Children's Book Fair & Festival

What a success the 14th annual Dallas Children's Book Fair & Literary Festival turned out to be. "Opening Minds by Opening Books" was the theme of this year's festival held at the beautiful J. Erik Jonsson Central Library. Sponsored by the African-American Museum in Dallas and numerous other sponsors, the event attracted around 4,000 school children, teachers, and parents.

Nineteen children's book authors and illustrators, including myself, participated in readings, presentations, and author panels during the two-day event. What a delight watching so many children soaking up the stories relayed to them by the "real" authors of the books or mesmerized by the illustrations drawn by the artists standing before them. It was great fun interacting with the children.

There was such diversity among the authors and illustrators who came in from all over the country. Click here to view: http://www.dallaschildrensbookfair.org/author.htm. It was a splendid opportunity to catch up with old friends and make new ones.

Pictured above (left to right) are authors: Eleanora Tate, Freddi Williams Evans, and Lupe Ruiz-Flores.