Children's Book Festivals and Fair 2024

Children's book festivals are super important! This is like big parties celebrating books and reading. 

These festivals aren't just for authors and super fans; they're for kids, families, and everyone who loves stories.

Here is a brief overview of the importance of children's book festivals, their impact on literacy and cultural exchange, and the purpose of the list:

Children's book festivals are vital to promoting literacy and cultural exchange among children and families. 

These festivals provide authors, illustrators, and publishers a platform to connect with readers and share their work. 

This also offers a unique opportunity for children to engage with books and authors, fostering a love of reading and writing.

Here's why these festivals matter:

• Make Reading Fun: You get to meet authors and illustrators, hear cool stories, and discover new books. It's like a big adventure for your imagination!
• Help You Learn: These festivals have workshops where you can learn to write and draw your own stories. It's not just about reading; it's about being creative too!
• Bring People Together: People from all over come to these festivals. You get to learn about different cultures and ideas from books and authors around the world.
• Support Communities: Festivals help local businesses and libraries. They make neighborhoods stronger and bring people closer.

Here is a list of children's book festivals happening around the world in 2024. It's like a guidebook for parents, teachers, and anyone who loves books. 

List of Children's Book Festivals Around the World.

Here is a comprehensive list of children's book festivals in 2024 around the world:

United States

That's a fantastic list of children's book festivals across the USA! You've found events from April all the way through November.

Here's the information formatted without descriptions or pictures:

Event Name	Date	Location	Link
Portland Book Festival	November 2, 2024	Portland, Oregon	https://literary-arts.org/about/programs/portland-book-festival/
Fay B. Kaigler Children's Book Festival	April 10-12, 2024	Hattiesburg, Mississippi	(link unavailable)
Mississippi Book Festival	September 14, 2024	Jackson, Mississippi	(link unavailable)
Unbound Book Festival	April 18-21, 2024	Columbia, Missouri	(link unavailable)
Montclair Literary Festival	April 27-May 4, 2024	Montclair, New Jersey	(link unavailable)
Morristown Festival of Books	October 18-19, 2024	Morristown, New Jersey	(link unavailable)
Princeton Children's Book Festival	October 5, 2024	Princeton, New Jersey	(link unavailable)
Santa Fe International Literary Festival	May 17-19, 2024	Santa Fe, New Mexico	(link unavailable)
Brooklyn Book Festival	September 29, 2024	Brooklyn, New York	https://brooklynbookfestival.org/
The Chappaqua Children's Book Festival	September 28, 2024	Chappaqua, New York	(link unavailable)
Gold Coast Book Fair	June 28-30, 2024	Oyster Bay, New York	(link unavailable)
Hudson Children's Book Festival	May 4, 2024	Hudson, New York	(link unavailable)
Rochester Children's Book Festival	November 2, 2024	Rochester, New York	(link unavailable)
Saratoga Book Festival	October 5-6, 2024	Saratoga Springs, New York	(link unavailable)
Woodstock Book Fest	March 21-24, 2024	Woodstock, New York	(link unavailable)
Bookmarks' Festival of Books and Authors	September 28, 2024	Winston-Salem, North Carolina	(link unavailable)
Movable Feast Weekend	January 27-28, 2024	Winston-Salem, North Carolina	(link unavailable)
Buckeye Book Fair	November 2, 2024	Wooster, Ohio	(link unavailable)
Columbus Book Festival	July 13-14, 2024	Columbus, Ohio	(link unavailable)
Ohioana Book Festival	April 20, 2024	Columbus, Ohio	(link unavailable)
Charleston Literary Festival	November 1-10, 2024	Charleston, South Carolina	(link unavailable)
Yallfest Book Festival	November 15-16, 2024	Charleston, South Carolina	(link unavailable)
South Dakota Festival of Books	September 20-22, 2024	Deadwood, South Dakota	(link unavailable)
Southern Festival of Books	October 26-27, 2024	Nashville, Tennessee	(link unavailable)
National Black Book Festival	October 17-19, 2024	Houston, Texas	https://nationalblackbookfestival.com/
San Antonio Book Festival	April 13, 2024	San Antonio, Texas	(link unavailable)
Texas Book Festival	November 16-17, 2024	Austin, Texas	https://texasbookfestival.org/

Singapore

1. Asian Festival of Children's Content - May 23-26, 2024, Singapore
   • This festival is primarily industry-facing and features speakers from various countries, including the Philippines, Malaysia, South Korea, Taiwan, the United Kingdom, and the United States.

Italy

1. Bologna Children's Book Fair - April 8-11, 2024, Bologna
   • This is the most important event worldwide for the exchange of publishing rights, with a focus on licensing and multimedia content for children and teenagers.

