Book-loving kids, from tots to teens, will find their bliss at the free Pittsburgh Festival of Books
Photo above by Aaron Burden used by permission via Unsplash.
The launch of the free Pittsburgh Festival of Books includes luminaries like Billy Porter. Bestselling authors Nathaniel Philbrick, Jan Beatty and Sharon Flake number among the lineup of 40-plus novelists, poets and nonfiction writers.
Great stuff for grownups, but what about kids who love to read?
No worries! The May 14th festival plans a full day for kids to stoke and sustain their excitement about reading books.
“Reading is an escape for kids,” says Laurie Moser, co-chair of the festival. “It can take them on an adventure. It can introduce them to people different from themselves. And sometimes they can even find themselves in a story. Not a bad reason to read.”
The Maverick Hotel hosts cool events like the Pittsburgh Puppet Works show featuring winning stories from WQED’s 2022 Writers Contest. They’ll get their giggles on with the Biggest Bedtime Story, presented by Fred Rogers Productions. Kids in optional PJs will enjoy cookies and milk and receive all the other bedtime necessities: books, toothpaste and toothbrushes.
Hands-on activities are on the schedule as well at the Maverick. Try out a Braille machine and antique printing press or jump into the table activities organized by organizations like The Education Partnership, Duolingo, the Children’s Museum and Boys and Girls Clubs of Western Pennsylvania.
Kids will adore a morning of storytimes at Carnegie Library of Pittsburgh-East Liberty with titles that range from “The Listening Tree” and “Mommy Can’t See Me” to “The Life I’m In” and ”Snow Struck.”
Tweens and teens receive their due at CLP-East Liberty, too, with readings and discussions with YA authors Nick Courage, Sharon Flake and Jonathan Auxier. They are certain to get excited about the CHUTZ-POW! Authors + Educators Panel and the iGeneration Youth Workshops.
But that’s not all that’s happening. Browse the complete lineup for kids. Registration is required for some activities, but all are free.
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