Moderator: Troy Ragsdale Pinkney, Bank Street College of Education
Complex Characters in Complex Times: Lessons for our Lives from Middle Grade Latinx Authors
Meg Medina, Merci Suarez Changes Gears
Margarita Engle, The Surrender Tree: Poems of Cuba’s Struggle for Freedom
Pam Muñoz Ryan, Echo
Moderator: Dr. Carla España, Brooklyn College
Delicious Reads: Picture Books about Food and Culture
Andrea Wang, Watercress
Jason Chin, Watercress
Raúl the III, Vámos, Let’s Go Eat
June Jo Lee , Sandor Katz and the Tiny Wild
Winsome Bingham, Soul Food Sunday
Moderator: Gillian Engberg, Consultant, Children’s Books and Media
Closing Keynote
Donna Barba Higuera, 2022 Newbery and Pura Belpré Winner, The Last Cuentista
2021
Black Women Biographers: Claiming Our Space and Shining Our Light
BookFest @ Bank Street 2021 | October 16, 2021
April Harrison, illustrator of Shirley Chisholm Dared: The Story of the First Black Woman in Congress
Oge Mora, illustrator of The Oldest Student: How Mary Walker Learned to Read
Lesa Cline-Ransome, author of Before She Was Harriet
Cozbi A. Cabrera, illustrator of Exquisite: The Poetry and Life of Gwendolyn Brooks
Connie Schofield-Morrison author of Stitch by Stitch: Elizabeth Hobbs Keckly Sews Her Way to Freedom
Traci Todd, author of Nina: A Story of Nina Simone.
Moderator: Carole Boston Weatherford, author of Respect: Aretha Franklin, the Queen of Soul
Publishing As Passion: New Imprints and Voices
BookFest @ Bank Street 2021 | October 16, 2021
mineditionUS, Maria Russo
Make Me a World, Christopher Myers
Heartdrum, Cynthia Leitich Smith
Unruly, Claudia Zoe Bedrick
Levine Querido, Arthur Levine
Kokila, Namrata Tripathi
Moderator: Vicky Smith, Young Readers’ Editor, Kirkus
Matt de la Peña & Christian Robinson: The World Without and the World Within
BookFest @ Bank Street 2021 | October 16, 2021
Matt de la Peña author of Milo Imagines the World
Christian Robinson, illustrator of Milo Imagines the World
Moderator: Jenny Brown, Senior Editor, Shelf Awareness; member of the Bank Street Children’s Book Committee
Closing Keynote
BookFest @ Bank Street 2021 | October 16, 2021
Jerry Craft, 2020 Newbery Medalist, New Kid
Your Place in the Universe
Author Jason Chin, Cook Prize 2021. | May, 2021
Honeybee: The Busy Life of Apis Mellifera Authors Candace Fleming & Eric Rohman, Cook Prize 2021. | May, 2021
If You Take Away the Otter Author Susannah Buhrman-Deever, Illustrator Matthew Trueman, Cook Prize 2021. | May, 2021
Perkin’s Perfect Purple Authors Tami Lewis Brown & Debbie Loren Dunn; illustrator Francesca Sanna, Cook Prize 2021. | May, 2021
Cat Dog Dog: The Story of a Blended Family Author Nelly Buchet; illustrator Andrea Zuill, Irma Black Award 2021. | June, 2021
Nana Akua Goes to School Author Tricia Elam Walker; illustrator April Harrison, Irma Black Award 2021. | June, 2021
Your Name Is a Song Author Jamilah Thompson-Bigelow; illustrator Luisa Uribe, Irma Black Award 2021. | June, 2021
Bread for Words: A Frederick Douglass Story Author Shana Keller; illustrator Kayla Stark, Irma Black Award 2021. | June, 2021
When Stars Are Scattered Authors Victoria Jamieson and Omar Mohamed; illustrations by Victoria Jamieson and color by Iman Geddy/ Dial BFYR, Josette Frank 2021. | April, 2021
All Thirteen: The Incredible Cave Rescue of the Thai Boys’ Soccer Team Author Christina Soontornvat, Flora Stieglitz Straus 2021. | April, 2021
Winner for Older Readers
Lizzie Demands a Seat!: Elizabeth Jennings Fights for Streetcar Rights Author Beth Anderson; illustrations by E. B. Lewis, Flora Stieglitz Straus 2021. | April, 2021
Winner for Younger Readers
Flooded: Requiem for Johnstown
Author Ann E. Burg, Claudia Lewis 2021. | April, 2021 Winner for Older Readers
I Am Every Good Thing Author Derrick Barnes; illustrations by Gordon C. James, Claudia Lewis 2021. | April, 2021
Winner for Younger Readers
2020
Re-imagining Beginning Readers
BookFest @ Bank Street 2020 | October 17, 2020
Kevin Henkes, Waiting, The Penny series
Lulu Delacre, Rafi and Rosi series
Jerdine Nolen, Freedom Bird, Bradford Street Buddies
James Yang, Stop Bot
Moderator: Caroline Ward, Youth Literature Consultant
Middle Grade Authors: Putting Yourself on the Page
