Heroes in the Making: Creating Courageous Characters with Jesse Byrd, Marti Dumas + Misako Rocks! | Moderated by: Michael Strecker

From secret societies to dream-powered warriors to characters learning how to bounce back, this Family Day panel brings together Jesse Byrd (Dream Warriors: A New World), Marti Dumas (Secret Society of Rebel Girls: Nina and the Keeper of the Keystone), and Misako Rocks! (Bounce Back series) to talk about creating unforgettable adventures. Together, they’ll share how imagination fuels their stories, how young heroes grow through challenges, and why books can help kids feel stronger, braver, and more confident in their own lives.

Stories That Score: Sports, Creativity & Finding your Voice with Gary Alipio + Melina Alipio

Sports stories aren’t just about winning—they’re about teamwork, creativity, and finding your voice. In this Family Day conversation for middle grade readers, Gary Alipio, author of Craziest Cajun Football Tale, joins his daughter and illustrator Melina Alipio to talk about how sports stories come to life. The conversation explores how ideas turn into books and why sports can be a fun way to tell stories about friendship, fairness, and standing up for what you believe. This lively panel celebrates imagination, collaboration, and the joy of creating stories kids love to read.

Reading Is a Superpower: Lessons from the Field & the Page with Malcom Mitchell

Former NFL player Malcolm Mitchell knows what it takes to succeed on the field, but he’s just as passionate about what happens off the field. In this Family Day conversation, moderated by a middle school student, Mitchell shares how reading helped shape his life, why he became a children’s book author and literacy advocate, and how stories can build confidence, imagination, and resilience. Together, they’ll explore the joy of reading, overcoming challenges, and why books can be just as powerful as sports in helping young people dream big.

How Stories Come to Life: Andy the Dog & the Magic of Animation with Jamy Wheless

Andy: A Dog’s Tale is a heartfelt adventure that celebrates curiosity, courage, and seeing the world through fresh eyes. This Family Day event begins with a screening of the animated short, followed by a fun, behind-the-scenes conversation with director Jamy Wheless. Jamy will share how Andy’s story was created—from dreaming up characters to turning ideas into animation—and show how stories come alive on both the page and the screen.

Lagniappe of Learning: Early Literacy in New Orleans with the Krewe of Dolly

This Family Day conversation brings together local leaders in education, research, and community-based literacy initiatives to explore both the challenges and successes of fostering early reading skills in New Orleans. Panelists will discuss why access to books in early childhood matters, how community partnerships support young readers and families, and what effective collaboration looks like in practice. Representatives from Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library will share how putting books into the hands of children from birth to age five is helping strengthen families and communities.

Heroes in the Making: Creating Courageous Characters with Jesse Byrd, Marti Dumas + Misako Rocks! | Moderated by: Mike Strecker

From secret societies to dream-powered warriors to characters learning how to bounce back, this Family Day panel brings together Jesse Byrd (Dream Warriors: A New World), Marti Dumas (Secret Society of Rebel Girls: Nina and the Keeper of the Keystone), and Misako Rocks! (Bounce Back series) to talk about creating unforgettable adventures. Together, they’ll share how imagination fuels their stories, how young heroes grow through challenges, and why books can help kids feel stronger, braver, and more confident in their own lives.

Southern Football Noir, Big Apple Sleuths & Spine-tingling Obsessions: Crime Fiction to Die For | Eli Cranor, Stephen Spotswood + Olivia Worley | Moderated by: Michael Strecker

Eli Cranor, Stephen Spotswood, and Olivia Worley bring the full spectrum of contemporary crime fiction to life, from the gritty fields of Southern football noir to the shadowed streets of New York and the psychological thrills that keep readers on edge. Each author shares their approach to suspense, character, and moral complexity, revealing how setting, obsession, and human ambition drive stories that grip audiences. Moderated by Michael Strecker, New Orleans novelist and storyteller, the conversation explores the craft of building tension, the allure of detectives and antiheroes, and the ways modern crime fiction reflects both societal pressures and personal obsessions. Together, they illuminate why tales of danger, justice, and intrigue continue to captivate readers and redefine the genre.

Lives Lived, Stories Told | John T. Edge, Nicholas Lemann + Viet Thanh Nguyen | Moderated by: Anna Adams

What happens when personal memory meets public history? Featuring new memoirs by Nick Lemann, Viet Thanh Nguyen, and John T. Edge, this session—moderated by Charles Blow—explores how writers grapple with family, place, race, politics, and belonging, and how memoir can serve as both witness and critique.

From Mistakes to Meaning: Owning Your Past So It Doesn't Own You | Josh Steiner + Michael Lynton | Moderated by: Ken Auletta

In From Mistakes to Meaning: Owning Your Past So It Doesn’t Own You, Josh Steiner and Michael Lynton reflect on the formative setbacks and moments of reckoning that reshaped their lives and careers, arguing that growth begins with accountability. Steiner and Lynton, whose leadership across media, business, and public life has required navigating risk, failure, and reinvention, examine how accomplished leaders confront misjudgment and uncertainty. Moderated by journalist Ken Auletta, Steiner and Lynton explore the discipline of self-examination, the challenge of rebuilding trust, and the courage required to define oneself beyond past mistakes. Together, they consider how responsibility, resilience, and candor can transform personal history into a foundation for renewed purpose and leadership.

The Amazing Generation: Your Guide to Fun & Freedom in a Screen-Filled World | Catherine Price | Moderated by: President Michael A. Fitts

In a world dominated by screens, finding balance can feel impossible. In The Amazing Generation, Catherine Price offers practical strategies for helping kids—and the adults who care for them—navigate technology without losing joy, creativity, or freedom. In conversation with Tulane University President Michael A. Fitts, Price explores how to foster healthier screen habits, cultivate play and curiosity, and empower a generation to thrive in the digital age.
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