The fifth annual Atlanta Journal-Constitution Decatur Book Festival Presented by DeKalb Medical (AJC DBF) will feature a wide array of fun and educational events for children of all ages, including two parades, a rendition of Charlotte’s Web by the Center for Puppetry Arts, a flamenco dance, fun-filled readings, interactive panels, a Star Wars Extravaganza featuring Storm Troopers, and activities with bestselling and award-winning authors of children’s books.
The Festival will be held Labor Day Weekend, September 3-5 on and around the downtown Decatur Square.
Saturday morning, New York Times bestselling author of the Llama Llama children’s book series Anna Dewdney will lead children and parents in a parade around downtown Decatur. The parade will be based on Dewdney’s original Llama Llama book, Llama Llama Red Pajama. Participants are encouraged to wear their pajamas in the parade.
Sunday morning, author of the Ladybug Girl children’s book series Jacky Davis and illustrator of the series David Soman will lead kids and parents in another exciting parade. Participants are encouraged to dress up as Ladybug Girl.
Flamenco will pound the Children's Stage when Julie Baggenstoss' Aire Flamenco company performs The Story of Ferdinand, based on the book by Munro Leaf about a bull who prefers sitting and smelling the flowers to fighting.
The Festival will create a Star Wars trilogy of its own at the Star Wars Extravaganza on the Children's Stage, combining the forces of Tom Angleberger (The Strange Case of Origami Yoda) and Chris Reiff (the Star Wars illustrator for DK Publishing) with an appearance by Storm Troopers from the 501st Legion.
Several other notable authors will engage young audiences on the children’s stage, including Jeanne Birdsall, who won a National Book Award for The Penderwicks, Ridley Pearson, who is co-author with Dave Barry of the Peter and the Starcatchers series, author of Dinosaur vs. Bedtime Bob Shea, and author of Sisters Grimm Michael Buckley.
The children’s stage will also feature a fun-filled “Loud Boy vs. Super Chicken Nugget Boy” interactive panel, hosted by author of the Super Chicken Nugget Boy series Josh Lewis and D.J. Steinberg, author of the graphic novel series The Adventures of Daniel Boom AKA Loud Boy.
Friday will feature a very special Pre-K program that aims to promote literacy to at-risk children. The AJC DBF team partners with the United Way in DeKalb County, Reading Tree, DeKalb Partners for Early Learning, 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 may have never owned their own books before or have limited age appropriate reading material in their homes.
Thank Goodness for our Sponsors!
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This is YOUR festival. We are very grateful for our corporate sponsors, but we count on individual donations to ensure that the festival is free to all. If you are looking forward to this year's festival, please consider joining us in building this great tradition! Any contribution you make will help ensure that this is the best AJC DBF ever. Donate now.
The organization behind the festival promotes a year-round literary community by hosting a series of fundraising and literary events. Find out more.
Ensure your seat at the table for year-round book festival events. Find out more.
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