KThe 14th annual AJC Decatur Book Festival took place August 30–September 1 in Decatur, Ga. The festival brought together more than 250 authors, including a number of children’s and YA writers, for panels, readings, signings, and more. We’ve gathered a selection of photo highlights from the event.
Ryan T. Higgins, author-illustrator of the Mother Bruce picture book series, gets ready to march in the Children’s Parade with young readers. Participants were invited to bring their favorite teddy bears, and Higgins presented his new book, Bruce’s Big Storm, at the festival.
Pete the Cat creator James Dean (front row, r.) led the festival’s opening parade with music and fanfare. In his 13th picture book outing, Pete the Cat and the Perfect Pizza Party, the blue feline learns a thing or two about compromise.
A family takes advantage of the sunshine by reading outside.
On August 30, the Decatur Book Festival hosted its own version of a graphic novel convention. The sold-out DBF Kidnote Graphix Con featured activity stations where kids could draw and storyboard their own graphic novels. The featured keynoters (from l.) were Tui T. Sutherland (Wings of Fire series), Ru Xu (NewsPrints series), Kristen Gudsnuk (Making Friends series), and Matthew Holm (Baby Mouse; Sunny).
A view of the crowd at the DBF Kidnote.
U.S. Supreme Court Justice Sonia Sotomayor presented her new picture book, Just Ask!: Be Different, Be Brave, Be You, illustrated by Rafael López, celebrating children of all abilities. Photo: John Amis, AP.
The “Whole New World” panel with (from l.) Aisha Saeed (Aladdin: Far from Agrabah, J.C. Cervantes (the Storm Runner series), and Roshani Chokshi (the Pandava Quartet) offered insight on the authors’ approaches to world-building.
Festivalgoers browse the bookshelves.
(From l.): Fellow 2019 middle grade debut authors Gillian McDunn (Caterpillar Summer), Jess Redman (The Miraculous), and Mariama Lockington (For Black Girls Like Me).
Dog Man hugs his fans.
Katherine Arden (Dead Voices) (l.) and Victoria Schwab (Tunnel of Bones) appeared on the “These Stories Might Scare You” panel about creepy tales for young readers. Decatur was the first stop on Schwab's national tour for Tunnel of Bones, sequel to City of Ghosts.
Kids show off their graphic novels.
