Former National Ambassador of Children's Literature Jon Sciezka (l.) and award-winning writer Mac Barnett (r.), coauthors of the recent Battle Bunny, were the keynoters at the Bank Street College of Education's annual book Awards. Photos by Cheryl Simon.

The audience at the Irma Black and Cook Prize award ceremonies were led in an impromptu exercise by Bone by Bone author Sara Levine (Lerner). SLJ contributing editor Rocco Staino (l.) and Bank Street's Jennifer Brown (r.) pictured.

Finalists signed copies of their books for attendees. (l. to r.) The King of Little Things illustrator David T. Wenzel and author Bill Lepp (Peachtree); Chick-O-Saurus Rex author Lenore Jennewin (S. & S.); and The Boy Who Loved Math author Deborah Heiligman (Macmillan).