Center for Children’s Literature

BookFest @ Bank Street

BookFest was founded in 1971, by Frances Henne, a faculty member of the School of Library Service at Columbia University. The event was originally known as Let’s Talk About Books for Children and Youth Day, or Velma Varner Day, in honor of Henne’s close friend and colleague, Velma Varner, editor of Viking Press. The event has been hosted by Columbia University, Teachers College, and the New York Public Library. Bank Street College of Education has been a proud producer of this wonderful event since 2010.

BookFest @ Bank Street

BookFest is an event devoted to the celebration, discovery, and discussion of books for children and teens. This event, designed for adults, features luminaries from the children’s literature community. Authors, illustrators, editors, reviewers, and scholars will take part in panel discussions and breakout sessions.

KidLit’s Livestream of BookFest @ Bank Street 2018 on Saturday October 20, 2018

BookFest@Bank Street LIVESTREAM 2018!

  • First panel: Collaborative Couples in Kid Lit moderated by Shelley Diaz with Candace Fleming and Eric Rohmann, Peter Parnell and Justin Richardson with Wade Hudson and Cheryl Willis Hudson (00:58)
  • Second Panel: Authors/Illustrators: School Visits and Their Impact on Practice moderated by Dr. Emma Otheguy with Adam Gidwitz, Rita Williams-Garcia; Kat Yeh, Stephen Savage (57:35)
  • Writing Boxes:  The Reading/Writing Connection for Supporting Literacy in the Library presented by Lisa Von Drasek (2:01:40);
  • Third Panel: Bringing the Read World to Life!: Illustration in Informational Books moderated by Gillian Engberg with Maira Kalman, John Parra, Roxie Munro, Melissa Sweet, Zeke Peña (4:36:30)
  • Final Keynote: Adam Gidwitz (5:39:45)