FYI,

I just received word that registration opens tomorrow (Wed. 9/12) for BookFest @ Bank Street (formerly held for years at the Donnell Branch of NYC Public Library). Since the space at Bank Street is much smaller, space for this fun event is very limited so if you plan to attend, sign up quickly! (and hope it doesn’t snow this year like it did last year).

This is one of my favorite children’s book events of the year so if you haven’t had the chance to go, now’s your chance.

Best, Sharon Rawlins, Youth Services Consultant, NJ State Library

Hello fans of BookFest @ Bank Street,

On behalf of Lisa Von Drasek, Jennifer M. Brown, and Kristin Freda, I'm pleased to announce this year's author speakers for BookFest @ Bank Street, Saturday, October 27. 

Bruce Coville & Elizabeth Levy (AMBER BROWN IS TICKLED PINK)
John Coy (TAKE YOUR BEST SHOT)
Michael Dahl (STRIKER ASSIST and POINT GUARD PRANK)
Caroline Fraser (editor of the Little House boxed set from the Library of America)
Adam Gidwitz (IN A GLASS GRIMMLY)
Sonia Manzano (THE REVOLUTION OF EVELYN SERRANO)
Mary Pope Osborne (The Magic Tree House series)
Andrea Davis Pinkney (BIRD IN A BOX)
Rita Williams-Garcia (ONE CRAZY SUMMER)
Jacqueline Woodson (EACH KINDNESS; BENEATH A METH MOON)

Mary Pope Osborne will deliver the keynote.  Caroline Fraser will discuss the work of Laura Ingalls Wilder in a conversation with Jennifer M. Brown.  The two moderated panel discussions will focus on middle grade (Coville, Levy, Coy, Dahl, Gidwitz) and mirror-window books (Manzano, Pinkney, Williams-Garcia, Woodson).

Registration

Registration will open tomorrow - WEDNESDAY, SEPT. 12 at NOON (EDT). 
You can find the link to registration on the BookFest webpage  here: http://bankstreet.edu/center-childrens-literature/bookfest/
Spread the word!

We are using Eventbrite to handle our registration this year, which means it should be easier for all of us. Registration sells out quickly, so please try to register as soon as you can. 

Changes

In addition to Eventbrite, we have made some changes to BookFest.  First of all, you may have heard that Lisa Von Drasek is leaving her position at Bank Street for a new job with the University of Minnesota.  She has handed this year's BookFest leadership to Jennifer M. Brown, of the Children's Book Committee and Shelf Awareness.  Jenny and I have been working with Lisa and others at Bank Street to make sure this year's BookFest goes off without a hitch. I am still your contact person for questions about registration, the schedule, discussion groups, etc. 

We have also changed the schedule of events slightly in response to your comment cards the past two years.  We have shortened the lunch block and break times in order to maximize the author talks.  The doors will open 30 minutes earlier in the morning so that you will now have one hour before the program starts to arrive at Bank Street, check in, get a coffee, mingle, and purchase books. 

The last change is that the registration fee has increased to $70.

Discussion Groups

Once again, we have some very interesting discussion groups.  The popularity of last year's mini-mock Caldecott and the request for more mock groups, lead us to add two more mocks.  All groups will have limited availability. Details for each group, including the recommended reading, will be found on the BookFest webpage.

Group 1 - Mini-mock Caldecott: Go for the Gold!
Group 2 - Ezra Jack Keats and the EJK Awards (Celebrating the 50th Anniversary of Keats' THE SNOWY DAY)
Group 3 - Books with Heart for Middle Graders
Group 4 - Poetry in Picture Books
Group 5 - Science: New and Traditional Approaches
Group 6 - Mini-mock Geisel
Group 7 - What Makes it YA? YA/Adult Crossovers
Group 8 - Why I Love YA
Group 9 - How can we capture readers with high interest reading?
Group 10 - Mini-mock Newbery

_______________________________________________________

Please send me your questions, comments, concerns about BookFest.  Keep up with BookFest news on Facebook and on the Center for Children's Literature blog.


Thank you so much for your continued support and enthusiasm for BookFest.

Ellen



--
Ellen Greene
347-661-5865 mobile
...@gmail.com" target="_blank">elle...@gmail.com

Forwarded by:

Sharon Rawlins, MLS

Youth Services Consultant

NJ State Library

185 West State St.

P.O. Box 520

Trenton, NJ 08625-0520

...@njstatelib.org">sraw...@njstatelib.org

609-278-2640 ext. 116 - phone

609-278-2650 - fax