Western New York Children's Book Expo

Where else can you find 40 amazing children's book authors and illustrators in one place during National Picture Book month? Only at the Western New York Children's Book Expo!

This amazing event was put on by local children's book seller Monkey See Monkey Do and lasted an entire week, with book sales in schools, author visits, and illustrator demonstrations. The week culminated in a massive free event at the Buffalo Convention Center where all 40 authors were present to sign books for the children who attended.   

    

For a quick recap of the event, check out the video that was put together for last year's Expo. 

The list of authors and illustrators that were included looks like a best selling children's book store section, as you can see by the pictures above.  And I was incredibly honored to be included:)

  

And I made some new friends including:

Caldecott winning illustrator E.B. Lewis, artist and Syracuse University professor James Ransom and his wife Lesa Cline-Ransom, Bad Kitty author and illustrator Nick Bruel, local friends Matt Chandler, Elizabeth Leader, and Rachel DiNunzio, David M. Schwartz, Laurel Snyder, Christopher Lloyd among many, many others!  Below is a picture of us all at the event. 

If you want to learn more about these authors, here is a link to their books and a quick bio on each one.  Meet the Expo Authors  

Children's books help make us who we are:

The important thing to note about this group of people is that each one is passionate about children and children's literature. So many of them remember how tough it was to be a kid and they draw on personal experience to tell stories that children can relate to. Children are drawn to stories that resonate with the challenges they are facing and these authors deliver with enduring themes such as overcoming adversity, enduring tragedy, finding a kindred spirit, relying on wit, gaining new powers or knowledge, and just plain having fun. 

This is the stuff that translates into life lessons and lasting memories for young readers.  It's the stories and the pictures of our childhood that inspire and motivate all of us.