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Five Great Author-Illustrators! One Great Event! The Columbus Children’s Book Festival Returns!

Staff Report From Georgia CEO

Friday, May 3rd, 2024

Five Great Author-Illustrators! One Great Event! The Columbus Children’s Book Festival Returns!

Four of our nation’s most acclaimed authors and illustrators for children are coming to Columbus, and they want to say hi to YOU! 

The COLUMBUS CHILDREN’S BOOK FESTIVAL returns to the Columbus Public Library on Saturday May 11th from 10:00am to 3:00pm. In addition to crafts, games, entertainers and more, you’ll have the chance to get a autograph and say hello to:

  • VASHTI HARRISON, the celebrated writer, illustrator, and filmmaker, winner of the 2024 Caldecott Medal for her smash hit book Big and creator of the Little Leaders, Little Dreamers, and Little Legends.

  • MATT DE LA PEÑA, the Newberry-winning writer of Milo Imagines the World, Last Stop on Market Street and Carmen Full of Wishes.

  • ALYSSA SATIN CAPUCILLI, creator of the beloved Biscuit series with over 46 million books in print.

  • R. GREGORY CHRISTIE, Atlanta’s own fine artist and illustrator of over 40 children’s books.

Many of your favorite Festival Activities return as well, including:

  • Craft-o-mania!, with numerous crafts and play activities and selfie stations inspired by our authors.

  • Simple Steps Garden, a special play and craft area for our youngest visitors (ages birth to five years).

  • Festival Bookstore, featuring works by our authors that you can purchase for autographs or just to have. Credit Cards and Cash accepted.

  • Happy Tails Costume Characters greeting, with four of your favorite canines made famous in books!

  • DJs, Balloon Twisters, Food trucks, games and more!

 

ADVENTURE BEGINS AT YOUR LIBRARY: A SCAVENGER SAFARI… Returning to the Festival this year is the Scavenger Safari! We’ll hide ten images related to the theme of ADVENTURE in locations around the Festival. You and your family will use our Festival Tracker to write down the items. Once you do, everyone in your family will receive a small prize and be entered into a drawing for one of our VISA gift cards! You’ll also automatically earn points that will get you your first completion in “ADVENTURE BEGINS AT YOUR LIBRARY - the Chattahoochee Valley Libraries Summer Learning Challenge!”

Come join us on the 11th. Admission is FREE and no tickets are needed!

AUTHOR APPEARANCE TIMES… This year our authors will be available for autographs and a quick meet-and-greet at the following times:

  • VASHTI HARRISON, 11:00am to 11:45am and 1:00pm to 1:45pm.
  • MATT DE LA PEÑA, 10:45am to 11:30am and 12:45pm to 1:30pm.
  • ALYSSA SATIN CAPUCILLI, 10:30am to 11:15am and 12:30pm to 1:15pm.
  • R. GREGORY CHRISTIE, meet and greet from 11:15am to 12noon, cartooning workshop from 1:30pm to 2:30pm