Panel of authors at the SLJ/AAP Librarian Dinner. L. to R.: Matt de la Peña, Kevin Henkes, Mike Curato, Jeff Anderson, Candace Fleming, Adam Silvera, and Eric Rohmann.

As part of BookExpo of America, a group of librarians were treated to an evening of remarks from seasoned and new children’s and young adult authors. A crowd of 200 eager librarians attended the Fourth Annual School Library Journal/American Association of Publishers Librarian Dinner held at the Cornell Club in New York City. Moderated by SLJ "A Fuse #8 Production" blogger and New York Public Library Children’s Materials specialist Betsy Bird, the event showcased new works by Jeff Anderson, Mike Curato, Matt de la Peña, Candace Fleming, Eric Rohmann, Kevin Henkes, and Adam Silvera. Grammar guru and former teacher Anderson shared how he was motivated to write his first middle grade novel, Zack Delacruz: Me and My Big Mouth (Sterling, 2015), by his childhood as a “get-by reader,” his experience with bullying, and the Mexican American students he taught while in Houston, TX.  Anderson set out to write a book with diverse characters that didn’t solely focus on diversity as a topic. Mike Curato, author/illustrator of Little Elliot, Big City (Holt, 2014), said that his picture books about a sweet elephant trying to make it in old-time New York were influenced by Chris Van Allsburg’s The Mysteries of Harris Burdick (HMH, 1984), Edward Hopper’s paintings, and author/illustrator Ian Falconer’s book Olivia (S. & S., 2000). Other inspirations included an Island of the Misfit Toys polka dotted elephant and a plush elephant given to him by grandmother. Little Elliot’s next adventure, Little Elliot, Big Family (Holt, 2015) releases in October and is about the families that “we choose ourselves,” Curato said. Acclaimed Henkes, known for his picture books about lovable rodents, presented his work Waiting (HarperCollins, 2015). After some experience sculpting small animal figures, the author/illustrator decided to feature his creatures in a picture book and put a positive spin on the experience of waiting. “Kids are always being told to wait,” Henkes said. Depicting small toy figures staring out of a window, with no reference to home outside of its frame or an unseen child possibly moving the playthings, the illustrations serve to “distill big ideas into something very simple.” Fleming, who earlier in the day was announced as the 2015 Boston Globe–Horn Book Winner for Nonfiction for her The Family Romanov, and Rohmann were introduced by Bird as a power couple of children’s literature. The duo presented their book about a sweet bulldozer on his birthday. The seeds of this picture book began as both were in the throes of working on difficult projects, they said. A road trip to a nephew’s birthday party ultimately spawned the idea for Bulldozer’s Big Day (S. & S., 2015). Celebrated YA author de la Peña regaled the room with stories, including one about a mishap with a Honda Accord bought from a shady man with an eye patch. Others described his first being introduced to Christian Robinson’s artwork by his agent, as well as the sweet and quiet encouragement the author's grandmother would give him through life’s trials and joys. These experiences were touchstones for his latest picture book, Last Stop on Market Street (Putnam, 2015), illustrated by Robinson, whose art, de la Peña insists, is the heart of this work about a grandmother and grandson’s ride on the bus. The final speaker, Silvera, told the audience about the higher education he received from libraries, bookstores, and publishing internships, imparting knowledge that he didn’t attain via a college education. Growing up poor, Puerto Rican, and gay in the Bronx didn’t afford Silvera the opportunity to go to college, but he was encouraged by mentors to write his semi-biographical speculative YA novel, More Happy Than Not (SohoTeen, 2015). Through his struggles with identity and mental health issues, he was able to achieve his dream of writing—and accept his goal to continuously pursue happiness.