Uniting Book Lovers of All Ages: What We’re Looking Forward to at the National Book Festival

This post was written by Monica Valentine, Program Specialist in the Informal Learning Office.

On Saturday, September 6 from 9 a.m. to 8 p.m.the Library of Congress will bring together readers of all ages for the 2025 National Book Festival at the Walter E. Washington Convention Center This year’s theme, Uniting Book Lovers for 25 Years, honors the festival’s quarter-century legacy of celebrating great books, their authors and you—the kids, families, and adults who read them. The festival is open to the public, free of charge, and requires no advance registration.

In addition to sessions that give young people access to their favorite best-selling authors, Library of Congress staff and partners have a full day of family fun for young readers planned. These activities include the Roadmap to Reading sponsored by the Institute of Museum and Library Services, the Story District, and the STEM District. Library of Congress specialists including the Minerva’s Kaleidoscope team of the Informal Learning Office will participate in running “Make, Learn and Create” activities, and visitors of all ages can learn more at the Library Pavillion.

There are also some panels that we’re looking forward to. Picture book lovers of all ages will enjoy hearing from a variety of authors including first-time picture book authors, award-winning actors, and lifelong picture book champions.  During his term as National Ambassador for Young People’s Literature, Mac Barnett has championed picture books as a quintessential American art form. He will be in conversation with actor Geena Davis on the Festival Main Stage at 1:00 p.m. Additional picture book panel offerings will include “Dragons and Dark Creatures: Scary or Friendly?” featuring Christy Mandin (“Mille Fleur Saves the Night”) and Devin Elle Kurtz (“The Bakery Dragon”) at 10:15 a.m., and Leigh Bardugo and John Picacio on Their New Picture Book, “The Invisible Parade” at 3:30 p.m.

Middle-grade readers will hear from an impressive array of authors as well. Suspense and horror fans won’t want to miss “It’s Gonna Get Scary in Here” featuring horror and suspense authors Paul Tremblay (“Another”) and Tiffany D. Jackson (“Blood in the Water”) at 2:45 p.m. Then, at 3:30 p.m. Katherine Applegate will introduces her new book “Pocket Bear”. Newbery Medal winners and “frenemies” Kwame Alexander and Jerry Craft will bring their rivalry to the festival as they discuss their graphic novel “J vs. K” at 4:15 p.m. Finally, families can hear from R.L. Stine on the Main Stage as he celebrates 30 years in children’s literature and his Latest Chilling Stories at 7:00 p.m.

There are panels for young adult readers who love science fiction too! Readers can start their day by going out of this world with Ransom Riggs and Caroline O’Donoghue at the “Weird Times in Other Worldly Novels” at 9:30 a.m.  Then, fans of speculative mystery and thrillers will want to attend the “What You Need in the Game of Life” panel with Channelle Desamours at 11:00 a.m. Desamours is a science teacher who is the debut author of “Needy Little Things”. She’ll be speaking with Marisha Pessl, best-selling author of the novel “Darkly”. Finally, fans of “The Legendborn” series can catch Tracy Deonn with the latest book in her series at 6:30 p.m.

Presentation sessions won’t be the only way that your family can engage at the National Book Festival. Look for contributors to this blog in “Make, Learn and Create with the Library” in Hall D. We will be leading a fun family map-making activity. You will also find many of us on stage with the authors. Dianne Choie will moderate “Super by Chance, Hero by Choice” with Leah Johnson and Chris Raschka at 12:30 p.m. And I will be moderating “Kindness is a Bridge to Friendship” with Kiese Laymon and Debbie Levy.

Story District stage will also host several of the featured authors for read- aloud sessions in a more informal setting. Raúl the Third will read at 10:15 a.m., Renée Watson will appear at 3:30 p.m., and Mac Barnett will appear at 4:15 p.m. In between these authors and other featured readers, check out Illustrator Draw-Offs with Devin Elle Kurtz at 2:00 p.m. and Gale Galligan at 5:00 p.m. Check out the full schedule here!

If you’re into science, families can also enjoy STEM-focused activities in STEM District. In addition to interactive activities, there’s a full day of kid-friendly science presentations scheduled, sponsored by General Motors. Presenters include the Library of Congress Preservation Research and Testing Division, entomologist and author Eleanor Spicer Rice, OurFarm DC, the Community-Word Project, the Virginia Space Flight Academy, bestselling author Kate Messner, Black Girls Code, and more!

And do you have budding authors and illustrators in your family? Let’s Draw! with Children’s Illustrator Jorge Cham at 9:30 a.m. will be the first offering in a day of hands-on workshops, a new offering to the Festival this year. Then, stick around for Let’s Build a Story! Writing Workshop for Kids at 10:15 a.m., facilitated by our partners at 826DC.

Have you been enjoying posts from our teen interns this summer? Teen volunteers will also play a role in this year’s Festival. They will work the Story District and STEM District convention floors, as well as assisting youth stages across the Festival as well as the workshops.

Read about highlights and fond memories from past festivals on the library’s Bookmarked Blog, and review full line-up and schedule to best plan your day. Need more info? Learn more at this link to Festival Information, including information about the Accessibility & Information station and ASL interpreting and CART services. We encourage you and your family to plan for an awesome celebration of the National Book Festival’s 25^th year. We’ll see you there!