The Atlanta Journal Constitution Decatur Book Festival Presented by DeKalb Medical (DBF) is excited to announce the world premiere of the first Madeline story in fifty years, “Madeline and the Cats of Rome.” This year’s children’s parade will be all about Madeline, the fictional French schoolgirl created by Ludwig Bemelmans in 1939.
DBF will be Labor Day weekend, August 29-31, on and around the Downtown Decatur Square.
The parade, escorted by Madeline-themed characters and a marching band, will commence Saturday morning at the corner of Commerce Drive and Clairmont Avenue, and will conclude at the Target Children’s Stage with the premiere of “Madeline and the Cats of Rome,” written by Ludwig Bemelmans’ grandson, John Bemelmans Marciano.
“We’re thrilled to host the world premiere of a new Madeline book at the festival, and excited to introduce Madeline to a new generation” said Daren Wang, DBF Executive Director.
The children’s stage will later feature musical acts, including Atlanta-based children’s band Laughing Pizza, as well as appearances from prominent children’s authors Patrick McDonnell, Andy Runton, Adam Rex, and pop-up book creators Robert Sabuda and Matthew Reinhart, among others.
The Teen Stage will host readings by young adult authors and will hold an event titled “Break In Case of Emergency (This Book Could Save Your Life)” that will feature Joshilyn Jackson, Chris Raschka, Elliot Blake, and Jill McCorkle discussing the books they wish they had read as teenagers.
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution Decatur Book Festival Presented by DeKalb Medical is the largest and most diverse literary event in Georgia, and is one of the top 10 book festivals in the country, by both attendance and number of authors. More than 50,000 festival goers crowd the historic downtown Decatur square each year to enjoy book signings, author readings, panel discussions, an interactive children’s area, live music, parades, cooking demonstrations, poetry slams, writing workshops, and more.
Interviews available upon request.
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