The 14th annual Children's Institute (Ci2026), organized by the American Booksellers Association, takes place Friday-Monday, June 26-29, in Schaumburg, Ill., near Chicago and O'Hare International Airport.
The program features four days of the kinds of events that have made Children's Institutes so rewarding: educational sessions, keynote talks, author receptions, publisher parties, rep presentations, vendor and publisher showcases, and time for booksellers, authors, and publishers from around the country to meet and network. But that's not all. There's also the popular galley room, a range of affinity group meetings, a booksellers lounge, a quiet room, new bookseller training, bookstore tours, "office hours" for meeting with ABA board members, a costume/opening reception, karaoke, and more. Ci2026 will be a mix of fun, celebration, and serious, thoughtful work.
Some 350 booksellers are registered for Ci2026, and a third--118--are first timers.
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| Allison Hil | |
ABA CEO Allison Hill offered welcoming words for those attendees: "Children's Institute is one of my favorite moments in the year! I love the spirit of it and the chance to celebrate children's books and booksellers. The ABA education team did an amazing job with the program, striking the perfect balance between valuable education and much needed community and fun, and I know everyone is looking forward to being together. I hope everyone gets to visit some of the wonderful Chicago-area indies and that attendees head home revitalized to do the important work of sharing children's books and supporting young readers."