Join us on March 7th for School Library Journal’s sixth annual Middle Grade Magic virtual event, a day-long celebration of authors and creators dedicated to crafting literature for kid and tween readers. Get FREE educator resources and hear direct from authors along with a first look at some of the most anticipated new titles for your young readers, from modern coming-of-age tales to eye-popping graphic novels to immersive fantasy. RSVP for the FREE event HERE and scroll down to see what we’ll have going on in our booth and get a sneak preview of materials, books, and more!
11:05 – 11:55 AM ET | Echoes of the Past
Encounter history vividly brought to life as our storytellers transport young readers across eras, blending fictional narratives with historical accuracy.
Kimberly Brubaker Bradley, The Night War (Penguin Young Readers)
Ann & Ben Brashares, Westfallen (Simon & Schuster Children’s)
Chas! Pangburn & Kim Shearer, Double Booking: The Tail of The Mummy Cat (Mad Cave Studios)
Jenni L. Walsh, Operation: Happy: A WWII Story of Courage, Resilience, and an Unbreakable Bond (Zonderkidz)
Moderator: Ruth E. Quiroa, PhD, Associate Professor, National Louis University (IL)
12:00 – 12:20 PM ET | Author & Editor Spotlight with Chanel Miller & Jill Santopolo, Magnolia Wu Unfolds It All (Penguin Young Readers)
1:30 – 2:20 PM ET | Debut Voices
Dive into the colorful world of 2024 debut authors, whose unforgettable stories promise to make a lasting impact in young minds.
Megan Brennan, Kira and the (Maybe) Space Princess (Random House Children’s Books)
Ritu Hemnani, Lion of the Sky (HarperCollins Children’s)
Jenna Lee-Yun, The Last Rhee Witch (Disney Publishing)
Mónica Mancillas, Sing It Like Celia (Penguin Young Readers)
Alex Thayer, Happy & Sad & Everything True (Simon & Schuster Children’s)
Moderator: Dr. Grace Gipson, PhD, Assistant Professor of African American Studies, Virginia Commonwealth University
2:50 – 3:40 PM ET | Bridges of Belonging
Experience themes of belonging and self-acceptance as our panelists navigate stories resonating with the universal theme of identity, constructing bridges for young readers.
Hanna Kim, The Magic Black Belt (Capstone)
Lyla Lee , Gigi Shin Is Not a Nerd (Simon & Schuster Children’s)
Deke Moulton, Benji Zeb Is a Ravenous Werewolf (Tundra)
Wali Shah, Call Me Al (Orca)
Brenda Woods, With Just One Wing (Penguin Young Readers)
Moderator: Ashley Leffel, Librarian, Frisco (TX)
4:10 – 5:00 PM ET | Brave Hearts
Embark on inspiring tales that empower young readers to face life’s challenges with strength, compassion, and determination.
Angela Ahn, Team Park (Tundra)
Lisa Fipps, And Then, Boom! (Penguin Young Readers)
Justina Ireland, Tales from Cabin 23 (HarperCollins Children’s)
Jennifer Torres, Vega’s Piece of the Sky (Little, Brown Books for Young Readers)
Anne Ylvisaker, One Alley Summer (Marble Press)
Moderator: Allison Tran, Library & Cultural Services Supervisor, City of Mission Viejo (CA)
OTHER RESOURCES AND MATERIALS
We have a bunch of great middle grade coming from Newbery Honor-winning authors. Start reading these awesome books and watch the webinar on demand!
Looking for writing tips for your tweens? Download and share these writing tip guides featuring bestselling, award-winning, and fan favorite authors and poets!