On December 10, join Penguin Random House, Library Journal, and School Library Journal for our Winter 2024 virtual book and author festival, a free day-long event celebrating reading, authors, and librarians everywhere! Enjoy a day packed with author panels and interviews, book buzzes, virtual shelf browsing, and adding to your TBR pile.

You’ll hear from many of your favorite authors, whose work runs the gamut from Picture Books to Young Adult titles to the best new Fiction and Nonfiction for adults. There is something of interest for every reader. Attendees will also have the opportunity to check out the virtual exhibit hall, access eGalleys, and enter to win prizes and giveaways. 

EVENT HOURS: 10:00 AM - 5:00 PM ET

While the event is hosted by ON24, all live sessions will be on Zoom. Make sure to log in to your work or personal Zoom account before the day starts to avoid having to log in for each session.

The Virtual Environment is optimized for 1024 X 768 screen resolution. Joining the environment with a cell phone is not recommended. Please make sure your computer and browser are up to date. Chrome tends to work best. The event platform does not support IE11 + Windows 7 or older versions.

CE certificates are available in the event environment for all keynotes and panels, whether you view them live or on-demand. Certificates are not provided for sponsored content.

If you are unable to join us on the live day, know that all sessions will be available for on-demand viewing within 24 hours, and the entire event will be accessible for three months from the event date.

By registering for this event or webcast, you are agreeing to Library Journal Privacy Policy and Code of Conduct Policy and agreeing that Library Journal may share your registration information with current and future sponsors of this event.

If you have any questions, contact the Event Manager.

10:00 – 10:25 AM ET | Exhibit Hall Opens / Visit the Booths
 

10:25 – 10:55 AM ET | Opening Keynote with Bindi Irwin, You Are a Wildlife Warrior (Random House Children’s Books)
Moderator: Allison Tran, Library & Cultural Services Supervisor, City of Mission Viejo (CA)

TWO CONCURRENT PANELS

11:00 – 11:50 AM ET | Chapter Chatter

Chapter Chatter, where enchanting stories meet lively discussions! This delightful panel brings together talented chapter book authors to share their creative journeys, inspirations, and the magic behind their characters.

Brittany Mazique, Millie Magnus Won’t Be Bullied (Penguin Young Readers)
Greg Pizzoli, Earl and Worm #1: The Bad Idea and Other Stories (Random House Children’s Books
Shifa Saltagi Safadi, Amina Banana and the Formula for Friendship (Penguin Young Readers)
Liz Garton Scanlon, Bibsy Cross and the Creepy-Crawlies (Random House Children’s Books)
Moderator: Heather Lassley, Librarian, Frisco ISD/ Trent Middle School (TX)

11:00 – 11:50 AM ET | Crime Fiction
Danger and deadly ends feature in these novels following the twists and turns of a criminal matriarch, a musical virtuoso who runs afoul of a ruthless international cartel, and others trapped in conspiracies of clues.

William Boyle, Saint of the Narrows Street (Soho Crime)
Ron Currie, The Savage, Noble Death of Babs Dionne (Putnam)
Laurie L. Dove, Mask of the Deer Woman (Berkley)
Brendan Slocumb, The Dark Maestro (Doubleday)
Moderator: Ashley Rayner, Librarian at NORC, University of Chicago (IL)

TWO CONCURRENT PANELS

11:55 AM – 12:45 PM ET | Be Well
Learn how to ease anxiety, employ the power of no, deepen compassion, kindness, and gratitude, and rethink goals in self-help books designed to craft a more meaningful life.

Daisy Buchanan, Read Yourself Happy (DK)
Amy Larocca, How to Be Well (Knopf)
Anne-Laure Le Cunff, Tiny Experiments (Avery)
Dr. Sunita Sah, Defy (One World)
Moderator: Emily Bowles, Grant Manager 

11:55 AM – 12:45 PM ET | Love Stories
Music, figure skating, flirting, small-town life, and more frame these stories of relationships, ambition, and swoony companionship.

Holly Brickley, Deep Cuts (Crown)
Layne Fargo, The Favorites (Random House)
Jasmine Guillory, Flirting Lessons (Berkley)
Marie Rutkoski, Ordinary Love (Knopf)
Lyla Sage, Wild and Wrangled (Dial Press Trade Paperback)
Moderator: Nicole Williams, Medical Librarian, City University of New York

TWO CONCURRENT PANELS

12:50 – 1:40 PM ET | Meet Debut Authors
Join five fresh voices writing across literary, relationship, and dystopian fiction, as well as thrillers, family novels, and coming-of-age stories.