BookFest @ Bank Street 2020 | October 17, 2020
Veera Hiranandani, The Night Diary
Jasmine Warga, Other Words for Home
Aida Salazar, Land of the Cranes
Alicia D. Williams, Genesis Begins Again
Moderator: Kelly Yang, Author, Front Desk, Three Keys, Parachutes
All American or Forever Foreigner: The Un-easy Balancing Act of Asian American Voices (Pacific Rim)
BookFest @ Bank Street 2020 | October 17, 2020
Kao Kalia Yang, A Map Into the World
Christina Soontornvat, All Thirteen: The Incredible Rescue of the Thai Boys Soccer Team
Minh Le, Green Lantern Legacy
Cynthia Kadohata, A Place to Belong
Robin Ha, Almost American Girl
Abigail Hing Wen, Loveboat Taipei
Moderator: Roxanne Hsu Feldman, Librarian, Dalton School
Creativity Meets True Stories: Non-fiction YA
BookFest @ Bank Street 2020 | October 17, 2020
Deborah Heligman, Torpedoed: The True Story of the World War II Sinking of the “Children’s Ship”
Candace Fleming, The Rise and Fall of Charles Lindbergh
Joseph Bruchac, One Real American: The Life of Ely S. Parker
Carole Boston Weatherford, Beauty Mark: A Verse Novel of Marilyn Monroe
Marilyn Nelson, A Wreath for Emmet Till
Moderator: Steve Sheinkin, Most Dangerous, Bomb, Undefeated, and Born to Fly
Closing Keynote BookFest @ Bank Street 2020 | October 17, 2020
Linda Sue Park, Author, Prairie Lotus
Mario and the Hole in the Sky: How a Chemist Saved Our Planet Mario y el agujero en el cielo: Cómo un químico salvó nuestro planeta Author: Elizabeth Rusch, Cook Prize 2020. Acceptance Speech (Winner) | May 14, 2020
(Charlesbridge) Elizabeth Rusch, Cook Prize 2020
Mario y el agujero en el cielo: Cómo un químico salvó nuestro planeta Mario and the Hole in the Sky: How a Chemist Saved Our Planet
Illustrator: Teresa Martínez, Cook Prize 2020. Acceptance Speech (Spanish) | May 14, 2020
(Charlesbridge) Teresa Martínez, Cook Prize 2020
Flower Talk: How Plants Use Color to Communicate
Author: Sara Levine, Cook Prize 2020. Acceptance Speech (Honor Book) | May 14, 2020 (Millbrook Press: A Division of Lerner Publishing Group.) Sara Levine, Cook Prize 2020
The Crayon Man: The True Story of the Invention of Crayola Crayons The Irma Black Award 2020. Acceptance Speech (Winner) | May 14, 2020
(Houghton Mifflin Harcourt)
Author: Natascha Biebow, Natascha Biebow, The Irma Black Award 2020
Rocket Says Look Up The Irma Black Award 2020. Acceptance Speech (Honor Book) | May 14, 2020
(Random House Publishers)
Author: Nathan Bryon, Nathan Bryon, The Irma Black Award 2020
When the Ground Is Hard
Josette Frank 2020. Acceptance Speech | April 2, 2020 (G.P. Putnam & Sons)
Author: Malla Nunn. Josette Frank Award 2020
Infinite Hope: A Black Artist’s Journey from World War II to Peace
Flora Stieglitz Straus 2020. Acceptance Speech | April 2, 2020
(Atheneum/Caitlyn Dlouhy Books)
Author: Ashley Bryan. Flora Stieglitz Straus Award 2020
Enemy Child: The Story of Norman Mineta, A Boy Imprisoned in a Japanese American Internment Camp
During World War II
Flora Stieglitz Straus 2020. Acceptance Speech | April 2, 2020
(Margaret Ferguson Books)
Author: Andrea Warren. Flora Stieglitz Straus Award 2020
Voices: The Final Hours of Joan of Arc
Claudia Lewis 2020. Acceptance Speech | April 2, 2020 (Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Books for Young Readers) Author: David Elliott. Claudia Lewis 2020. Acceptance Speech | April2, 2020 Claudia Lewis Award 2020
KidLit’s Livestream of The Center for Children’s Literature first Biennial Best Spanish Language Picture Book Awards. Six time Pura Belpré award winner and Caldecott honoree, Yuyi Morales keynotes | March 10, 2020 The Best Spanish Language Picture Book of the Year 2020
KidLit’s Livestream of Diverse Voices in Latinx Children’s Literature 2019 | March 9, 2019 Latinx Mini-Conference 2019
2018
KidLit’s Livestream of BookFest @ Bank Street 2018 |October 20, 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)
Irma Black and Cook Prize Ceremony with keynote Laura Vaccaro Seeger | May 10, 2018
A Celebration of Bilingual Books and Latinx Communities | March 3, 2018
Opening Remarks
Opening comments by Director of the Center for Children’s Literature, Dr. Cynthia Weill and bilingual book author, Emma Otheguy.
