Do your young readers need a
change of scenery from the local public library or neighborhood Barnes and
Noble? Then take them to the Brooklyn Book Festival this Sunday, September 18,
from 10am to 6pm. —
The festival, which is held annually and is now in its sixth
year, will feature over 260 authors and participants from all around the city,
the country and the world. There will be more than 100 panels at Brooklyn
Borough Hall, Columbus Park,
St Ann’s Church and the Brooklyn
Historical Society.
While there will be plenty for adults to reflect on,
including conversations with Pulitzer Prize winning authors Jennifer Egan and
Jhumpa Lahiri, a talk with Adam Mansbach (author of Go the F**k to Sleep) and
various panels on poetry, comics and novels–rest assured, kid-friendly fun awaits!
A ‘youth stoop’ will be set up where lit-obsessed tweens and teens
can listen to book readings, draw and even discuss their favorite works. Panels featuring award-winning
children’s authors will be speaking about everything from science fiction to
middle school dramas. And silly wordsmiths can participate in an audience-wide game of Mad Libs! (oh man, remember those?) and witness three comics
face off in a fast-paced drawing contest based off audience suggestions. All
events are FREE, but some require tickets, which will be given out one hour
before your scheduled program of choice at select Information Booths on Borough
Hall Plaza.
But the fun doesn’t stop there! Numerous vendors will also be on hand, including
several groups and publishers for kids like mentoring group Girls Write Now,
Hartlyn Kids–an independent children’s book
company that focuses on diversity–and Daddy Daughter Publishing,
a father and daughter duo that publishes children’s books for urban
communities.
In addition to these major events, thirty “Bookend”
literary-themed happenings will take place in libraries, theaters, bookstores and
clubs all throughout Brooklyn. Visit the festival’s website for the day’s full schedule.
