(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 4:00pm on Saturday, October 19, 2024 (rain or shine) to meet visitors while selling and personally signing books.
Several authors will also read to audiences throughout the day including Mary Pope Osborne (Magic Tree House), Rachel Renée & Nikki Russell (Dork Diaries), authors of two beloved series that have captured the hearts of readers everywhere. Beth Ferry (A Moving Story), Alyssa Satin Capucilli (The Library Fish), Sophie Blackall (Stella & Marigold), Chris and J.J. Grabenstein (Mr. Lemoncello’s Library), Alan Katz (The Funniest Jokebook Ever), John P. Green (The Investigators), Beth Kalb (Buffalo Fluffalo), Lindsey Daly (Would You Rather), and Dave Roman (Unicorn Boy) will also host readings.
Local high school students will also read their winning Teen Writing Contest short stories and poems. Sponsored in memory of John and Marianne Gunzler, this year's contest theme was to write a true personal story about a single, meaningful event that led to revelation or change. The finalists are announced during Friday's Keynote Event.
KidFest has something for every young reader – favorite picture books, chapter books, middle grade, and YA offerings, hands-on crafts, and more. Kidfest runs from 10:30 am to 4 pm on the lawn of St. Peter’s Church, 70 Maple Avenue, in historic downtown Morristown. A full schedule and roster list can be found at morristownbooks.org/kidfest2024.
Morristown Festival of Books, New Jersey’s premier book festival, offers something for everyone. The event opens with the Keynote Event featuring Fareed Zakaria, host of CNN’s Fareed Zakaria GPS, journalist, and celebrated author, speaking about his latest New York Times best seller, Age of Revolutions: Progress and Backlash from 1600 to the Present with historian, documentary filmmaker, and author of American Reckoning, Jonathan Alter. The keynote will be held at the Mayo Performing Arts Center on Friday, October 18 and tickets are on sale at morristownbooks.org or by phone at 973-539-8008.
The all-day, free Main Festival on Saturday, October 19, features dozens of best-selling, critically acclaimed, and award-winning fiction, nonfiction, poetry, and children’s authors who will be speaking to audiences and signing their books. To see the complete author roster and to learn more, visit morristownbooks.org.
KidFest is generously sponsored by Atlantic Health System/Morristown Memorial Hospital. The Keynote event is generously co-sponsored by the Blanche and Irving Laurie Foundation and Delta Dental. J.P. Morgan is our Special Event sponsor. Proceeds from their annual fundraising Keynote Event and book sales throughout the Festival contribute to supporting literacy and education in thecommunity, this year through a partnership with Literacy Volunteers of Morris County and the Morris Educational Foundation. This revenue, along with the generosity of their sponsors, helps keep our 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.
