My life circumstance of care taking without a reliable does not allow me to leave to another state with multiple nights, which exactly what the ALA Expo in Chicago entails. Going last year for the first time finally in Philly was an amazing experience. Having a hotel room with a full fridge and microwave directly across from the convention center and the Reading Terminal was pefect. Also having had been to Philadelphia on many trips not having time to enjoy the city didn’t put a rain on things, which even if I could attend this year’s show, not seeing Chicago would be quite depressing. That said though I like to FOMO and “torture” myself and know what I am missing out on. So here’s things to not miss at the 2026 ALA based on info I have from emails and the web.
Stop by Booth 3531 for Exclusive Giveaways, including:
Scan your badge to receive your copy of the brand new Rainbow Magic graphic novel, Ruby the Red Fairy while supplies last. There’s also this charming Rainbow Magic canvas tote bag, or a striking black tote with scenes inspired byt wo beloved Canterbury Classics titles – H.P. Lovecraft’s Tales of Horor and Emily Brontë’s Wuthering Heights.(Available while supplies last.)
Since launching in 2003, Rainbow Magic has enchanted readers with 300+ books and 40 million copies sold worldwide. Now the magic continues in graphic novel format!
Peter Kuper, Insectopolis: A Natural History
• Sunday, 9:00am-11:00am: YALSA Awards & Coffee Klatch at Hyatt Regency McCormick, Grant Park ABC (Ticketed event)
• Sunday, 11:30am-12:20pm: GNCRT Award Winners Panel, Graphic Novel Stage
• Sunday, 12:45pm-1:30pm: signing in booth 2925
• Sunday, 5:30pm-7:30pm: GNCRT Celebrates the Outstanding Comics Awards, Marriott Marquis, Great Lakes G
Saturday
9:15am–10:00am: Book Buzz Stage, “Literary Comics: Spotlight on 50 Years of Fantagraphics” with Joe Sacco and Briana Loewinsohn
11:30am–12:20pm: Graphic Novel/Gaming Stage (#1342) — “Truth & Testimony in Comics Storytelling: Graphic Journalism, Biography & Memoir” with Chris Hedges and Joe Sacco
1:30pm–3:30pm: Chris Hedges & Joe Sacco in booth 2923, signing Requiem for Gaza print ARC and Joe will also sign copies of Palestine
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| SCHEDULE |
| Saturday – June 27th, 2026 Sue Ruffle & Stefano Spaziani – The Stone of Shiro 12:00 PM – 12:50 PM, Author Autographing Station 4 Art Baltazar – Aw Yeah Universe 12:00 PM – 12:50 PM, Author Autographing Station 3 Franco Aureliani – Speed Racer Adventures, Ninja Kaiju, Chase Speedington 12:00 PM – 12:20 PM, Author Autographing Station 1 David Perry – Aw, Nuts! 2:00 PM – 2:50 PM, Author Autographing Station 3 Jason Platt – Paw & Order 3:00 PM – 3:50 PM, Author Autographing Station 1 Jimmy Gaspero – Penny & The Yeti 3:00 PM – 3:50 PM, Author Autographing Station 3 Jim Benton – Clyde 4:00 PM – 4:50 PM, Author Autographing Station 3 A.C. Medina & Max Bare – Ever Trip, Undercover Monster 4:00 PM – 4:20 PM, Author Autographing Station 1 |
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| Sunday – June 28th, 2026 Old Tales for New Audiences: Graphic Adaptations for Tweens and Teens 9:00 AM – 10:00 AM, McCormick Place, W 475 b Chas! Pangburn – Double Booking 10:00 AM – 10:50 AM, Author Autographing Station 2 Jason Douglas – Jane American 10:30 AM – 11:20 AM, Author Autographing Station 4 Amit Tishler – Solar Sisters 12:00 PM – 1:00 PM, Mad Cave Booth #1437 Sean Ryan – Xanar & Mr.Tuxedo 1:00 PM – 1:50 PM, Author Autographing Station 3 Jeremy Whitley – School For Extraterrestrial Girls, Navigating With You 2:00 PM – 2:50 PM, Author Autographing Station 4 Trevor Mueller – Secret S.T.E.A.M. Society, Bat Pat 3:00 PM – 3:20 PM, Author Area Station 1 Jason Douglas – Jane American 4:00 PM – 5:00 PM, Mad Cave Booth 1437 |
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| Monday – June 29th, 2026 Papercutz Group Signing 10:45 AM – 11:15 AM, Mad Cave Booth #1437 Jason Douglas Amit Tishler Papercutz Book Buzz 11:30 AM – 12:15 PM, Book Buzz Stage (Booth #5228) Sue Ruffle Jason Douglas Amit Tishler Sean Ryan AC Medina |
ARC GIVEAWAYS AT BOOTH 3418
Jonathan Ames,
A Past Without Pictures
Ames’s new standalone thriller follows an LAPD detective who travels to coastal Alabama to investigate the death of her estranged father. “Ames’s disaffected style infuses the proceedings with a deep sadness that elevates it from bog-standard crime fiction to something headier and more emotionally wounding” (Publishers Weekly, Starred Review). Fans of Ames’s Doll series or his previous novella, You Were Never Really Here, won’t want to miss it
Garry Disher,
Sanctuary
Shortlisted for the CWA Steel Dagger award, the new novel from “Australia’s greatest crime writer” (Canberra Times) follows a career criminal trying to leave her life of thievery behind. She soon learns she has made too many enemies over the years to get out so easily.
LeVar Burton
TAKE MY WORD FOR IT
Main Stage Speaker: United for Libraries President’s Program
Saturday, June 27th • 1:00 PM – 2:00 PM • McCormick Place, W 375 C D E Skyline
Stop by booth #3025 at ALA Annual for author signings, free galleys, and lots of swag. Mark your conference calendar!
(All events will take place at Norton booth #3025 unless otherwise noted.)
Friday, June 26
- 5:30PM: YA tote bag and sampler giveaway
Saturday, June 27
- 9:45AM: Alex Ritany signing Maybe Tomorrow I’ll Know + FREE tote bags and ARCs of All the Way Home!
- 11:00AM: Rex Ogle on “Serving the Health Needs of Tweens and Teens” (Room W 183 B)
- 12:00PM: YA tote bag and sampler giveaway
- 2:00-3:00PM: Rex Ogle signing Absent ARCs
Sunday, June 28
- 9:30AM: Sampler giveaway of Kate DiCamillo‘s new middle grade novel, The True Story of Child Outlaw, Edith Leapyear: As Told by Herself
 SATURDAY, JUNE 27 Mike Dawson, author/illustrator ofThe Hidden Dominion of Geordie James 1:00-3:00 pm GNCRT Magical Comics TeaLocation: Hilton Chicago, Continental A 4:00-4:50 pm SIGNING: Booth 3512 |
From Griffin McElroy, co-author of the New York Times bestselling graphic novel series The Adventure Zone, comes a laugh-out-loud science fiction thrill ride you won’t be able to put down.
In the farthest reaches of a war-torn galaxy, a military transport cruiser barrels toward a supermassive black hole. The crew has vanished. The security drones have gone haywire. And the ship has flown light-years off-course. It falls to a single passenger to decide the fate of this doomed voyage: a stowaway tucked into a pocket of the ship’s hull. Unfortunately for the reader, YOU are that stowaway
Between today and Friday I am sure more publishers will drop their full schedules and if I was headed to Chicago I’d be overwhelmed but happily. For now, this is enough for anyone I think and also lets those not going be aware of books that are coming out.