Otheguy talks about the importance of books to her bilingual, Cuban family.
Diverse voices in Latino Books
Dr. Sonia Alejandra Rodriguez of LaGuardia Community College interviews picture book illustrators Raúl Colón and Eric Velasquez, middle grade author, Meg Medina and translator, Teresa Mlawer
BookFest @ Bank Street | October 22, 2016
BookFest @ Bank Street 2016 includes three panels and a presentation. Leonard Marcus moderates “Reading with Pictures: Visual Literacy Yesterday and Today” featuring Lindsey Wyckoff, Francoise Mouly, Rudy Gutierrez, and Raúl Colón. Susannah Richards moderates “Artists and Illustrators Talk Visual Literacy” featuring Laurent Linn, Hervé Tullet, Angela Dominguez, Jason Chin, Brian Pinkney, and Christopher Myers. Megan Dowd Lambert presents on “The Whole Book Approach: Reading Picture Books with Children.” Jesse Karp moderates “Capturing the Action: Graphic Novels and Visual Literacy” featuring, Deb Lucke, Raúl Gonzalez, Jorge Aguirre, and George O’Connor.
Irma Black Award and The Cook Prize Presentation, Part I, Part II | May 19, 2016
The presentation of the Forty-Fourth Annual Irma S. and James H. Black Award for Excellence in Children’s Literature and the Fifth Annual Cook Prize for Excellence in Presenting STEM Principles took place at Bank Street College on Thursday, May 19, 2016. Scott Magoon, illustrator of 2013 Irma Black Award winner Big Mean Mike, delivers the keynote address.
Joan Bertin Keynote | April 16, 2016
Joan Bertin, Director of the National Coalition Against Censorship (NCAC), delivers the keynote address at “Who Are You to Say?: Children’s Literature and the Censorship Conversation.”
Developing Challenged Children’s Books: Authors and Their Editors | April 16, 2016
Children’s literature scholar Leonard S. Marcus moderates the “Developing Challenged Children’s Books: Authors and Their Editors” panel at “Who Are You to Say?: Children’s Literature and the Censorship Conversation.” The panel features Robie H. Harris (It’s Perfectly Normal), Susan Kuklin (Beyond Magenta), and Candlewick editor Hilary Van Dusen, Pete Parnell and Justin Richardson (And Tango Makes Three) and Simon and Schuster editor David Gale. Also features a welcome by CCL director Cynthia Weill and an introduction to censorship by Leonard Marcus.
Why Are Young Adult Books Challenged? | April 16, 2016
Pulitzer Prize winning author David Shipler moderates the “Why Are Young Adults Books Challenged?” panel at “Who Are You to Say?: Children’s Literature and the Censorship Conversation.” The panel features Meg Medina (Yaqui Delgado Wants to Kick Your Ass), emily m. danforth (The Miseducation of Cameron Post), Shelly Diaz, School Library Journal, Young Adult Reviewer, and Coe Booth, (Tyrell).
