The Columbus Children’s Book Festival, voted by Muscogee Moms readers as one of the area’s premier family events, returns to the grounds of the Columbus Public Library on Macon Road on Saturday, September 17th, 2016. The event is free and open to the public - RAIN OR SHINE.
 
Tens of thousands have attended the previous three festivals featuring nationally known writers of children’s and teen books, as well as illustrators, entertainers, crafts and more.
 
This year’s Festival promises to be even bigger with well-known authors, illustrators and entertainers coming to town for free presentations and autograph sessions that are designed for the whole family. Books will be for sale, as will food, beverages and snacks.
 
Complete event information, including author and performer schedules can be found on the Chattahoochee Valley Libraries’ website www.cvlga.org. Interested parties may also contact the Library at 706-243-2669.
 
FEATURED AUTHORS AND ILLUSTRATORS

The featured authors and illustrators represent some of the most famous and most highly-regarded talent working in the field of children’s literature and entertainment, including:

· Author JON SCIESZKA, the legendary fan favorite author of such books as  The Stinky Cheese Man and other Fairly Stupid Tales, the Trucktown and Spaceheadz series, and the immortal classic The True Story of the Three Little Pigs. Mr. Scieszka was the first National Ambassador of Young People’s Literature and helped found the national reading program GUYS READ.

· The Queen of the Dorks herself, author RACHEL RENEE RUSSELL who first created Nikki Maxwell and the Dork Diaries series in 2009. The twelfth book in the series, Tales from a Not-So-Friendly Frenemy, will debut in October 2016. The books have sold over fifteen million copies worldwide and have been translated into 32 different languages. SPECIAL BONUS! Joining Ms. Russell will be her daughters ERIN & NIKKI RUSSELL, the inspirations for the original Dork Diaries who now help their mother run the Dork Empire.

· Living Legend NORTON JUSTER, whose classic Young Adult novel The Phantom Tollbooth first premiered in 1961. An architect and professor by trade, he also had a second career as an author of books for all ages, including The Dot and the Line: A Romance in Lower Mathematics, The Odious Ogre, and the Caldecott Medal-winningThe Hello, Goodbye Window.

· JOE CEPEDA, acclaimed international artist, illustrator and speaker. Mr. Cepeda, illustrator of 35+ children’s books including works authored by Toni Morrison, Elizabeth Swados and others, is known for his highly entertaining children’s programs and will be one of the big hits of our Festival.

· Banjo-plucking music guy MR. GREG will bring his MUSICAL MADNESS tour to the Festival stage. A “Parents Choice” award winner, his program can be seen nationwide on PBS affilitates.

· Galactic Quest Comic Books Herocats creators KYLE PUTTKAMMER and MARCUS WILLIAMS

· All Aboard! THOMAS THE TANK ENGINETM pulls into the station at the Columbus Children’s Book Festival. The Really Useful Engine will be available for photos with children and their families from 10:00am until 4:00pm.
 
ENTERTAINMENT AND OTHER EVENTS

Joining the Festivities will be entertainers such as Adam the Juggler, favorite magician Arthur Atsma, storyteller BabaTunde and an incredible puppet show with All Hands Productions. There will also be character greetings with some of your favorite book characters like Clifford the Big Red Dog, Madeline and the Berenstain Bear siblings throughout the day.
 
Additional activities during the event include Craft-O-Mania, a series of craft projects for children inspired by the Festival authors, and the Simple Steps Garden, an area of play, reading and crafts for babies, toddlers and the pre-schoolers.
 
SCHEDULE OF EVENTS

The Festival will run from 10:00am to 4:00pm on Saturday, September 17th. The event will happen rain or shine.
 
The Festival kicks off with an opening ceremony at 10:00am awarding area students who participated in the annual Children’s Book Festival Young Writer’s Contest.
 
The author’s appearances will be as follows. All authors will appear in the Festival Main Event Tent located on the front lawn of the Library, with autograph sessions immediately following their presentations:

            10:30am          MR. GREG’S MUSICAL MADNESS
            11:30am          JON SCIESZKA
            12:30pm          RACHEL RENEE RUSSELL
            1:30pm            NORTON JUSTER
            2:30pm            JOE CEPEDA
 
Galactic Quest Comics will have their own tent and will be meeting fans throughout the day.
 
FRIENDS OF LIBRARIES BOOKSTORE

One of the Libraries’ support groups, The Muscogee County Friends of Libraries, will be running the Festival Bookstore during the event. Books from all of the featured authors, plus additional works, will be on sale. This will be a prime opportunity to pick up books to be autographed by your favorite author. The Store will accept cash and Visa, MasterCard and Discover credit cards.