Sarah Harman, All the Other Mothers Hate Me (Putnam)
Florence Knapp, The Names (Pamela Dorman Books)
Susanna Kwan, Awake in the Floating City (Pantheon)
Jemimah Wei, The Original Daughter (Doubleday)
Cynthia Weiner, A Gorgeous Excitement (Crown)
Moderator: Dontaná McPherson-Joseph, Collection Management Librarian, Oak Park Public Library (IL)

12:50 – 1:40 PM ET | FANDOM MUST READS in 2025!  
Hear from Dark Horse Comics, DC Comics, and Marvel about the best fandom titles to stock up on in 2025. 

Faith Erin Hicks, Avatar - The Last Airbender: Ashes of the Academy (Dark Horse) 
Stephanie Phillips, Spider Gwen: Ghost Spider (Marvel) 
Dan Watters, Nightwing Vol. 1 (DC Comics) 
Moderator: Alex Zalben, Editor, Writer, Podcaster for Comic Book Club 
 

1:45 – 2:15 PM ET | Afternoon Keynote with Carl Hiaasen, Fever Beach (Knopf)
Moderator: Jen Jumba, MLIS, Popular Department Manager, Cleveland Public Library (OH)

TWO CONCURRENT PANELS

2:20 – 3:10 PM ET | Book Club Reads
Perfect for discussion groups, these novels are rich in intriguing characters, moral dilemmas, and fascinating fates.

Jinwoo Chong, I Leave It Up to You (Ballantine Books)
Katie Kitamura, Audition (Riverhead)
Karen Russell, The Antidote (Knopf)
Jessica Soffer, This Is a Love Story (Dutton)
Karen Thompson Walker, The Strange Case of Jane O. (Random House)
Moderator: Kate Merlene, Cuyahoga County Public Library (OH)

2:20 – 3:10 PM ET | Heartfelt Stories: A Picture Book Journey to Emotion
Join us for an engaging author panel where beloved picture book creators come together to explore the magic of storytelling through the lens of social emotional learning. Celebrate the power of stories to shape compassionate minds and resilient hearts.

Matthew Cordell, To See an Owl (Random House Children’s Books)
Antwan Eady, The Gathering Table (Random House Children’s Books)
Angie Kang, Our Lake (Penguin Young Readers)
Deborah Marcero, Hope in a Jar (Penguin Young Readers)
Moderator: Desiree Thomas, Librarian, Columbus (OH)

THREE CONCURRENT PANELS

3:15 – 4:05 PM ET | Stories Across Time
Novels that span contemporary and distant periods as well as those set in Tudor England, Martha’s Vineyard during WWII, and Berlin both pre- and post-war evoke time, place, and character.

Jo Harkin, The Pretender (Knopf)
Martha Hall Kelly, The Martha's Vineyard Beach and Book Club (Ballantine Books)
Dolen Perkins-Valdez, Happy Land (Berkley)
Milo Todd, The Lilac People (Counterpoint Press)
Charmaine Wilkerson, Good Dirt (Ballantine Books)
Moderator: Andrienne Cruz, Librarian, Azusa City Library (CA)

3:15 – 4:05 PM ET | Big Books from Small Presses: Young Adult and Young Readers
Hear about BIG spring 2025 titles from the Penguin Random House’s SMALL press partners.

Kat Cho, Wish Upon a K–Star (Disney)
Whitney D. Grandison, Playin' Hard (Wattpad)
E. K. Johnston, Titan of the Stars (Tundra)
Kerry Madden-Lungsford, Werewolf Hamlet (Charlesbridge Moves)
Natalie Naudus, Gay the Pray Away (QK: Quirk Books)
Moderator: Elizabeth Libberton, Library Media Specialist, St. Charles East High School (IL)

3:15 – 4:05 PM ET | Powerful Listening Experiences: Audio Originals & Audio Firsts
What makes a title perfect for audio? Join a compelling author discussion about three unique listens, each only available on audio!

Lynne Constantine, Everybody Is a Liar by Liv Constantine, Read by a Full Cast (Books on Tape)
Deb Perelman, Smitten Kitchen Keepers: A Kitchen Counter Conversation (Books on Tape)
Cavan Scott, Star Wars: Tempest Breaker (The High Republic) (Books on Tape)
Moderator: Sarah Hashimoto, Editor, Library Journal

4:10 – 4:50 PM ET | Closing Keynote with Matt de la Peña & Loren Long, Home (Penguin Young Readers)