BEA: Children's Book and Author Breakfast

As many of you know, I was in New York last week for Book Expo America (BEA), the major annual trade show for the U.S. publishing industry.

One of my favorite parts about BEA is the author breakfasts. Today I'll tell you about the children's book and author breakfast and tomorrow I'll write about the two adult events.

Here are the covers of the four books introduced at the children's breakfast:

The emcee for the children's breakfast, which was held on Tuesday morning, was the actress Julianne Moore, who writes illustrated children's books starring Freckleface Strawberry and illustrated by LeUyen Pham. Her newest book, Freckleface Strawberry: Best Friends Forever, will be published in September by Bloomsbury Kids.

Freckleface Strawberry and Windy Pants Patrick are as different as can be--but that doesn't stop them from being the best of friends. After all, they have a lot of important things in common, like having families and liking recess and loving books. But the rest of the kids don't see it that way. They think that girls and boys are just too different to be friends. So one day, Freckleface decides not to play with Windy Pants Patrick. And he decides not to play with her. And nothing really changes . . . or does it? She still eats lunch and plays and reads books--and so does he. So why don't those things feel fun anymore?

Witty, warmhearted, and brought to life with LeUyen Pham's gentle hilarity, Julianne Moore's latest book celebrates the importance of recognizing--and keeping--a true friend.

Brian Selznick's newest illustrated book is Wonderstruck, coming out from Scholastic later this summer.

Ben and Rose secretly wish their lives were different. Ben longs for the father he has never known. Rose dreams of a mysterious actress whose life she chronicles in a scrapbook. When Ben discovers a puzzling clue in his mother’s room and Rose reads an enticing headline in the newspaper, both children set out alone on desperate quests to find what they are missing.

Set fifty years apart, these two independent stories--Ben’s told in words, Rose’s in pictures--weave back and forth with mesmerizing symmetry. How they unfold and ultimately intertwine will surprise you, challenge you, and leave you breathless with wonder. Rich, complex, affecting, and beautiful--with over 460 pages of original artwork--Wonderstruck is a stunning achievement from a uniquely gifted artist and visionary.

Sarah Dressen's latest is What Happened to Goodbye, published by Viking and is out now.

Since her parents' bitter divorce, McLean and her dad, a restaurant consultant, have been on the move-four towns in two years. Estranged from her mother and her mother's new family, McLean has followed her dad in leaving the unhappy past behind. And each new place gives her a chance to try out a new persona: from cheerleader to drama diva. But now, for the first time, McLean discovers a desire to stay in one place and just be herself, whoever that is. Perhaps Dave, the guy next door, can help her find out.

Combing Sarah Dessen's trademark graceful writing, great characters, and compelling storytelling, What Happened to Goodbye is irresistible reading.

Kevin Henkes's picture book Little White Rabbit was published by Greenwillow Books earlier this spring.

One bright spring day a little white rabbit sets out from home on an adventure. What does he find? Look! Everything is new. Anything is possible . . .

The four books are very different and appeal to very different age groups and readers. My pick of the day is Wonderstruck.