Context and Controversy: Recently Censored and Contested Books for Children | April 16, 2016
Author and former co-chair of the PEN Children’s Book Committee Elizabeth Levy moderates the “Context and Controversy: Recently Censored and Contested Books for Children” panel at “Who Are You to Say?: Children’s Literature and the Censorship Conversation.” The panel features: Allie Jane Bruce, Children’s Librarian, Bank Street College of Education; Fatima Shaik, Children’s/Young Adult Books Committee, PEN American Center; Andy Laties, Manager, Bank Street Book Store; Kiera Parrott, Reviews Director, School Library Journal; Cheryl Willis Hudson, Editorial Director, Just Us Books, Inc.
2015
Rita Williams-Garcia Keynote | October 24, 2015
Rita Williams-Garcia, Newbery Honor author and Coretta Scott King Author Award winner for One Crazy Summer, delivers the keynote address at BookFest @ Bank Street.
Pushing Narrative Boundaries in Teen Literature | October 24, 2015
Kirkus Reviews editor Vicky Smith moderates the “Pushing Narrative Boundaries in Teen Literature” panel at at BookFest @ Bank Street.. The panel features authors Tim Wynne-Jones (The Emperor of Anyplace), Beth Kephart (One Thing Stolen), and Daniel José Older (Shadowshaper).
Young Women in the (Plot) Driver’s Seat | October 24, 2015
The Dalton School teacher Monica Edinger moderates the “Young Women in the (Plot) Driver’s Seat” panel at at BookFest @ Bank Street. The panels features authors Laura Amy Schlitz (The Hired Girl), Jeanne Birdsall (The Penderwicks in Spring), Kat Yeh (The Truth about Twinkie Pie), and Liz Kessler (Emily Windsnap and the Ship of Lost).
Artists and Mentors: Book…Making…101 | October 24, 2015
Total Equity Now founder Joe Rogers, Jr. moderates the panel “Artists and Mentors: Book…Making…101” at at BookFest @ Bank Street. The panel features artists Christopher Myers (My Pen, Jake Makes the World), Shadra Strickland (Bird), Sara Varon (Bake Sale, Robot Dreams), and Raúl Colón (Draw).
Teachers as Writers | October 24, 2015
Children’s literature scholar Leonard S. Marcus moderates the “Teachers as Writers” panel at at BookFest @ Bank Street. The panel features authors Adam Gidwitz, Bank Street GS ’08 (A Tale Dark and Grimm), Elizabeth Bluemle, Bank Street GS ’98 (Tap! Tap! Boom! Boom!), and Cynthia Weill, Columbia University Teachers College, Bank Street Writers Lab (Opuestos/Opposites).
Irma Black Award and The Cook Prize Presentation | May 14, 2015
The presentation of the Forty-Third Annual Irma S. and James H. Black Award for Excellence in Children’s Literature and the Fourth Annual Cook Prize for Excellence in Presenting STEM Principles took place at Bank Street College on Thursday, May 14, 2015. Keynote speaker Fiona Robinson talks about the process of illustrating her upcoming picture book biography on Ada Lovelace.
Doing the Write Thing, 1969-2015: A Literary Legacy Conversation | April 6, 2015
A conversation between Kwame Alexander, Dorothy Carter Writer-in-Residence and 2015 Newbery Medalist for The Crossover, and his father, Dr. E. Curtis Alexander (GS ’70), moderated by Leonard S. Marcus, historian and author of Margaret Wise Brown: Awakened by the Moon.
Children’s Book Committee 2015 Award Ceremony | March 12, 2015
The Bank Street Children’s Book Committee celebrates the 2015 award books, includes interviews with award winners Ann M. Martin and Susan Kuklin.
2014
An Evening with Leonard S. Marcus | November 14, 2014
Historian Leonard S. Marcus presents a slide show and discussion of Margaret Wise Brown: her life-changing student/mentor relationship with Bank Street founder Lucy Sprague Mitchell, her pivotal role as a charter member of the Bank Street Writers Lab, and the ongoing impact of her groundbreaking contributions to children’s literature.
Irma Black Award and The Cook Prize Presentation | May 22, 2014
The presentation of the Forty-Second Annual Irma S. and James H. Black Award for Excellence in Children’s Literature and the Third Annual Cook Prize for Excellence in Presenting STEM Principles took place at Bank Street College on Thursday, May 22, 2014. Keynote speakers Jon Scieszka and Mac Barnett discuss their collaboration on Battle Bunny and accept the Irma Black Award on behalf of this year’s winner Mo Willems.
