The Texas Book Festival is coming up on Saturday, Oct. 17 and Sunday, Oct. 18 with tons of free, family fun for kids of all ages! At this annual event, authors and book lovers take over the grounds of the Texas State Capitol to share the joy of reading. These two days are packed with hands-on kids activities, entertainment, food, book signings, story times, author sessions and a whole lot more. Plus, attending the fest is FREE!

There are three main kid-focused sections of the Book Festival: The children’s activity tent, the entertainment tent, and the “read me a story” tent.  Check out the schedule for family-friendly activities happening during the fest:

Saturday, Oct. 17:

–> Children’s Activity Tent:

• 10 a.m. – 12 p.m. — Austin Dog Alliance: Meet the Bow Wow Reading Dogs!
• 11 – 11:45 a.m. —  Storybook Character Fashion Show: Come dressed as your favorite storybook character and walk the runway!
• 1 – 2 p.m. —  TLA Presents 2x the Fun: Learn how to expand your child’s reading experiences with activities you can both share after reading award-winning 2×2 books!
• 2:30 – 3 p.m. —  Salina Yoon reads from Penguin’s Big Adventure. Introduced by Shannon Henzen’s 1st grade students of Forest Creek Elementary.

–> Children’s Entertainment Tent:

• 10 – 11 a.m. —  Magician Kent Cummins
• 11 a.m. – 12 p.m. —  Chicken’s Activity Hour with Janee Trasler
• 1 – 2 p.m. — Lucas Miller, The Singing Zoologist
• 2 – 3 p.m. — Joaquin Hancock, Family, and Friends
• 3:30 – 4 p.m. —  Boitumelo: Song and Stories of South Africa South
  

–> Children’s Read Me a Story Tent

• 10 – 10:30 a.m — Monica Brown reads from Maya’s Blanket/La manta de Maya. Introduced by Judi Thompson’s 5th grade students of Zilker Elementary.
• 10:30 – 11 a.m. — Xavier Garza reads from The Great and Mighty Nikko. Introduced by Monica Champion’s 3rd grade students of Becker Elementary.
• 11 – 11:30 a.m. —  Katheryn Russell-Brown reads from Little Melba and Her Big Trombone. Introduced by Ne’Leigh Hamilton’s Battle of the Books Team of Popham Elementary.
• 11:30 a.m. – 12 p.m.  — Bob Shea reads from Ballet Cat: The Totally Secret Secret. Introduced by Stacey Ross’ 2nd grade students of Casis Elementary.
• 12 – 1 p.m. — Meg Medina reads from Mango, Abuela, Me. Introduced by Martha LeBlanc’s 4th grade students of Blazier Elementary.
• 1 – 1:30 p.m. — Kevin Henkes reads from Waiting. Introduced by Stephanie Kayne’s 4th grade students of Brushy Creek Elementary.
• 1:30 – 2 p.m. — Joe Cepeda reads from Swing Sisters: The Story of The International Sweethearts of Rhythm. Introduced by Librarian Randi Sather’s Super Readers of Perez Elementary.
• 2 – 2:30 p.m. — Laurie Ann Thompson and Sean Qualls read from Emmanuel’s Dream: The True Story of Emmanuel Ofosu Yeboah. Introduced by Andrea Tanner’s Kindergarten Students of NYOS Charter School.
• 3- 3:30 p.m. — John Rocco and Todd Tarpley read from Beep! Beep! Go to Sleep! Introduced by Brennan Cruser’s 2nd Grade Students of Casis Elementary.
• 4 – 4:30 p.m. — Tad Carpenter reads from Arctic Animals (Who’s That?). Introduced by Melissa Garcia’s Pre-K Students of UT Elementary.
• 4:30 – 5 p.m. — Jonah Winter reads while illustrator Shane Evans presents drawings from Lillian’s Right to Vote: A Celebration of the Voting Right Act of 1965. Introduced by Samantha Gladwell’s 3rd Grade Students of NYOS Charter School.

Sunday, October 18:

–> Children’s Activity Tent:

• 11 a.m. – 12 p.m. — Austin Dog Alliance: Meet the Bow Wow Reading Dogs!
• 12 – 1 p.m. — Decorate Your Own Trick-or-Treat Bag with Do512Family.com (Come join us!)
• 1 – 2 p.m. — You’re Invited: An African Safari Invitation for Fun, Adventurous Children
  Based on the award-winning book, Tame Your Manners.
• 3 – 4 p.m.  — Zach Theatre

–> Children’s Entertainment Tent

• 11 a.m. – 12 p.m. —  Hand to Mouth Puppet Theatre
• 12 – 1 p.m. —  The Telephone Company
• 1 – 2 p.m. — Bernadette Nason
• 2 – 3 p.m. — Zach Theatre
• 4 – 5 p.m. —  Inside Out Steelband

