Location Information

  • The Venue Uptown
  • 503 Washington Ave, Kingston, NY, 12401 US

Thank you to this year's sponsor, Perma-Bound.

Guest Speakers

David Ezra Stein author

Bestselling children’s author and illustrator David Ezra Stein was born in Brooklyn, NY.

He says, “I’ll never forget the experience of sitting in a beloved lap and having a whole world open before me: a world brought to life by the pictures and the grown-up’s voice. That wonder is what I want to re-create in my own books.”

David’s Interrupting Chicken was awarded a Caldecott Honor. Scholastic named it one of the top 100 books of all time for children. It is now an Emmy-nominated show on Apple TV+.

David is the author/illustrator of over 20 children’s books. The latest are the Beaky Barnes graphic novels.

When he is not making books, David loves cooking, opera singing, boxing, and drawing from life (Though not all at the same time—that would just be silly.)

David lives with his wife, two children, and two bunnies in Kew Gardens, NY.


Yaa Yaa Whaley-Williams

Yaa Yaa Whaley-Williams was born and raised in New York City and calls both Harlem and Brooklyn her home. Currently the owner of Sadie’s Books & Beverages ( the 1st black-owned bookstore in Orange County) she has over 20 years experience in education. She began her journey as a High School mathematics teacher in Brooklyn, New York and has since served as both a building and district level administrator in New York City, Poughkeepsie, Newburgh, Middletown & Monticello. A graduate of Brown University and Pace University she holds a BS in Business Economics and Africana Studies as well as two Master’s degrees in Secondary Education and School Leadership making her a first generation college graduate. Sadie's Books & Beverages, trademarked as a "bookseum", was curated in hopes of reimagining a bookstore as a community cultural hub / healing centered environment. Since 2022, the bookseum has served as a third space to empower the community with literature, information and events that strengthen community ties. In the spirit of being "...more than a bookstore", she also launched a Podcast called UNtenurED on YouTube which serves as a truth telling platform for educators / leaders of color to speak to their experiences as a learner in education, books that have transformed their thinking and reflections from their professional journeys to date.

She currently works as a Supervisor of Instructional Services with Ulster BOCES. An UNapologetic bookworm and creative, she will continue to commit her time and energies to lifelong learning and service because as she says, "...community is a VERB!"

Look for her online at sadiesforthepeople.com or on IG/Facebook @Sadies_booksnbeverages.


FALL INTO BOOKS CONFERENCE OUTCOMES

  • Engage effectively in collaborative discussions.
  • Analyze how two or more texts address similar themes or topics in order to build knowledge or to compare the approaches the authors take.
  • Assess how point of view or purpose shapes the content and style of a text.
  • Read closely to determine what the text says explicitly and to make logical inferences from it; cite specific textual evidence when writing or speaking to support conclusions drawn from the text.
  • Determine central ideas or themes of a text and analyze their development; summarize the key supporting details and ideas.
  • Analyze how and why individuals, events, or ideas develop and interact over the course of a text.

AGENDA

  • Doors open at approximately 8:30 am for breakfast & networking
  • 9:00 am - 10:00 am: Morning speaker
  • 10:10 am - 11:10 am: Book Discussion Groups: 1st session
  • 11:10 am - 11:25 am: Book Sales and Break
  • 11:25 am - 12:25 pm: Book Discussion Groups: 2nd Session
  • 12:30 pm - 1:30 pm: Lunch and book sales
  • 1:30 pm - 2:30 pm: Author Presentation
  • 2:30 pm: Closing

Registration


You can purchase books with your registration to have them signed by our guest authors at the event. A limited number of books may be available for sale at Fall Into Books, but prices will be higher than they are here.

If you have a discount code for your system, it does not include the price of the books. 

Register now! The price increases to $125 when early bird registration ends on July 1, 2025.

Note: Book orders must be made by credit card. We accept credit cards or checks for registration. If you select "pay by check," follow the instructions to mail payment to Southeastern NY Library Resources Council. NOTE: No one will be allowed into the event until payment is received.

WE REGRET REFUNDS ARE NOT POSSIBLE

Registration closes on Wednesday, September 24, 2025.

A light breakfast and a hot lunch will be provided to all attendees

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Please choose three Book Discussion Groups in order of preference. Group assignment is confirmed as of registration. In the case of unforeseen circumstances, we may need to assign you to your third choice. 

  • Group 1 Picture Books | Transgender representation in picture books
  • Group 2 Picture Books | A Celebration of Cultural Identity in a First Name- Picture Book
  • Group 3 Elementary | STEMinists: A Celebration of Women in STEM
  • Group 4 Elementary | Discover, Protect, Connect with Informational Fiction
  • Group 5 Middle School | First Loves: Romance for Middle Grade
  • Group 6 Middle School | Bridging the Divide Inside: Mixed Heritage Characters in Middle School Fiction
  • Group 7 Teens | Scream Queens: Girls in YA Horror
  • Group 8 Teens | Exploring Resilience, Identity, and Healing through Memoirs

See the chart on www.fallintobooks.org for a list of all the discussion leaders and book authors.

In order to ensure the most rewarding exchange of ideas, participants are expected to read all of their pre-assigned titles.  

Your group assignment is confirmed as of registration. Groups may be subject to change due to extenuating circumstances. If that is the case, we will notify you as soon as possible. 


Pre-order books

Accommodations / Dietary Needs

Fall Into Books welcomes people of all abilities to programs. Please leave a message in the field below to request an accommodation, such as ASL interpreters, audio description, wheelchair access, or other reasonable accommodations. Requesting accommodations as early as possible is critical to ensure availability.

Please also let us know if you have a dietary requirement. Please note that foods are not prepared in an allergen-free environment.


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Billing Information

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