Hopkins gather at the SCBWI event in NYC.

The ballroom of the Grand Hyatt Hotel in New York City was glittering with the stars of the world of children’s literature this weekend as they gathered for the 14^th Annual Society of Children Book Writers and Illustrators (SCBWI) Conference. The two-day event brings together writers, illustrators, editors, publishers, agents, librarians, educators, booksellers, and others involved with producing literature for young people for a series of workshops on the art and business of children’s books. SCBWI also works with librarians via the Amber Brown Grant. The grant is given in memory of  Paula Danzinger, author of the Amber Brown books, who died in 2004 at the age of 59. It provides funds for an author to visit schools and school libraries. Each year, two schools receive an all-expense-paid visit by a well-respected children’s author or illustrator. Additionally, one runner up school is selected to receive books valued at $250.00.  The deadline to apply for the next cycle of this award is April 1, 2013. View a slideshow of the SCBWI event below! (Click on "Show Info" to read the captions.)