By: Jen Donovan

This year’s convention provides a star line-up of guest speakers, educators, and authors. On Tuesday, May 1, convention-goers can start their day by checking out the Convention Book Signing Area. Nine authors will be in attendance to sign copies of their most popular classroom books that will also be available for purchase at the convention. The authors will be available for hour long and half hour shifts, so make sure you get there early!

Here is who you can expect to see from 9:00 a.m. to noon on Tuesday:

9:00 a.m. to 10:00 a.m. - Lauren Tarshis, author of Emma Jean Lazarus Fell in Love and I Survived the Sinking of the Titanic

9:30 a.m. to 10:00 a.m. - Peter H. Reynolds, author and illustrator of The Dot and I’m Here 

10:00 a.m. to 11:00 a.m. - Adam Gidwitz, author of A Tale Dark & Grimm

10:00 a.m. to 11:00 a.m. - Caroline Arnold, author of A Warmer World and Global Warming and the Dinosaurs

10:00 a.m. to 10:30 a.m. - R. L. Stine, author of the Goosebumps series and Temptation

10:00 a.m. to 10:30 a.m. - Kathryn Lasky, author of the Wolves of the Beyond series and One Beetle Too Many

10:30 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. - Annie Barrows, author of the Ivy & Bean series

11:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. - Matt de la Peña, author of Mexican Whiteboy and A Nation's Hope

11:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. - Jarrett Krosoczka, author of Ollie the Purple Elephant and the Lunch Lady series

For more information about the 2012 IRA Annual Convention in Chicago from April 29 to May 2, visit www.iraconvention.org.

Jen Donovan is the strategic communications intern at the International Reading Association.