Adam Rex, Author & Illustrator

Adam Rex is the author and illustrator of more than forty books for kids. These include New York Times bestselling picture books like Frankenstein Makes a Sandwich and School’s First Day of School, (with illustrator Christian Robinson). His work has been adapted for film and television. He’s won some awards, including the Margaret Wise Brown Prize in Children’s Literature and the National Cartoonists Society Book Illustration Award. His debut novel was shortlisted for the Andre Norton Award for Young Adult Science Fiction and Fantasy. He used to make art for games like Dungeons & Dragons and Magic: The Gathering. Sometimes he still does. He lives in Tucson, Arizona, with his dog, son, and wife.

https://www.adamrex.com/

10:10 AM - 11:10 AM - BREAKOUT WORKSHOPS

The Signal and the Noise [PB]

• What I Learned Reading 300 Unpublished Picture Books.

Presented by Adam Rex, Author & Illustrator

3:15 PM - 4:15 PM - BREAKOUT WORKSHOPS

The Coin-op Illustrator [PB, ILLO]

• Adam will try to make the best image he can in the time allotted, based on audience prompts. See how he thinks—or doesn’t think—his way through an illustration. Could be a bad idea! Come find out.

Presented by Adam Rex, Author & Illustrator

4:20 PM - 5:05 PM - KEYNOTE

DISSECTING THE FROG - God Help Us, We’re Going to Try to Analyze Humor

• Writing humor, and what it can tell us about storytelling as a whole

Presented by Adam Rex, Author & Illustrator

Adam will critique 10 manuscripts or portfolios for board book, picture book, early reader, chapter book, middle grade, graphic novels. If you purchase one of Adam's critiques, you will need to prepare the following:

Picture Books - send one complete picture book manuscript, no more than 800 words as a PDF file.

Novels - send 10 pages of the manuscript and a one-page synopsis for your better understanding of the work as a whole in one PDF file. Note: the 10 pages do not include the synopsis.

Portfolio - send a pdf or link to your online portfolio.

Your critique materials will need to be received no later than Wednesday, August 26, 2026.