–> Children’s Read Me a Story Tent

• 11 – 11:30 a.m. — Patricia Vermillion reads from Hound Dawg. Introduced by Tracie Johnson’s 1st Grade Students of Old Town Elementary.
• 11:30 a.m. – 12 p.m. — Jared Chapman reads from Vegetables in Underwear. Introduced by Elexa Antweil’s 2nd Grade Students of Casis Elementary.
• 12 – 12:30 p.m. — Phil Bildner reads from Marvelous Cornelius: Hurricane Katrina and the Spirit of New Orleans. Introduced by Librarian Christina Nelson and Students of Odom Elementary.
• 12:30 – 1 p.m. — Raúl Colón reads from Draw!. Introduced by Andrea McIllwain’s PreK Students of Blanton Elementary.
• 1-2 p.m. — Emma J. Virján reads from What This Story Needs Is A Pig in a Wig. Introduced by Angela Holcek’s 2nd Grade Students of England Elementary.
• 1:30 p.m. – 1:30 p.m. —  Young Writers Award
• 2 – 2:30 p.m. —  Raul Gonzales III reads from Lowriders in Space (Book 1). Introduced by Laura Adams’ 4th grade students of Galindo Elementary.
• 2:30 – 3 p.m. — Author Jennifer Rustgi and illustrator Ashley White read from A Moon of My Own. Introduced by Mindy Bass’ 1st grade students of Gullett Elementary.
• 3 – 3:30 p.m. — Joel Nakamura reads from Go West!. Introduced by Lauren Berrong’s 2nd grade students of Galindo Elementary.
• 3:30 – 4 p.m. — Don Tate and Chris Barton read from The Amazing Age of John Roy Lynch. Introduced by Noelle McBride’s 2nd grade students of Brushy Creek Elementary.
• 4 – 4:30 p.m. —  Andy Cotton reads from A Puppy’s Tale. Introduced by Sharon Marroquin’s 1st grade students of Becker Elementary.
  

–> Where’s Waldo Scavenger Hunt
Kids can pick up a Where’s Waldo scavenger hunt checklist in the Children’s Activity Tent any time during the Festival. They’ll be able to seek large Waldo cut-outs scattered throughout the Festival grounds. All participants get a sticker when they finish and will have their names entered to win a Waldo deluxe prize pack.

–> Notable children’s sessions:

• This is a Very Fortunate Panel with Lemony Snicket
  Saturday, 11 a.m.- 12 p.m. at Paramount Theatre (713 Congress Ave)
  Lemony Snicket?! In the flesh?! Without a curtain or a veil or a mask?! Join the mysterious author as he talks about the conclusion of the series, why the number 13 is so important, and whether or not Daniel Handler is a real person.

• The Nuts: Sing and Dance in your Polka-Dot Pants
  Saturday, 12:30- 1:30 p.m. in Capitol Auditorium Room E1.004From Eric Litwin, the author who brought us Pete the Cat: I Love My White Shoes! comes another amazing story about singing and dancing. With the book’s call-and-response rhymes you won’t be able to stay in your seat. And you won’t have to: this is a full musical performance.

• Embrace Your Inner Weird
  Saturday, 1- 1:45 p.m. in Capitol Extension Room E2.014
  Are you part dinosaur? Do you have a tail? Do you enjoy wrangling armadillos? Maybe not, but Sawyer the dinosaur boy and Calpurnia Tate have a lot of weird qualities that make them special, and so do you! Catch Cory Putman Oakes and Jacqueline Kelly as they discuss their weird but super cool characters and celebrate what makes you unique!

• The Success of Timmy Failure
  Saturday, 2- 3:15 p.m. in Capitol Auditorium Room E1.004
  He’s the best detective around! Well, sort of. His polar bear assistant is very adept . . . at eating bon bons. Together the dynamic duo are Total Failure and they are here to save the day! Although saving the day comes about in ways no one would expect, one can’t help but admire Timmy for his determination and drive. Disclaimer: this was not typed by Timmy Failure or any of his associates. Join Stephan Pastis as he discusses the highs and lows of Timmy’s detective career.

• Mixed Me! with Taye Diggs and Shane Evans
  Saturday, 2:30- 3:15 p.m. in the House Chamber
  A session for the whole family to learn about the power of diversity, love, and self-confidence in the upbeat children’s book Mixed Me! written by stage and screen star Taye Diggs and illustrator Shane Evans.

• Mac Barnett Pranksters Workshop
  Sunday, 1- 2 p.m. in the Stateside Theatre
  Want to pull off the best prank, one your friends couldn’t dream of? Attend this one-of-a-kind event hosted by bestselling author Mac Barnett as he inducts you The Secret Order of Disorder as featured in the bestselling book series The Terrible Two, which he wrote with his buddy and pal Jory John.

• Watch Out for Flying Kids!
  Sunday, 4:15- 5 p.m. in Capitol Extension Room E2.026
  In her latest nonfiction book, Cynthia Levinson shows how children change their world through circus arts–one acrobat, tumbler and flyer at a time. Watch as black kids and white, Israeli Arabs and Jews, overcome political, personal and physical obstacles.

–> Getting Around the Festival
The Texas Book Festival website has plenty of information including events for grown-ups, where to park, a festival grounds map, food vendors and more.

Go have a great time!