Schedule
We at the BBF offices are hard at work putting together an unbelievable line-up for the October 24th festival. The minute-to-minute schedule will go up in the weeks before the big day. If you want us to keep you posted as we add authors and events, enter your email address here and get Boston Book Festival updates delivered right to your inbox as they happen...
And, if you just can't wait to find out who's confirmed so far, visit our confirmed PRESENTERS page. And be sure to check out our EVENT DESCRIPTIONS page to find our what your favorite authors will be talking about at Boston Book Festival 2009!
Kids & Teens
With celebrated children's author/illustrator Chris Van Allsburg (Polar Express; Jumanji) leading the charge, the Boston Book Festival will have activities and events for children of all ages from picture book authors and costumed characters to storytellers and hands-on exhibits. No need to get a sitter... the Boston Book Festival has something for everyone.
We’ll be celebrating the achievements of beloved author/illustrator Chris Van Allsburg at 10:30 a.m. in the BPL Rabb Lecture Hall. Van Allsburg is a two-time Caldecott Medal winner for The Polar Express and Jumanji, received a Caldecott Honor for his first book, The Garden of Abdul Gasazi and the Regina Medal for lifetime achievement in children’s literature. During this event, Festival Ballet Providence will bring Chris Van Allsburg's The Widow's Broom to life with an excerpt from their ballet adaptation of the fairy tale. Hosted by New York Times bestselling children’s author and illustrator Brian Lies, author of Bats at the Library. Sponsored by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt.
At 10:30 a.m., in the Popular Reading Room of the Boston Public Library, Dragons and Monsters will abound in our “legendary” Cryptozoology event with authors (and cryptozoological experts) A. W. Flaherty, Scott Magoon and Grace Lin. Delve into the surprising (pick and not-so-picky) eating habits of Nessie with author A.W. Flaherty and illustrator Scott Magoon and their book The Luck of the Loch Ness Monster, and encounter a flightless dragon and talking fish with Grace Lin and Where The Mountain Meets the Moon. Sponsored by 826 Boston.
From 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. in the BPL Mezzanine Conference Room, there will be story time and fun for children all day long in “StoryPlace.” Hear the latest from children’s authors Alicia Potter, with Fritz, a fandango-dancing sheep, a yodeling ewe, and a glockenspiel-playing dog, all stars of her new book Fritz Danced the Fandango. Learn about Revolutionary War history with author/illustrator Katherine Roy and her new book A Kid’s Guide to Boston’s Freedom Trail, published to celebrate the 50th anniversary of the Freedom Trail! Meet Curious George, The Man in the Yellow Hat, Clifford the Big Red Dog, Madeline, dancers from The Boston Ballet's The Nutcracker and others. Sponsored by State Street Corporation.
Right down the street from the Festival, at the Fairmont Copley Plaza Hotel (138 St. James Ave), Catie Copley has a very special job: canine ambassador. She lives with Jim, who also works at the hotel, and spends her days in the lobby, sleeping, greeting people, chasing balls, and sleeping some more. Join Catie for juice and cookies at the Fairmont Copley Plaza at 3 p.m. and meet Deborah Kovacs, the author, and Jared Williams, the illustrator, of Catie’s newest picture book adventure, Catie Copley’s Great Escape. (Space is limited, so be sure to register ahead of time on the event page)
At 2 p.m. in Mary Norton Hall at Old South Church, two renowned and beloved storytellers will have the whole family on the edge of your seats. Jay O’Callahan, author of the new picture book Raspberries, grew up telling stories to his younger siblings in Brookline and since then has performed for audiences in Africa, Lincoln Center, NASA, and on public radio. He will be joined by historian and storyteller Irene Smalls, author of Jonathan and His Mommy and the force behind the Literacise exhibition now open at the Boston Public Library. Hosted by Brian O’Donovan, of WGBH’s A Celtic Sojourn. Sponsored by State Street Corporation.
Come check out the Boston Children Museum’s booth in Copley Plaza. Try your hand at bookmaking and add a line to Boston’s longest story! Experience Kamishibai, a form of Japanese storytelling, and Gather around Sabrina, one of Boston Children’s Museum's storytellers, to hear the story of"The Oni Who Sank to the Bottom of The Sea", a folktale about a good-hearted ogre and his son.
The Max Warburg Courage Curriculum, Inc. will be on hand as well, giving away copies of The Courage of Boston’s Children, an annual publication of essays written by sixth grade students from Boston. Young people of all ages will also have the chance to have their picture taken with their head atop a superhero’s body, and the opportunity to share with the world how they show courage.
826 Boston will also have a booth. Meet authors from 826 Boston’s literary board who will read selections from their work, host a brief Q&A, and share their experience working with young authors in 826 Boston’s free writing and tutoring programs.
Boston Public Library and Boston Book Festival author Irene Smalls’ Literacy + Exercise = Literacise exhibit gives “stepping out” a whole new meaning. With tunnels to explore and secrets to find, children visiting the Literacise exhibit will zig-zag, bunny-hop, and giant-step their way through a kid-sized interactive book. Current research in the field of cognitive development shows that children often learn better when their bodies are in motion. With childhood obesity rates on the rise in Boston, Literacise will get families up and moving and will teach parents about the important connection between physical activity and learning. Literacise is located adjacent to the Rey Children’s Room on the first floor of the Boston Public Library.
So bring along the kids and be ready for an action-packed day filled with new discoveries, experiences and enchantments that the whole family can enjoy!
Directions
Getting to the Boston Book Festival is easy. Just click here to find parking and hotel information, as well as directions by T, car or train.
