Program Highlight:
Carolina Clay
Leonard Todd tells the true story of Dave, a gifted potter who Todd discovered had been owned as a s... Read more
Children's Activities
Bring your entire family to the festival for a wide array of fun and educational events for children of all ages, including a parade, a dance, a play, field-trips, readings, and activities with bestselling and award-winning authors of children’s books!
Children's Parade
On Saturday morning, author and illustrator Loren Long will lead children and parents in a tractor-themed parade around downtown Decatur. He is the author of Otis, a new children’s book about a little tractor who befriends a calf. Long, a three-time New York Times #1 bestselling illustrator and two-time recipient of the Golden Kite award, illustrated Madonna’s bestselling children’s book, Mr. Peabody’s Apples.
Start location is Fidelity Bank at 160 Clairemont Avenue (at the intersection of Clairemont and Commerce). Staging of the parade begins at 9 a.m.; parade begins at 9:30 a.m.
Mariachi Brunch and Promenade
Judy Schachner, creator of the Skippyjon Jones series, will host a mariachi brunch Sunday morning at El Tesoro followed by a promenade to the square. Anyone can join the promenade, but there is a fee for the brunch. Proceeds from the brunch will go to a charity that builds public libraries in Mexico. Contact Little Shop of Stories for tickets.
Will Shakespeare Meets Lew Carroll
Georgia Shakespeare’s Will Power ensemble of actors (Michael Cohen, Brian Harrison, Allison Corke, and Sarah Johnson) will enthrall young audiences with a free presentation of the beloved classic "Alice in Wonderland" as a children’s play.
“You Gotta Swing Your Hips, Now”
Kids can learn while they are entertained as they watch "Locomotion," a dance by Several Dancers Core’s CORE Performance Company that teaches children about verbs and adverbs.
Special Pre-K Program
Friday will feature a very special Pre-K program that aims to promote literacy among underprivileged children. The DBF team partners with the United Way, Reading Tree, and the DeKalb Early Learning and School Readiness Commission to give kids an unforgettable experience. Kids who participate hear their favorite stories read by authors and storytellers, and every child leaves with a book bag containing books. Many of the kids have never owned their own books before.
Friday Field Trips
All day Friday, children's activities will be up and running for City Schools of Decatur and select other students participating in our Friday Field Trips program, supported by a grant from the Decatur Education Foundation. Select City Schools of Decatur and DeKalb Country pre-kindergarten classes will also join the festival Friday for a morning of storytelling, sponsored by the United Way.
- Kindergartners and first-graders will receive visits at their schools by author/illustrator Loren Long. Loren is the illustrator of such books as The Little Engine that Could, Toy Boat and the Truck Town series, which is written by Jon Scieszka. Loren has a new book out called Otis, which is the story of a friendly tractor.
- Second and third graders will visit the Children's Stage on the Decatur Plaza to meet author/illustrator Jarrett Krosoczka. Jarrett has a new graphic series out for young readers called Lunch Lady, which has just been optioned for a film starring Amy Poehler of “Saturday Night Live” fame.
- Second and third graders will visit the Children's Stage on the Decatur Plaza to meet author Kate Di Camillo. Kate is the Newbery Award-winning author of Because of Winn Dixie and Tale of Despereaux. She is also the author of The Miraculous Journey of Edward Tulane, and has a new book out this fall called The Magician's Elephant.
- Middle schoolers will visit the Children's Stage on the Decatur Plaza to meet authors John Hulme and Michael Wexler, co-authors of the awesome series, The Seems.
