ASHLAND – Once Upon A BookFest… A Clocktown Festival For The Young At Heart, is being planned by the Ashland Public Library and the Friends of the Ashland Library. The Festival will be held at the Ashland Public Library, 66 Front St, on Saturday, March 25th 2023, from 10am – 4pm and will, once again, celebrate children’s books, authors, and readers ranging from Picture Books to Chapter Books and Comics for kids aged 5-12 and their families, educators, and librarians.
The library will be hosting authors and illustrators including RW & Zoë Alley, Janet Costa Bates, Diane DeGroat, Jannie Ho, Renee Kurilla, Braden Lamb & Shelli Paroline, Rajani LaRocca, Nancy Tupper Ling, Gabriel Joy Reid, and Heidi EY Stemple at the Second Annual Once Upon A BookFest Children’s Book Festival!
The Book Festival will include a day full of hands-on workshops, discussion groups where kids (of all ages) can ask their burning questions, book selling and signing, and more! Aesop’s Fable, will be the bookseller on site. Brochures and maps will be available at the event to help attendees navigate the programs and signings.
“We are very happy to once again bring Bookfest to Ashland and provide an opportunity for local families to interact with a diverse selection of authors and illustrators. At this free day- long event, children can participate in workshops and ask questions about the creative process and learn about various cultures represented in stories and illustrations. The event will reinforce the value of reading, inspire children to write and/or illustrate their own stories, and create a greater awareness of resources available at the Library.” said Bonnie Mitchell of the Arts!Ashland Alliance.
“The Ashland Public Library is thrilled to, once again, be bringing a wide variety of children’s authors and illustrators to our Community!” said Meena Jain, Director of the Ashland Public Library. “We really love the diversity of formats and backgrounds our authors and
illustrators are bringing to the Festival. We think there is something for everyone – whether you’re a fan of Paddington, AdventureTime, Gilbert (who hasn’t read “Trick or Treat, Smell My Feet?), Comic books and art, and so much more. We hope many children and families will join us for this special day.”
The Second Annual Once Upon a Book Fest is presented by the Ashland Public Library and the Friends of the Ashland Library. The sponsors include Arts!Ashland Alliance, the Ashland Mom’s Club, and the Ashland Select Board (BAA grant).
The Book Festival organizing committee includes, Bonnie Mitchell (Arts!Ashland Alliance), Lois McAuliffe (APL Children’s Librarian), Meena Jain (Director, APL) and Linda Weene (Ashland Library Trustee and former Ashland educator). The organizers have set up an eventbrite registration for attendees to register before the event. This is to plan how many chairs to put out and how many markers to buy but walk-ins will be welcome! The organizers are excited to invite all interested kids and their adults to participate in this event and foster the love of reading and writing among children of all ages.
For more information please contact:
For more information on the event:
Website: www.onceuponabookfest.com
Facebook: @onceuponabookfest
Twitter: @onceuponabookfest
Instagram: @onceuponabookfest