Play and Imagination: Writers Lab Mini-Conference | April 12, 2014
Keynote addresses delivered by Richard Lewis, founder and Director of The Touchstone Center for Children, and Stephen Savage, author and illustrator, at the Writers Lab Mini-Conference, “Play and Imagination,” held on April 12, 2014 at Bank Street College of Education.
Beth Kephart on Writing Sideways | November 9, 2013
Critically acclaimed author and educator Beth Kephart delivers her keynote address at the Writers Lab Mini-Conference, “The Nitty Gritty,” held on November 9, 2013 at Bank Street College of Education.
Inside the ABC of It: The Writer’s Perspective | October 2, 2013
“ABC of It” curator Leonard S. Marcus moderates a discussion including panelists: Robie Harris (GS ’70), author and former teacher at the Bank Street School for Children, Emily Jenkins, author of the National Book Award finalist The Disreputable History of Frankie Landau-Banks (as E. Lockhart), Rebecca Stead, Newbery-winning author of When You Reach Me, and Wendy Lamb, V-P, Publishing Director, Wendy Lamb Books, an imprint of Penguin Random House Children’s Books.
Inside the ABC of It: The Artist’s and Designer’s Perspective | September 24, 2013
“ABC of It” curator Leonard S. Marcus moderates a discussion including panelists: Urshula Barbour, Co-Founder, Pure + Applied, designer of “The ABC of It” Exhibition, Laurent Linn, Art Director, Simon & Schuster Books for Young Readers, Martha Rago, Associate Creative Director, HarperCollins Children’s Books, Cecilia Yung, V-P, Art Director, Penguin Random House Children’s Books.
Inside the ABC of It: The Educator’s and Librarian’s Perspective | September 18, 2013
“ABC of It” curator Leonard S. Marcus moderates a discussion including panelists: Susan Rabbiner, Assistant Director for Exhibitions, The New York Public Library, Nancy Larson Shapiro, former Director, Teachers & Writers Collaborative, Richard Lewis, Founder/Director, The Touchstone Center for Children, and Jeanne Lamb, Coordinator, Youth Collections, The New York Public Library.
Dr. Perri Klass Keynote at Writers Lab Mini-Conference | April 13, 2013
Dr. Perri Klass, Pediatrician and national medical director of Reach Out and Read, delivers the opening keynote address of the Bank Street Writers Lab Mini-Conference.
Brian Floca on Designing the Cook Prize Seal | May 17, 2012
The first presentation of The Cook Prize for best STEM picture book of the year was held on May 17, 2012. Brian Floca, Caldecott medal winning author and illustrator, discussed the process he went through designing the seal.
Carmen Agra Deedy at the Irma Black Awards, Part I, Part II, Part III | May 13, 2010
Carmen Agra Deedy, 2008 Irma Black Honoree for Martina, the Beautiful Cockroach speaks at the 38th Annual Irma S. and James H. Black Award for Excellence in Children’s Literature at Bank Street College.
Robie Harris and Leonard Marcus on Margaret Wise Brown | 2010
Award-winning children’s book author and Bank Street Alumna (GS ’70), Robie Harris, and award-winning biographer and children’s book critic and historian, Leonard S. Marcus, talk about Margaret Wise Brown before reading two of her books, Little Fur Family and Mister Dog: The Dog Who Belonged to Himself.
Dorothy Carter Reads The Little Island | 2010
In celebrating Bank Street Alumna Margaret Wise Brown’s 100th birthday, Dorothy Carter reads the author’s The Little Island.
Charles Rangel Reads Goodnight Moon | 2010
Congressman Charles B. Rangel reads Goodnight Moon at Bank Street’s Family Center on Margaret Wise Brown Day.
Alma Rangel Reads The Runaway Bunny | 2010
In celebrating Bank Street alumna Margaret Wise Brown’s 100th birthday, Alma Rangel reads The Runaway Bunny at the Family Center.
The Bank Street Center for Children’s Literature Honors Eric Carle | October 3, 2007
Eric Carle, renowned author and illustrator, is honored with a Lifetime Achievement Award at the October 3, 2007 event celebrating the newly created Bank Street Center for Children’s Literature.
Join Bank Street on Giving Tuesday!
November 29, 2022
This Giving Tuesday, gifts to Bank Street will be matched—dollar for dollar—up to $50,000, helping you make twice the impact on our community and beyond. We hope you’ll join us on this global day of generosity as we celebrate and extend our enduring mission to provide meaningful, high-quality education to all. We appreciate your support!