By JOHN Y. COLE
Each year since the National Book Festival’s inception in 2001, the Center for the Book has developed, coordinated and overseen the nomination and participation of the festival’s guest authors, illustrators and poets. The center also organizes and manages the popular Pavilion of the States and is an active participant in the Let’s Read America pavilions.
In turn, the National Book Festival helps the center further its own mission of stimulating public interest in books, reading, literacy and libraries. For example, authors who take part in the festival often participate in the Center’s Books & Beyond author series, which is held at the Library of Congress throughout the year.
There are other mutual benefits. More than 30 state center for the book coordinators, several state center advisory board members and six of its national reading promotion partners participated in the 2008 festival. In partnership with Target (a Distinguished Benefactor of the book festival), the center sponsors the Letters About Literature reading and writing promotion program for young people. The program was promoted at the 2008 festival by the center in the Pavilion of the States and by Target in the Let’s Read America pavilion. Another Center for the Book reading promotion project for young people, featured in the Teens & Children’s pavilion, was the River of Words environmental art and poetry project. (See Information Bulletin, June 2008.)
Authors, Illustrators and Poets
The 2008 National Book Festival featured 71 authors, illustrators and poets. Participants are nominated and supported by their publishers, with a high priority to nationally known and award-winning nominees. Individual presentations and book-signings, which bring readers together with their favorite authors, are the heart of the National Book Festival experience.
More than 450 presentations by authors, illustrators and poets at the first eight National Book Festivals may be seen and heard on the Library’s Web site at www.loc.gov/webcasts/. Taken as a whole, these presentations provide a snapshot of the remarkable talent and diversity of contemporary writers and writing in the first decade of the 21st century.
Pavilion of the States
Visitors of all ages flocked to the Pavilion of the States to learn about the reading and literacy projects and the literary traditions of all 50 states, the District of Columbia and the territories of American Samoa, Guam, Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands.
Especially popular with young readers was “Discover Great Places Through Reading,” a free map of the United States that could be presented at each table for an appropriate state sticker or stamp. On the back of the map, a list of “52 Great Reads About Great Places” highlighted books for young people chosen by representatives from all 50 states, the District of Columbia and the U.S. Virgin Islands.
The Center for the Book was joined in the pavilion by representatives from four of its national reading promotion partners: the Institute of Museum and Library Services, a festival patron that sponsored the pavilion itself and the participation of most of the state participants; the National Endowment for the Humanities, which sponsored the participation of the nine state centers hosted by state humanities councils; the American Library Association, a frequent project co-sponsor; and the Junior League of Washington, which provided approximately 400 volunteers for the 2008 festival, including more than 40 in the Pavilion of the States.
Two other Center for the Book reading promotion partners were part of the 2008 festival: the National Endowment for the Arts, a festival patron that sponsored the Poetry pavilion; and the National Basketball/Women’s National Basketball Association’s “Read to Achieve” program, which was featured in the Children’s Pavilion.
Seven festival authors and illustrators made scheduled visits to their state tables to sign autographs and to greet and be photographed with their friends and fans. They were Tiki Barber (Virginia), Joseph Bruchac (New York), Maria de los Santos (Delaware), Katherine Paterson (Vermont), Jon Scieszka (Michigan), Michelle Singletary (Maryland) and Gordon S. Wood (Rhode Island).
Librarian of Congress James H. Billington visited the Pavilion of the States, making a special visit to the table where congressional wives were selling “The Congressional Club Cookbook.” He also appeared at the following state tables: New Hampshire, Michigan, Montana, Nevada and Vermont, as well as American Samoa and the U.S. Virgin Islands. Wally Amos, the chairman of the Read it Loud! Foundation and a festival guest of the Center for the Book, visited the table of his home state of Hawaii.
Let’s Read America Pavilions
Reading promotion activities sponsored by the festival’s corporate sponsors were presented in the two Let’s Read America pavilions. Festival-goers enjoyed having their pictures taken with Bullseye, the Target dog, and having their own photos taken in Target’s Big Read Chair.
Other contributors whose reading programs were featured were AT&T, the Library of Congress Federal Credit Union, PBS Kids and PBS Kids Go!, Penguin Group (USA), Scholastic Inc. and U.S. Airways. Activities included individual and group reading demonstrations and appearances by beloved cartoon and storybook characters. Once again, children were encouraged to climb abroad Scholastic’s Magic School Bus to meet Ms. Frizzle, the science teacher, and Dirtmeister, geologist extraordinaire.
John Y. Cole is director of the Center for the Book and author coordinator for the National Book Festival.