Are you coming to the National Book Festival this weekend? If you are near the National Mall in Washington, D.C., on September 24 and 25, we hope you’ll join the Library of Congress at this national celebration of books and reading. Over 100 authors will be in attendance, including such greats as Carmen Agra Deedy, Calef Brown, and Katherine Paterson, reading from their works and discussing how they create their stories. The Festival is a great opportunity for teachers and students to explore the creative process and rediscover the joy of reading. If you go to the National Book Festival website, you can find the schedule of events, the list of authors, and when they will be signing their books.
But you don’t have to come to Washington to bring the National Book Festival to your students. The Book Festival’s Kids and Teachers site is the key to enjoying the Book Festival experience no matter where you are. Check out interviews with your favorite authors, watch great readings from previous festivals, introduce your students to online activities, and pick up tips on how to create your own book festival in your classroom. Once the festival is over, you can even share your experiences with teachers and students from around the nation.
How will you use the resources from the Kids and Teachers site with your students? Let us know in the comments and we’ll share your ideas in a future edition of the blog. And if you do make it to the National Mall, tell us about your favorite Book Festival moment.