Top Celebrity Talent Adds Sparkle to a Day Devoted to Kids’ Books

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Brian Selznick, the bestselling children’s book author and Caldecott Medal-winning creator of The Invention of Hugo Cabret, which was adapted into the Oscar®-winning film Hugo, and Padma Lakshmi, the host and executive producer of Bravo’s Emmy® Award-winning Top Chef and creator and star of Hulu’s Taste the Nation, will speak at the virtual U.S. Book Show’s “Children’s Books Day,” May 27, 2021. They join Senator Elizabeth Warren, a first-time children’s author, who will deliver the opening keynote of the day.

An award-winning cookbook author, Padma Lakshmi can now add children’s book author to her extensive list of accomplishments as an author, TV personality, model and film actress. Tomatoes for Neela (Viking Books for Young Readers, August 31, 2021), a picture book for children illustrated by Caldecott Honor artist Juana Martinez-Neal, is the subject of Lakshmi’s midday talk at the virtual U.S. Book Show. Lakshmi’s previous books include three cookbooks and a memoir, Love, Loss, and What We Ate (Ecco, 2018). Lakshmi lives in New York City.

Brian Selznick’s live talk will be followed by a live Q&A about his forthcoming novel Kaleidoscope (Scholastic Press, September 21, 2021), mid-afternoon of the Children’s Books Day at the virtual U.S. Book Show. His author and illustrator credits number 29 books, including the historical novel Wonderstruck (2011), The Marvels (2015), and a book for younger readers, Baby Monkey, Private Eye (2018), written with David Serlin. Selznick, who splits his time between La Jolla and Brooklyn, is beloved by his fans of all ages.

Lakshmi and Selznick join Senator Elizabeth Warren in punctuating the day with exciting top talent sure to please the audience of publishing professionals, librarians and booksellers.

Senator Warren opens the day with a keynote conversation with her editor, Laura Godwin, publisher of Godwin Books, to discuss the senator’s first children’s book. Pinkie Promises (Henry Holt, October 12, 2021) is an engaging picture book tale of loyalty, female empowerment and political engagement, written by Senator Warren and illustrated by Charlene Chua. Senator Warren will speak on Thursday, May 27, 2021, at 10:30 a.m. EDT.

A videotaped short piece will be also played at the opening of Children’s Books Day to promote and build awareness of Boys & Girls Clubs of America’s support of literacy and education.

Publishers Weekly will donate a portion of the proceeds of the U.S. Book Show to Boys & Girls Clubs of America in support of its literacy programming. Boys & Girls Clubs of America’s literacy and academic support programs include Summer Brain Gain, which runs for one month this summer as a virtual program featuring authors of a picture book, a middle grade title and a YA book. Club leaders and members are invited to attend the show for free and access unlimited content on-demand throughout the summer.

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