My NCTE Philly 2026 Panels

I’m thrilled to be on two panels at NCTE in Philadelphia:

Here are more details about each panel:

Date	Time	Session Title	Room	Venue	Session Type
11/20/2026	12:30 PM – 1:45 PM EST	Seeking Home: Literature of Heartache and Hope to Inspire the Imaginations of Readers & Writers, Creators & Communicators Speaker(s) Nancy Johnson, Authors & Illustrators Abroad, Moderator Scott Riley, Millbrook Press/Lerner, Author Mia Wenjen, Red Comet Press, Speaker Violeta Encarnacion, Red Comet Press, Speaker Victoria Chang, Macmillan Children’s Publishing Group, Speaker Jeni Logan, Snohomish School District, Speaker Megan Sloan, Snohomish School District, Third Grade Teacher	202-A	Pennsylvania Convention Center	Panel Presentation
11/21/2026	5:45 PM – 7:00 PM EST	Exploring Imagination, Belonging, and the Courage to Create Futures through Children’s Literature Speaker(s) Suriati Abas, SUNY Oneonta, Speaker Suriati Abas, SUNY Oneonta, Speaker Deanna Day, Washington State University, Speaker Kathy G. Short, University of Arizona, Regents Professor Wenyu Guo, University of South Florida, Speaker Matthew Panozzo, University of Memphis, Assistant Professor of Literacy Darshna Katwala, Nassau Community College, Speaker Rene M. Rodriguez-Astacio, California State University Fresno, Speaker Jamilah Thompkins-Bigelow, Random House Children’s Books, Speaker Linda Sue Park, Clarion, Speaker Meg Medina, Candlewick Press, Speaker Mia Wenjen, Red Comet Press, Speaker Violeta Encarnacion, Red Comet Press, Speaker	118-C	Pennsylvania Convention Center	Special Interest Group (SIG) Session

Date

Time

Session Title

Room

Venue

Session Type

11/20/2026

12:30 PM – 1:45 PM EST

Seeking Home: Literature of Heartache and Hope to Inspire the Imaginations of Readers & Writers, Creators & Communicators

Speaker(s)
Nancy Johnson, Authors & Illustrators Abroad, Moderator
Scott Riley, Millbrook Press/Lerner, Author
Mia Wenjen, Red Comet Press, Speaker
Violeta Encarnacion, Red Comet Press, Speaker
Victoria Chang, Macmillan Children’s Publishing Group, Speaker
Jeni Logan, Snohomish School District, Speaker
Megan Sloan, Snohomish School District, Third Grade Teacher

202-A

Pennsylvania Convention Center

Panel Presentation

11/21/2026

5:45 PM – 7:00 PM EST

Exploring Imagination, Belonging, and the Courage to Create Futures through Children’s Literature

Speaker(s)
Suriati Abas, SUNY Oneonta, Speaker
Suriati Abas, SUNY Oneonta, Speaker
Deanna Day, Washington State University, Speaker
Kathy G. Short, University of Arizona, Regents Professor
Wenyu Guo, University of South Florida, Speaker
Matthew Panozzo, University of Memphis, Assistant Professor of Literacy
Darshna Katwala, Nassau Community College, Speaker
Rene M. Rodriguez-Astacio, California State University Fresno, Speaker
Jamilah Thompkins-Bigelow, Random House Children’s Books, Speaker
Linda Sue Park, Clarion, Speaker
Meg Medina, Candlewick Press, Speaker
Mia Wenjen, Red Comet Press, Speaker
Violeta Encarnacion, Red Comet Press, Speaker

118-C

Pennsylvania Convention Center

Special Interest Group (SIG) Session

Seeking Home: Literature of Heartache and Hope to Inspire the Imaginations of Readers & Writers, Creators & Communicators:

In this session, we’ll explore how children’s literature invites young readers to imagine, to belong, and to find the courage to shape their own futures. I’m thrilled to be in conversation with an extraordinary group of creators:
– Authors: Linda Sue Park, Mia Wenjen & Jamilah Thompkins-Bigelow
– Illustrator: Violeta Encarnación

We’ll also hear from educators Darshna Katwala, Matthew Panozzo & Wenyu Guo, who will share how these books come alive in classrooms.

I am also doing two book signings!

Friday, November 20th

Booth 715 – Red Comet Press

I’ll be signing Postcards From Malcolm X from 2:30 to 3:30 pm

Sunday, November 22nd

Booth 715 – Red Comet Press

I’ll be signing Barbed Wire Between Us with illustrator Violeta Encarnacion

9:00 am to 10:00 am

If you are attending NCTE 2026, I hope to see you there!

p.s. Related posts:

WE SING FROM THE HEART at the 2025 NCTE Book Awards Luncheon

I’ll be at NCTE Denver!

I’m leading a Round Table at NCTE 2025 in Denver!

NCTE and NCSS 2024

How Stories Can Help Students Feel Brave and Take Risks – NCTE Boston Presentation

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My books:

Bookshop.org / Amazon / Signed or Inscribed by Me

Barbed Wire Between Us by Mia Wenjen, illustrated by Violeta Encarnación

⭐ Starred review from Kirkus
⭐ Starred review from Publishers Weekly
⭐ Starred review from School Library Journal
Kirkus: The Most Anticipated Children’s Books of Spring 2026

Free and downloadable guide:

Barbed Wire Between Us Teacher’s Guide

Bookshop.org / Amazon / Signed or Inscribed by Me

Postcards from Malcolm X: How Yuri Kochiyama Became a Civil Rights Activist

Bookshop.org / Amazon / Signed or Inscribed by Me

Fortune Cookies for Everyone! (Smithsonian): The Surprising Story of the Tasty Treat We Love to Eat

California Eureka Non-Fiction Gold Award
Junior Library Guild Gold Selection
Notable Social Studies Trade Books for Young People Winner (from National Council for the Social Studies and Children’s Book Council)

The Traveling Taco: The Amazing and Surprising Journey of Many of Your Favorite Foods

California Eureka Non-Fiction Silver Award
Notable Social Studies Trade Books for Young People Winner (from National Council for the Social Studies and Children’s Book Council)
Reading Rockets’ Summer Reading Guide 2025

Bookshop.org / Amazon / Signed or Inscribed by Me

We Sing from the Heart: How the Slants® Took Their Fight for Free Speech to the Supreme Court

ALSC Notable Children’s Book
2025 Carter G. Woodson Book Award Middle Level Honoree
Orbis Pictus Recommended Book for Outstanding Nonfiction for Children
2024 Julia Ward Howe Prize for Children’s Literature Winner
California Eureka Non-Fiction Award Honor Book
Notable Social Studies Trade Books for Young People Winner (from National Council for the Social Studies and Children’s Book Council)
Bank Street Best Children’s Books of the Year 2025
Recommended Reading for the Social Justice Literature Award 2025 (International Literacy Association)
Pennsylvania Mountain Laurel Book Award Nominee 2026-27
Junior Library Guild Gold Selection