Bookworms Unite Last Weekend at the National Book Festival

2012 National Book Festival

What a perfect fall weekend for the Library of Congress to host their 12th Annual National Book Festival on the National Mall! Thousands of people flocked to this event on September 22nd and 23rd to meet their favorite authors, play interactive games, and of course, to buy books.

Teens & Children was a popular section of the Barnes & Noble Book Sale Tent

A childhood favorite of mine, Goosebumps series author R.L.Stine (who wrote his first book in 1992!) made an appearance in the Family Storytelling Stage, telling ghost stories and later signing copies of his latest book. In the young-adult tent, Lois Lowry read from her yet to be released new book in the Giver series, Son, which was for sale at the festival. A big hit this year was biographer Walter Isaacson, author of bestseller Steve Jobs. Other notable appearances included Pulitzer Prize winning authors Thomas Friedman, Philip Roth and Junot Diaz, as well as Mario Vargas Llosa, winner of the Nobel Prize in Literature.

Mario Vargas Llosa signs his book for a fan

Large crowds overflowed the tent to hear Mario Vargas Llosa interviewed.

National Book Festival Poster Art by Rafael Lopez

Internationally recognized artist Rafael Lopez, known for his illustrations in children’s books, designed all poster art for the festival.

Storybook Station presented by Target

Strollers and laughing children were everywhere – this was definitely a welcoming event for families. Target’s Family Storytelling Stage featured nonstop performances all day as well as educational activities for the kids.

PBS Kids Pavilion

The PBS Kid’s Pavilion had photo opps with PBS characters and more fun games.

Kids threw a bean bag on each letter to spell out their name in the PBS Kids Pavilion

Wells Fargo storytime in the Let's Read America! Pavilion

The Let’s Read America Pavilion included Clifford (the big red dog)’s Birthday Corner, a chance to go inside a Wells Fargo stagecoach, and a LEGO Read & Build Area. I think all the kids there would agree that learning can be fun!

This event couldn’t have happened without all the volunteers! Below, Allison, Jen, Michelle, and Emily were among the hundreds of Junior League of Washington volunteers that turn out every year to help support this event. JLW focuses on literacy initiatives, so for the past 10 years they have helped and they now provide the largest number of volunteers after the Library of Congress.

Volunteers from the Junior League of Washington

Although I was disappointed not to see Honorary Chairs President and Mrs. Obama, this festival met all my expectations and I will continue to make it a fall tradition. In an era of e-readers, kindles and iPads, and as someone who has yet to convert, it was refreshing to see kids and adults holding newly signed copies of withered, loved books…and scouring the book sale tent find new ones.

Front: Illustrator Hope Larson signs "A Wrinkle in Time" for a fan. Back: Children's authors Anita Silvey and Leonard Marcus.

OverDrive's Digital BookMobile made a pit stop at the Festival this year

At the Library of Congress tent, people are introduced to the World Digital Library