September 4-6, 2009

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The AJC Decatur Book Festival Presented by DeKalb Medical
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AJC Decatur Book Festival Presented by DeKalb Medical to Feature Tractor-Themed Children’s Parade, Alice in Wonderland Play

Target Children’s Stage to Feature All-Star Lineup, Including Jon Scieszka, Judy Schachner, and Kate DiCamillo

Mariachi Brunch and Promenade, Locomotion Dance for Kids, and Special Program for At-Risk Pre-K Students Also Planned

July 16, 2009 (Decatur) — The Atlanta Journal-Constitution Decatur Book Festival Presented by DeKalb Medical (DBF) will feature a wide array of fun and educational events for children of all ages, including a parade, a dance, a play, readings, and activities with bestselling and award-winning authors of children’s books.

The festival will be held Labor Day Weekend, September 4-6.

Saturday morning at 9:30, author and illustrator Loren Long will lead children and parents in a tractor-themed parade around downtown Decatur. The parade will feature real tractors for kids to look at, and will begin at the intersection of Clairemont Avenue and Commerce Drive. Parade master Long 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.

Jon Scieszka has been selected as National Ambassador for Young People’s Literature for the Library of Congress. He is the author of several acclaimed children’s books, including The Stinky Cheese Man and Other Fairly Stupid Tales, Math Curse, and The True Story of the Three Little Pigs. He has won awards from Publishers Weekly and the American Library Association.

Judy Schachner, creator of the Skippyjon Jones series, will host a mariachi brunch at El Tesoro followed by a promenade to the square. Kids are encouraged to dress up as their favorite characters from the Skippyjon Jones series. 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.

Kate DiCamillo is the author of The Tale of Despereaux and Because of Winn Dixie, which were both adapted to become major motion pictures. She was awarded the Newberry Medal in 2004 for The Tale of Despereaux.

Kids can learn while they are entertained as they watch "Locomotion," a dance by Several Dancers Core professionals that teaches children about verbs and adverbs.

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.

Friday will feature a very special Pre-K program that aims to promote literacy to at-risk children. The DBF team partners with the United Way, Reading Tree, and the DeKalb Early Learning and School Readiness Commission to give selected kids an unforgettable experience. Kids who participate hear their favorite stories read by authors and storytellers. Every child present leaves with a book bag containing books. Many of the kids have never owned their own books before.

The Atlanta Journal-Constitution Decatur Book Festival Presented by DeKalb Medical is the largest independent book festival in the country and the fourth largest overall. This year, more than 300 authors and tens of thousands of festival goers will crowd the historic downtown Decatur Square 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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