Author Ame Dyckman
(MORRISTOWN, NJ) -- The ever-popular Morristown Festival of Books' KidFest, an event for young readers within the larger festival, will feature dozens of outstanding children's authors and illustrators who will be present from 10:30am to 4:30pm on Saturday, October 11, 2025 (rain or shine) to meet visitors while selling and personally signing books.
Many authors will also read to audiences throughout the day, including Victoria Kann (Pinkalicious), Patrick McDonnell (Mutts), Rosemary Wells (Sharing, Max & Ruby), Beth Ferry (The Snowball Fight), Sarah Mlynowski (Whatever After), Jacky Davis & David Soman (Elvis & Romeo), David Ezra Stein (Interrupting Chicken), Josh Funk (Lady Pancake & Sir French Toast), Colleen AF Venable (Junie B. Jones), Mike Ciccotello (Leonard Builds a Haunted House), and Jay Cooper (The Last Comics on Earth).
Local high school students will also read their winning Teen Writing Contest entries, sponsored in memory of John and Marianne Gunzler with additional support from Justice Stewart Pollock. This year’s contest featured three categories: short fiction, poetry, and nonfiction, with prompts including Red for fiction and poetry, and personal narratives of change for nonfiction. The finalists are announced during Friday's Keynote Event.
KidFest has something for every young reader—from favorite picture books and chapter books to middle grade stories, hands-on crafts, and, new this year, a Passport to Reading, with fun incentives throughout the day. KidFest runs from 10:30am to 4:30pm on the lawn of St. Peter’s Church (70 Maple Avenue) in historic downtown Morristown, with select readings at The Presbyterian Church in Morristown, Parish House (65 South Street). A full schedule and roster list can be found at morristownbooks.org.
Morristown Festival of Books, New Jersey’s premier book festival, offers something for everyone. The event opens with the Keynote Event featuring two-time Pulitzer Prize winner and master historian Rick Atkinson, discussing his latest book, The Fate of the Day: The War for America, Fort Ticonderoga to Charleston, 1777-1780, which debuted as the #1 New York Times nonfiction bestseller. The keynote will be held at the Mayo Performing Arts Center on Friday, October 10th and tickets are on sale at morristownbooks.org or by phone at 973-539-8008.
The all-day, free Main Festival on Saturday, October 11th, features dozens of bestselling, critically acclaimed, and award-winning authors of fiction and nonfiction, including history, sports, poetry, and more, who will be speaking to audiences and signing their books. To see the complete author roster and to learn more, visit morristownbooks.org.
The Morristown Festival of Books is generously sponsored by The Family Wealth Group at Morgan Stanley Private Wealth Management. Their Keynote Event is co-sponsored by Delta Dental and the Blanche and Irving Laurie Foundation, as well as Special Event Sponsor Valley Bank. KidFest is generously sponsored by Atlantic Health System/Morristown Medical Center. Proceeds from their annual fundraising Keynote Event and book sales throughout the Festival contribute to supporting literacy and education in the community. This revenue, along with the generosity of our sponsors, helps keep their Saturday book festival free and open to all.
Morristown Festival of Books is a fund of the Community Foundation of New Jersey, a non-profit corporation.
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