National Book Festival 2010

Rebecca Stead signs my friend's poster.

Close-up on Rebecca.

PBS Kids had their own stars on display.

I posed with Superwhy for my boys.

Mem Fox speaking.

I know you're probably wondering, Where is Suzanne Collins?  Here's the story: we arrived late, so we missed her presentation!  So we hurried over to the book signing line where we were told that the line had been forming since 8:30 am and we shouldn't bother jumping in at this point.  Bummer!  Oh well, we still had a great time!

Here are authors we heard speak: Rebecca Stead, Jane Smiley, Margarita Engle, M.T. Anderson, and Mem Fox.   Katherine Paterson spoke at 4, but we didn't wait around to hear her.  Did I mention it was nearly 90 degrees, and everything was outside?  Instead, we cooled down at the fountain in the middle of the National Gallery of Art Sculpture Garden (we sat on the edge and stuck our feet in!) and then enjoyed the Smithsonian National Museum of American History.

The fabulous fountain in the middle of the Sculpture Garden.

Martha Washington's dress at Smithsonian.

Heather

2010 National Book Festival

The 10th annual National Book Festival! 

Organized and sponsored by the Library of Congress

Saturday, Sept. 25, 2010

National Mall in Washington, D.C. 

10 a.m. to 5:30 p.m.  

Book Festival participants include:

Suzanne Collins (The Hunger Games, Catching Fire, Mockingjay)

Mem Fox (Koala Lou, Possum Magic, Ten Little Fingers and Ten Little Toes)

Linda Sue Park (A Single Shard, Project Mulberry, The 39 Clues, Book 9: Storm Warning)

Katherine Paterson (Bridge to Terabithia, Jacob Have I Loved, The Great Gilly Hopkins, Park's Quest)

View the entire list of author participants here.  The website says they are still adding new authors.

I attended this wonderful Book Festival in 2005 when I was an English teacher in Northern Virginia.  My co-worker/friend and I listened to Meg Cabot and Sharon Creech give delightful presentations.  Meg Cabot was hysterical.  We were also able to get signatures from Meg Cabot.  (P.S. This was before I read Ready or Not (worst. book. ever.) and when all I knew of her was The Princess Diaries and All-American Girl.)

Meg Cabot signs my book (All-American Girl--one of the funniest books I've read).

Have you been before?  Will you go this year?  I'm soooo excited to hear Suzanne Collins speak!

Heather