One of the fun aspects of BookExpo America every year is the unusual opportunity it presents for that great American pastime: celebrity spotting. You can be cruising down the aisles or attending an event and end up rubbing elbows with all sorts of unexpected folks.

For instance, that unassuming guy in the Hawaiian shirt, strolling the aisle and looking at the latest titles? It’s none other than Daniel Handler, Mr. Lemony Snicket himself. Or that perfectly coiffed diva in the stunning pantsuit? It’s Queen Latifah, promoting her new children’s book, Queen of the Scene.

Last year, I almost ran smack into the tallest guy I’d ever seen outside of the NBA… who just happened to be Michael Crichton. You just never know who is going to cross your path.

This year’s recent BEA was no exception, with plenty of familiar faces descending on the Capital to promote their latest offerings. And in the spirit of First Book’s “Literacy and Justice for All” campaign, many of them cast their votes for literacy… including Roscoe Orman (“Gordon” from Sesame Street), actress and knitting “how-to” author Tracey Ullman, and funnyman-turned-children’s author, Dave Barry (pictured to the right with Ridley Pearson).

Click below to see who else dropped by to cast their vote!

Pictured below are ballots from: James Patterson, Dave Barry, Tracey Ullman, Daniel Handler, and Queen Latifah

Pictures below are ballots from: Ridley Pearson, David McPhail, Robie Harris, and Roscoe Orman.

Pictured below are ballots from: E.D. Baker, Gary Hart, Walter Dean Myers, and Irene Smalls.

Pictured below are ballots from: Joshua Prince, Michael Buckley, Arthur Yorinks, and Peter Reynolds.