This weekend you will see kids and adults rushing to and from the highly choreographed events at the Brooklyn Book Festival, clutching books with heads bent in discussion. As the largest free literary event in New York City, you can attend enough author readings, signings and panels to load your head for the rest of the year. Don’t just wait for the actual festival on Sunday (though this is when all the “youth” events occur), head to one of the fabulous “Bookend Events” too that take place in clubs, parks, bookstores, theatres and libraries beforehand.
At the actual festival on Sunday, there are special events just for kids where they can attend literary workshops, meet the rock stars of the children’s book world and curl up on a rug for a favorite author’s reading.
We have the kids’ guide for the Brooklyn Book Festival below.
BROOKLYN BOOK FESTIVAL
SUNDAY, SEPTEMBER 23, 2012
10am-6pm
Target Children’s Area
Join beloved children’s book authors in the Target Children’s Area where they will read and sign books for their young fans. Bring a book or buy one at the Festival!
Target Children’s Area (Borough Hall Plaza/Columbus Park 209 Joralemon Street, Brooklyn NY 11201)
10:30 Judith Viorst (Lulu Walks the Dog)
11:00 Draw Off. A fast-paced drawing competition by illustrators Dan Yaccarino, Frank Viva and Jerry Craft. Moderated by Selina Alko.
11:30 Stephen Savage (Little Tug)
12:00 Paul O. Zelinsky (Z is for Moose)
12:30 Selina Alko (B is for Brooklyn)
1:00 Edward Hemingway (Bad Apple: A Tale of Friendship)
1:30 E.B. Lewis (Each Kindness)
2:00 Susanna Reich (Minette’s Feast: The Delicious Story of Julia Child and Her Cat)
2:30 John Parra (Waiting for the Biblioburro)
3:00 Frank Viva (Along a Long Road) with support from the Consulate General of Canada
3:30 Melanie Maria Goodreaux (A Poem as Big as New York City)
4:00 Marc Brown (Ten Tiny Toes)
4:30 Shadra Strickland (White Water)
5:00 Francois Roca (Soar, Elinor)
5:30 Troupe reads children’s classics.
Wendy Lamb (far L) moderates a reading and discussion with Laura Toffler-Corrie (second L), Olugbemisola Rhuday-Periodic (third L), and Rebecca Stead (far R) on their works involving young characters fighting challenges in different New York landscapes. (Ron Ricardo)
Youth Stoop (Borough Hall Plaza/Columbus Park)
10:00 A.M. Humor Me.
Franklin is a fourth grader with a big imagination and an alter ego named Frankie Pickle; fifth graders Lydia and Julie are best friends who observe “the popular girls” at their school to discover the code of popularity; and Robert is a normal fourth grader who gets into crazy situations! These hilarious characters spring from the minds of authors Amy Ignatow (The Popularity Papers), Eric Wight (Frankie Pickle series) and Lisa Yee (Bobby the Brave [Sometimes]), all of whom have an uncanny knack for writing laugh-out-loud funny, illustrated chapter books that elementary school kids love. Moderated by Lisa Graff (Isla Neal/Mothership).
11:00 A.M. Comics Quick Draw!
Three cartoonists face off in this fast-paced contest. Drawing (literally) from the audience suggestions, reader favorites Derek Kirk Kim, Mark Siegel and Charise Mericle Harper will battle with pen and pad. And, everybody wins; finished art will be gifted to some of the lucky young people in attendance. Moderated by Calvin Reid, editor of Publishers Weekly Comics World.
12:00 P.M. A Blues for Middle School.
Middle School is no cake walk. There are heartaches, bad days, the quest to find the meaning of life, plus mystery and wonder. Join NYT bestselling authors Wendy Mass (Jeremy Fink and the Meaning of Life) and R.J. Palacios (Wonder), Adam Gidwitz (A Tale Dark and Grimm) and debut author Sheela Chari (Vanished) as they discuss how their funny, daring and courageous characters take on heartache, bad days, vanishing instruments and locked boxes to solve mysteries, discover the wonder, and even make a new friend or two. Moderated by Paul Acampora (Rachel Spinelli Punched Me in the Face).
1:00 P.M. The Ball’s In Your Court.
Guys will want to get reading with humor author favorite Jon Scieszka (Spaceheadz, Stinky Cheese and others), Gordon Korman (39 Clues) and Joseph Bruchac (Wolf Mark) as they discuss the latest Guys Read Volume 3, which combines the great pleasures of sports and reading. Moderated by Lisa Yee (Bobby the Brave).
2:00 P.M. Jeopardy.
Join author favorites Libba Bray (The Diviners), Natalie Standiford (Confessions of the Sullivan Sisters) and Daniel Nayeri (Straw House, Wood House, Brick House, Blow) for a fast paced game of Jeopardy involving fun literary trivia about YA novels. Moderated by Zoraida Cordova (The Vicious Deep).
3:00 P.M. Love Will Keep Us Together.
Pride, time, and distance—so many things to keep young love at bay. Join NYT best-selling Simone Elkeles, author of Perfect Chemistry; Michael L. Printz honor winner Carolyn Mackler, co-author of The Future of Us; along with critically acclaimed Melissa Walker, author of Unbreak My Heart, as they prove that friendship, family, and the true meaning of connection can bring it all together. Moderated by Christopher Grant (Teenie).
4:00 P.M. It’s a Hard Knock Life.
Being a teen can be hard. Whether the issue is bullying, teen pregnancy or even a serial killer dad, this is a time in life that’s as thrilling as it is confusing, full of questions and decisions. Join popular authors Susane Colasanti (Keep Holding On) and Barry Lyga (I Hunt Killers) along with debut author Louise Rozett (Confessions of an Angry Girl) as they discuss tough choices and the teens who make them, and why the teenage years are such a writing inspiration. Moderated by Jennifer Castle (The Beginning of After).
5:00 P.M. Ghosts, Goddesses and Wolves.
A ghost becomes a goddess. A girl morphs into a wolf. Two friends awaken as something other. Science fiction and fantasy is filled with transformations. Meet the authors of enchanting novels in which teens go through life-changing experiences: critically-acclaimed Kendare Blake (Anna Dressed in Blood and Girl of Nightmares); New York Times best-selling Andrea Cremer (Nightshade series) and award-winning Malinda Lo (Ash and Adaptation). Moderated by Jessica Shirvington (Entice).
Festival’s Main Stage
10:00 A.M. : Brooklyn Choices Lit Match
Come hear the finalists of the Brooklyn Choices Lit Match borough-wide writing contest—some of the most talented students writing in the borough—read from their work. Emceed by Jill Santopolo, author of The Niña, The Pinta and the Vanishing Treasure.
Brooklyn Borough Hall Conference Room
12:00 P.M. Teachers & Writers Collaborative: A Poem as Big as New York City Workshop.
Poetry writing workshop inspired by the city. Ages 8 – 12.
1:00 P.M. Artist Books: 3-D collage: Esther K Smith (How to Make Books; Magic Books & Paper Toys).
Make a simplified tunnel book, a structure with roots in toy theaters and 15th century carnival novelties and theatrical stage sets. Bring your own photos, maps, collage materials, Ages 14 and up.
2:00 P.M. Creating Fantasy Fiction.
An intensive creative workshop for teenagers who want to write their own fantasy fiction led by Sarah Porter, author of a fantasy series for young adults, The Lost Voices Trilogy. Ages 12 and up.
3:00 P.M. Creating Comics from Life.
A comics workshop led by Tracy White (How I Made it to Eighteen). Using a short writing exercise, teens will compose a four panel comic based on an incident from their past. Ages 12 and up.