Other Countries

1. Liberfestival - January 5-8, 2024, Altamura, Italy
2. Nebbia Gialla Suzzara Noir Festival - February 9-11, 2024, Suzzara, Italy
3. Book Pride - March 8-10, 2024, Milan, Italy
4. Testo - February 23-25, 2024, Florence, Italy
5. Naples Città Libro - June 14-16, 2024, Naples, Italy
6. International Journalism Festival - April 17-21, 2024, Perugia, Italy
7. Turin International Book Fair - May 9-13, 2024, Turin, Italy

Please note that this list is not exhaustive, and there may be other children's book festivals happening in 2024 around the world.

What are the top children's book festivals in 2024?

Here are the top children's book festivals in 2024:

1. Partir en Livre - June 19 to July 21, 2024, Paris, France

   • A national celebration of books for young people, featuring writing and drawing competitions, exhibitions, meetings, and more.

2. Bologna Children's Book Fair - April 8-11, 2024, Bologna, Italy

   • A premier event for children's literature, showcasing books, authors, and illustrators from around the world.

3. Asian Festival of Children's Content - May 23-26, 2024, Singapore

   • A festival promoting children's literature and content, with author talks, workshops, and book signings.

4. Queen City Book Fair - May 18, 2024, Charlotte, North Carolina

   • A book festival for all book lovers, featuring author talks, book signings, and activities.

5. Carolina Mountains Literary Festival - September 5-7, 2024, Burnsville, North Carolina

   • A three-day festival celebrating literacy and the love of reading in the Southern Appalachian region.

6. Exeter Children's Literature Festival - Undated, Exeter, UK

   • A dynamic space for literary exploration, connecting children with authors and fostering a love for reading.

7. Manchester Children's Book Festival - Undated, Manchester, UK

   • Showcasing the richness of children's literature, providing a vibrant space for literary discovery and engagement.

8. Northern Children's Book Festival - Undated, North of England, UK

   • Bringing literature to life with author events and activities, fostering a reading culture in the North.

9. Scottish Friendly Children's Book Tour - Undated, Scotland, UK

   • Bringing authors directly to schools creates opportunities for students to interact with their literary heroes.

10. Hoo Kid's Book Festival - Undated, UK

    • Offering a unique platform for young readers, bringing together literature and fun activities to inspire a lifelong love for books.

These festivals have lots of fun things for kids to do with books and reading. There are author talks, workshops, competitions, and interactive sessions.

Which children's book festivals are held in major cities?

Here are the key children's book festivals held in major cities around the world:

1. Brooklyn Book Festival - September 29, 2024, Brooklyn, New York, USA

   • One of the largest free book festivals in the United States, featuring author talks, workshops, and book signings.

2. Bologna Children's Book Fair - April 8-11, 2024, Bologna, Italy

   • The premier event for children's literature, showcasing books, authors, and illustrators from around the world.

3. Asian Festival of Children's Content - May 23-26, 2024, Singapore

   • A festival promoting children's literature and content, with author talks, workshops, and book signings.

4. Queen City Book Fair - May 18, 2024, Charlotte, North Carolina, USA

   • A book festival for all book lovers, featuring author talks, book signings, and activities.

5. Tuttestorie Festival of Children's Literature - Undated, Cagliari, Italy

   • Over 6,000 kids come every day to celebrate the magic of stories at this carnival of literary delights.

6. FLIC (Festival of Literature and Arts for Children) - Undated, Barcelona, Spain

   • A festival with the manifesto "No child without culture", brings together children, authors, and book lovers.

7. FESTILIJ - Undated, Madrid, Spain

   • A vibrant, fun celebration of the best Spanish children's writers, illustrators, and educators.

8. FILBITA - Undated, Buenos Aires, Argentina

   • Argentina's flagship literary festival has its own special children's event spread across four days.

These festivals happen in big cities and have many activities and events to get kids excited about reading and books.

What are the best children's book festivals for families?

Here are some of the best children's book festivals for families:

1. Camp Bestival - Dorset, UK

   • An adventure-packed family festival with music, talks, kids' activities, crafts, superheroes, entertainers, magic, and more.

2. Edinburgh International Book Festival - Scotland, UK

   • The largest celebration of the written word in the world, with over 200 events for children, many of them free.

3. Bath Children's Literature Festival - UK

   • The biggest dedicated children's literature festival in Europe, packed with talks and workshops.

4. Brooklyn Book Festival - New York, USA

   • New York's largest free book festival, with a dedicated Children's Day, featuring author talks, workshops, and activities.

5. Sheboygan Children's Book Festival - Wisconsin, USA

   • A community festival with the theme "Out of This World", celebrates the power of books to transport kids to new places.

6. Tuttestorie Festival of Children's Literature - Cagliari, Italy

   • Over 6,000 kids come every day to celebrate the magic of stories at this carnival of literary delights.

7. FLIC (Festival of Literature and Arts for Children) - Barcelona, Spain

   • A festival with the manifesto "No child without culture", brings together children, authors, and book lovers.

8. Children's Book Festival of Johnstown - Pennsylvania, USA

   • A free, three-day festival with renowned children's authors and illustrators, activities, and entertainment to captivate families.

These festivals have many fun activities, author visits, and chances for families to find new books and enjoy children's stories. 

