I am so here for this brand new book-lovers festival for Seattle families. If you’re interested in meeting children’s books heroes and stocking Seattle schools with the best books, you will be too.
Mark your calendars for the first ever Seattle Children’s Book Festival, a free community event with a simple but incredibly important mission: promote literacy and give local children – especially children in low-income school districts – new, quality and relevant books.
The Seattle Children’s Book Festival takes place this Saturday, Sept. 28, 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. at Greenwood Elementary School. Your family can meet award-winning authors and illustrators, get your favorite books signed and do some hands-on crafts.
Nearly 50 authors/illustrators will be at the festival, and the talent lineup looks fantastic. My kids are looking forward to meeting Leslie Patricelli, author of “Potty” (and my family's potty-training hero). Other authors include: Kate Berube, “Hannah and Sugar”; Liz Wong, “The Goose Egg”; Dan Gemeinhart, “The Remarkable Journey of Coyote Sunrise”; Troy Cummings, “The Notebook of Doom: Battle of the Boss-Monster”; Martha Brockenbrough, “Unpresidented”; Mike Austen, “Fire Engine No. 9”; and more.
Authors and illustrators will also be presenting throughout the day. Topics range from graphic novels to creating monsters to middle-grade characters. Here’s the presentation schedule.
The festival is free to attend, but consider making a donation to help put new children’s books on Seattle Public School classroom shelves. When you buy books during the event, a portion of book sales will go directly to Seattle Children’s Book Festival to help them host free book fairs at schools with the highest poverty populations.
Seattle Children’s Book Festival events will take place both inside and out, so make sure you’re prepared for rain or shine. If you can’t make the festival, you can order pre-signed books from Third Place Books. Order a few books for your family and feel good about sharing the magic of reading.
Jennifer Mortensen is the Seattle's Child things-to-do editor. Her two preschool-aged children quote a line from Leslie Patricelli's "Potty" daily: "Tinkle, tinkle, toot!"
IF YOU GO
What: Seattle Children’s Book Festival
When: Saturday, September 28, 2019 11 a.m. to 3 p.m.
Where: Greenwood Elementary School, 144 NW 80th Street, Seattle
Cost: Free to attend; books for purchase; donations welcome. You don’t a ticket, but you can let the festival folks know that you’re coming.
Good to know: Families may bring one book from home for an author or illustrator to sign. By purchasing additional books at the festival, you’ll directly support authors/illustrators and local bookstores, and you’ll help Seattle Children’s Book Festival stock classroom bookshelves in Seattle schools that need new books most.
More ways to enjoy reading with your kids
Turn children’s books into original songs
Cuddle up with a children’s book about friendship and togetherness
Attend a story time at local libraries and book stores
