Four of our nation's most beloved authors and illustrators will be coming to Columbus... and they would like to say hello to YOU!
The Columbus Children's Book Festival returns to the Columbus Public Library on Saturday May 11th from 10:00am to 3:00pm, and this year we are thrilled to have these four talented individuals as our featured guests.
You'll have a chance to meet them during the Festival which will feature other great activities like Craft-o-mania, fabulous entertainers and costumed characters, the Festival Bookstore where you can purchase our authors' books for autographs, and more.
Best of all - admission is FREE!
Mark those calendars now, and our authors will see you May 11th!
VASHTI HARRISON is a celebrated writer, illustrator, and filmmaker. Winner of the 2024 Caldecott Medal for her picture book BIG, she is the first Black woman to ever receive this esteemed award in its 85-year history. A powerful and emotional tale of self-love and instant New York Times bestseller, BIG was also selected for Coretta Scott King Honors in both writing and illustration. Harrison is the creator of Little Leaders, Little Dreamers, and Little Legends, the #1 New York Times bestselling children’s collection of biographies about trailblazing women and exceptional men in black history.
Harrison’s artistic talent shines through in the numerous and notable collaborations she has illustrated, including Andrea Beaty’s I Love You Like Yellow, Matthew Cherry’s Hair Love, and Stephanie V.W. Lucianovic’s Hello, Star. Harrison’s dedication and talent have been recognized with prestigious accolades, including a Coretta Scott King Illustrator Honor for Lupita Nyong’o’s Sulwe, as well as two NAACP Image Awards for Outstanding Literary Work for Children.
Ms. Harrison will be available to meet her fans and to sign autographs from 11:00am to 11:45am and from 1:00pm to 1:45pm.
MATT DE LA PEÑA is the New York Times Bestselling, Newbery Medal-winning author of seven young adult novels (including Mexican WhiteBoy, We Were Here, and Superman: Dawnbreaker) and six picture books (including Milo Imagines the World and Last Stop on Market Street). In 2016 he was awarded the NCTE Intellectual Freedom Award. Matt received his MFA in creative writing from San Diego State University and his BA from the University of the Pacific where he attended school on a full basketball scholarship. In 2019 Matt was given an honorary doctorate from UOP. de la Peña currently lives in Southern California. He teaches creative writing and visits schools and colleges throughout the country.
Mr. de la Peña will be available to meet his fans and sign autographs from 10:45am to 11:30am and from 12:45pm to 1:30pm.
ALYSSA SATIN CAPUCILLI is the award-winning author of over 100 books including the best-selling BISCUIT series which has now has over 46 million copies in print (!) and is currently touring as a musical production across the US. Her other work includes the Katy Duck series, picture books and poetry, as well as the non-fiction My First series used for writing “how-to” books with our youngest writers.
Ms. Capucilli will be available to meet her fans and sign autographs from 10:30am to 11:15am and from 12:30pm to 1:15pm.
R. GREGORY CHRISTIE is an award-winning children’s book illustrator and lecturer with a long track record of creating inspiring art. Selected collaborations include projects with Regina King, Karyn Parsons, Joe Sample, and the estates of Bill Withers, and John Coltrane.
His accolades include a nomination for the Astrid Lindgren Memorial Award, a Caldecott Honor, an NAACP Image Award, and six Coretta Scott King Honor Awards. In 2013, he designed the Kwanzaa Stamp for the United States Postal Service, the New Orleans Jazz Festival poster, and had art featured on New York City's subway cars for a year. He has been a guest speaker at conferences and libraries and teaches after school art programs all over the planet.
CARTOONING WITH R. GREGORY CHRISTIE! Mr. Christie will lead a special cartooning workshop for all ages from 1:30pm to 2:30pm.
Mr. Christie will also be available to meet his fans and sign autographs from 11:15am to 12noon.