There’s no better way to make books come to life for children than by introducing them to the authors and illustrators who create them. In fact, I’ve met children who are inspired to write and illustrate their own books after such an encounter.

If you happen to live in the Washington DC metro area, you’re in for a treat this weekend. The National Book Festival is again being held on the mall where prominent authors and illustrators for children of all ages and adults of many interests can hear talks presented by people whose books they know or come to know — and can even purchase them and get them signed. It’s a fine festival!

If you can’t make it to the National Mall, you can “meet” authors and illustrators from years past on the Web. The Library of Congress has even created a toolkit for those interested in creating a book event in their community.

And don’t forget to see the author interviews brought to you by Reading Rockets! It’s a fun way to meet the creators of books that you and your kids love!

About the Author

Maria Salvadore is Reading Rockets’ consultant for children’s literature and literacy. Maria curates our themed booklists and writes the blog, Page by Page, which explores the best ways to use kids’ books both inside and outside of the classroom. She leads parent workshops for Ready To Learn (RTL) at WETA Public Broadcasting in Washington, D.C. She has also taught children’s literature at the University of Maryland, reviewed books for School Library Journal, and has served on various book award committees, including the Boston Globe/Horn Book Awards, Golden Kite, and the Caldecott Committee.

Publication Date
September 27, 2007
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