Which children's book festivals have the best food and entertainment options

Here are some of the children's book festivals that have the best food and entertainment options for families:

1. Camp Bestival - Dorset, UK

   • This adventure-packed family festival is "jam-packed with music, talks, kids' activities, crafts, superheroes, entertainers, magic and more!"

2. Edinburgh International Book Festival - Scotland, UK

   • In addition to over 200 events for children, the festival is set in a "tented village in the heart of Edinburgh", creating a vibrant atmosphere.

3. Brooklyn Book Festival - New York, USA

   • The Children's Day event at this "largest (and coolest!) free book festival" in New York features a lively celebration of kids' literature.

4. Sheboygan Children's Book Festival - Wisconsin, USA

   • This community festival has the theme "Out of This World", celebrating the power of books to transport kids to new places, with additional attractions like the Bookworm Gardens and Above & Beyond Children's Museum.

5. Tuttestorie Festival of Children's Literature - Cagliari, Italy

   • Over 6,000 kids come every day to this "carnival of literary delights" that brings together children, grown-ups, librarians, authors and book lovers of all kinds.

6. FLIC (Festival of Literature and Arts for Children) - Barcelona, Spain

   • This festival has a manifesto of "No child without culture", bringing together children, authors, and book lovers in a vibrant setting.

These festivals have many fun activities, shows, and experiences. It's not just about listening to authors and getting books signed. 

Are there any children's book festivals that offer workshops on writing and illustration

Yes, there are several children's book festivals that offer workshops on writing and illustration. Here are a few examples:

1. Gaithersburg Book Festival - This festival offers a workshop called "Create Your Own Out-of-This-World Graphic Novels" where children can learn to create comics and graphic novels through drawing, writing, and role-playing exercises.

2. Essex Book Festival - This festival offers a free writing workshop for people from underrepresented groups, focusing on the basics of writing for children.

3. Ubud Writers and Readers Festival - This festival offers a children's book writing workshop where young dreamers can learn to share their stories and nurture their literary talents.

4. Birmingham Literature Festival - This festival offers an online workshop on writing for children, led by children's novelist Maisie Chan.

These workshops help kids improve their creative writing and drawing skills. They also encourage a love for reading and storytelling.

Which children's book festivals have the most interactive activities?

Here are some of the children's book festivals that offer the most interactive activities:

1. Camp Bestival - Dorset, UK

   • This "adventure-packed family festival" is described as "jam-packed with music, talks, kids' activities, crafts, superheroes, entertainers, magic and more!"

2. Sheboygan Children's Book Festival - Wisconsin, USA

   • The festival has the theme "Out of This World", celebrating the power of books to transport kids to new places, and also features the Bookworm Gardens and Above & Beyond Children's Museum.

3. FLIC (Festival of Literature and Arts for Children) - Barcelona, Spain

   • This festival has a manifesto of "No child without culture", bringing together children, authors, and book lovers in a vibrant setting with interactive experiences.

4. Children's Book Festival of Johnstown - Pennsylvania, USA

   • The festival features a bookmark design contest for students, as well as author talks, workshops, and entertainment like magic, comedy, juggling, and puppetry to captivate children.

5. Brooklyn Book Festival - New York, USA

   • The festival's Children's Day event is described as a "lively celebration of kids' literature" with a range of engaging activities.

At these festivals, kids do more than just listen to authors or get books signed. They also get to do fun activities and explore the world of books and art. 

Which children's book festivals have the most famous authors and illustrators?

Here are some of the children's book festivals that have the most famous authors and illustrators:

1. Hudson Children's Book Festival - Hudson, New York, USA

   • This festival features over 75 authors and illustrators, including award-winning artists like John Parra and Angeli Rafer.

2. Brooklyn Book Festival - New York, USA

   • The festival includes renowned children's authors and illustrators like Alyssa Capucilli, Bob Shea, and Alicia Salazer, as well as other notable authors and illustrators.

3. Edinburgh International Book Festival - Scotland, UK

   • This festival is known for its diverse lineup of authors and illustrators, including many well-known names in children's literature.

4. Bath Children's Literature Festival - UK

   • This festival has a strong focus on children's literature and features many famous authors and illustrators, including some who have won prestigious awards.

5. Camp Bestival - Dorset, UK

   • This festival is a celebration of children's literature and features a range of authors and illustrators, including some well-known names in the industry.

These festivals give children a chance to meet and learn from famous authors and illustrators.

Which children's book festivals feature the best costume contests

The following children's book festivals feature costume contests:

1. BookFest PA - This festival has a yearly costume contest with three categories: best in show, best kids, and most creative. You can sign up for the contest between 1 p.m. and 1:30 p.m. at Schlow Library. The winners will be announced at 2 p.m.

2. Harvey Writer’s Group Black Child Book Fair - This festival has a costume contest. The contest details aren't clear, but it's listed as one of the activities at the fair.

These festivals offer a fun and engaging way for children to participate and showcase their creativity through costumes.