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  If You Go 

 

Who: Open to the public
What: Children's Book Festival
When: Saturday, Nov. 9, 10 a.m. - 5 p.m.
Where: Boulder Public Library, 1001 Arapahoe Ave.

The University of Colorado Boulder School of Education, in collaboration with the Boulder Book Store, is thrilled to announce the 6th Annual Children’s Book Festival, taking place on Saturday, Nov. 9. For the first time, the event will be hosted off campus, at the Boulder Public Library to make it more accessible to the community.

The free event runs from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., and it welcomes teachers, children, families, librarians and “all who enjoy children’s literature.” Attendees can engage in author talks, a panel discussion for educators, exhibit tables, book sales and signings and various activities for children.

This year’s festival highlights an exciting lineup of authors and illustrators, including:

• Brittany Cicchese – Illustrator of No More Señora Mimi / No más señora Mimí (Picturebook)
• Jenny Sue Kostecki-Shaw – Author/Illustrator of Like You, Like Me (Picturebook)
• Julie Leung – Author of Mr. Pei's Perfect Shapes: The Story of Architect I.M. Pei (Picturebook)
• Chris Grabenstein – Author of Mr. Lemoncello's Fantabulous Finale (Chapter Book)
• Amalie Howard – Author of Bumps in the Night (Chapter Book)
• Craig Kofi Farmer – Author of Kwame Crashes the Underworld (Chapter Book)

Enhancing accessibility and community engagement

Adam Crawley, associate teaching professor in the School of Education and festival director, said the event’s in-person format this year honors a partnership with the Boulder Public Library. 

“Having the event in-person, on Saturday and at the library makes the event—and the culturally diverse, award-winning authors and illustrators themselves—more accessible to the greater public,” he said.

This year, the festival also collaborates with the "I Have a Dream Foundation," which will facilitate book donations and participation from local groups.

“A hallmark of the festival each year is the inclusion of authors, illustrators and books that reflect the cultural diversity of the Boulder community and beyond — providing representations that might be ‘mirrors’ for some audiences and ‘windows’ for others," Crawley added, referring to a concept originally articulated by scholar Rudine Sims Bishop in the 1990s in which “mirrors” allow children to see themselves being reflected in stories and “windows” provide readers insight in worlds they have not experienced.

“Mirrors” in this year’s literature

A local parent reflected on the festival's lineup of literature with excitement about Julie Leung’s book about I.M. Pei, who designed Boulder’s iconic National Center for Atmospheric Research. 

“Growing up here in the '80s, I.M. Pei and the NCAR building was a huge touchstone for me as a child,” she said. “My father would always point it out with pride that an Asian American designed it, and it was hugely important for me as a kid to have that role model when there were so few Asian people here in Boulder. 

“I'm excited that my own kid will get to learn a bit more about him through Julie Leung's book.”

Educational opportunities

For families, the event aims to foster a love of reading for children through opportunities to meet authors, participate in storytimes and engage in creative activities led by CU Boulder students and library staff. 

Teachers and librarians can earn Continuing Education Units (CEUs) by attending the festival, and CU Boulder education students have also developed educational resources linked to the Colorado Academic Standards to support educators.

Attendees can purchase books and participate in signings, and the Boulder Bookstore will contribute 20% of book sales to the 2025 festival, further supporting the community initiative.

Impact on local schools

On the Friday before the public festival, authors and illustrators will visit local schools, engage with students and donate books—compliments of the festival which received support from the CU Boulder Office for Public and Community Engaged Scholarship. 

These visits will impact several schools across five districts, including Boulder Valley, St. Vrain Valley, Adams 12, Adams 14 and Strasburg, reaching approximately 525 students, plus their teachers, staff, parents and more.

Each participating school will receive around 80 donated books, extending the festival's mission to promote literacy and enrich educational experiences.

Learn more and register

The 6th Annual Children’s Book Festival promises to be an enriching experience for the community, bringing together diverse voices in children's literature and promoting a love of reading. 

To learn more and register, visit the Children’s Book Festival website.