Library of Congress

National Book Festival

“A Book That Shaped Me” Writing Contest Awards Presentation
Sunday, September 23, 2012, National Mall, Washington, D.C.

The “A Book That Shaped Me” summer writing contest co-presented by the Library of Congress and DC Public Library encourages rising 5th & 6th graders to reflect on a book that has made a personal impact on their lives. The contest is administered as part of the DC Public Library 2012 summer reading program themed “Dream Big – Read!” and top winners will be honored at the Library of Congress National Book Festival in September on the National Mall. The awards presentation will feature children’s author and KidsPost sportswriter Fred Bowen.

Read more about the event

2012 Summer Reading Event: Marc Nobelman
Wednesday, July 25, 2012, 1 p.m., Tenley-Friendship Neighborhood Library, Washington, D.C.

Marc Nobleman, author of more than 70 children's books, will talk to kids about his most recent book, Bill, the Boy Wonder: The Secret Co-Creator of Batman. Marc will also share what books shaped him as a child and the influences in his life that helped him to become a successful writer. He will encourage audience members to take part in the “A Book That Shaped Me” Summer Writing contest presented by the Library of Congress and DC Public Library.

Tenley-Friendship Neighborhood Library
More about the event

Children's Book Week: Walter Dean Myers
Friday, May 11, 2012, 11 a.m., Coolidge Auditorium, Library of Congress

Walter Dean Myers, the National Ambassador for Young People's Literature 2012-2013 and a renowned author of books for young people, told stories, read from his books and talked with members of the audience in a program that marked the Library’s celebration of Children’s Book Week. The program was supported by the Jonah S. Eskin Memorial Fund and marked the launch of the 2012 DC Public Library Summer Reading Program, Dream Big - Read! Over 550 students were in attendance representing eight DC Collaborative for Change (DC3) schools, Deal Middle School, Capitol Hill Day School, and Thurgood Marshall Middle School.

Read more about the event
Read more about the DC Summer Reading Program

2011 Bookend Event: “Let’s Travel the World Through Books”
Friday, June 3, 2011, 10:30 a.m., Pickford Theater, Library of Congress

The summer reading kickoff featured National Football League linebacker Chris Draft — the author of “Do You Want to Play Catch” and a big fan of reading out loud — master storyteller Diane Macklin, and the student steel drum band from Elsie Whitlow Stokes Community Freedom Public Charter School. Readers in grades 3-5 from around the Washington area gathered at the Library for this morning of fun and reading.

2011 Event: “The Joys of Reading Aloud,”
Saturday, Feb. 26, 2011, 11 a.m., Young Reader's Center, Library of Congress

Library of Congress and Reading Is Fundamental celebrated the importance of reading aloud at a kick-off event in the Young Readers Center in the historic Thomas Jefferson Building. Children and their families listened to author Gloria Jean Pinkney read “Mirandy and Brother Wind,” illustrated by her husband Jerry Pinkney and written by Patricia McKissack.

To view PDFs Acrobat Reader