Children's Publishing Conference 2012

I have mentioned my excitement about being a panelist at the upcoming Children's Publishing Conference, to be held on Thursday, May 31, 2012, at the Scholastic Headquarters in New York.  The half-day conference, which was created by Publishing Perspectives and is designed to bring together industry leaders, is organized around two key questions: What makes a children's book great, and How and what will children be reading in 2020?

The schedule for the event has recently been published. I am sharing the highlights, with the hope that you'll consider attending. Registration details can be found here. Space is limited.

9:00 Welcome

Edward Nawotka, Editor-in-Chief, Publishing Perspectives

9:15 What Makes a Children's Book Great?

Richard Robinson, President and CEO, Scholastic Inc.

9:45 Trends vs. Tradition: The Present and Future of YA and Children's Books

David Levithan (Scholastic), Pamela Paul (New York Times Book Review), Roger Sutton (Horn Books)

10:30 Blockbusters, Bestsellers, and Everything in Between: Agenting Children's Books

Ken Wright (Writers House), Rosemary Stimola (Stimola Literary Studio), Erica Rand Silverman (Sterling Lord Literistic), moderated by Peggy Intrator

11:30 Born Digital, Buy Digital: Sales, Publishing and Community Building for the New Generation

Ken Wright (Writers House), Rosemary Stimola (Stimola Literary Studio), Erica Rand Silverman (Sterling Lord Literistic), moderated by Peggy Intrator

12:15 Author, Author!: Building a Career, Connecting with Kids, and Standing out from the Crowd

Peter Brown (author), Beth Kephart (author), John Rocco (author/illustrator), Raina Telgemeier (author)