For book lovers, literary festivals are akin to music festivals.
Live discussions, readings, and conversations with those who inspire us with the written word are often a once in a lifetime opportunity.
The Newburyport Literary Festival is just that, taking place in our historic city for its 11th year on April 29th and 30th. This year, the festival boasts an impressive line up of novelists, poets, and children’s authors. We are so fortunate to have such a comprehensive, annual literary festival right here in Newburyport!
Last April, our family attended almost all of the children’s events at the festival. We spent the day at the Newburyport Public Library (NPL) together, with a stop back home to rest and eat lunch. It was our first experience with the festival, and one of the monkeys favorite weekends of the year!
We met Jarrett Krosoczcka (Lunch Lady series), Anica Mrose Rissi (Anna, Banana series), and the Newbury-Award winning author Avi. Not only were my daughters captivated by their presentations, but we were also impressed with the stories the authors shared about their writing journeys. The girls even asked questions, eager to learn more. It was an engaging experience for kids and grown ups alike.
After each event, the authors were available to chat and sign books, which you could purchase through local bookstores. To be a kid and have a book that was touched by and signed by the actual person who wrote it? Priceless.
Instilling a love of reading has always been a priority of mine as a Mom.
It’s so important for kids to learn outside the classroom. I go out of my way to bring my daughters to meet authors. I’ll never forget the first author they met when they were ages 2 and 5: Victoria Kann (Pinkalicious series). They were completely star struck!
For children, meeting an author is like meeting a rock star. With their name across the bottom of a favorite book, they’re totally famous. Some more than others, but that’s not the point. Authors bring stories to life in your imagination, taking children to places they’ve never been before.
Literacy is even more critical in this digital age.
Interpreting information from multiple sources makes growing up today much more complex. Discussing books becomes even more important than reading them. And what could be better than discussing a book with the person who wrote it?
Children learn from modeling our behavior. If we’re excited about the Newburyport Literary Festival, they’ll be excited too. Check out the schedule and mark your calendar for the events that interest you most. Most events are free! Then head to the library to borrow some of the books that will be discussed at the event. Get excited together!
Events we’re planning to attend at the NPL:
– 9:00 a.m. The Red Knit Cap Girl: Make origami hats with Naoko Stoop.
– 11:00 a.m. Pets With Benefits: Learn how to build a worm farm with Newburyport author Lucia Greene.
– 1:00 p.m. Let’s Make a Poem: Create and illustrate your own poem through collage with Micha Archer.
– 1:00 p.m. Families: The Good, the Bad, and the Wacky: Win door prizes and learn author secrets with Elizabeth Atkinson and Newburyport author Dana Alison Levy.
– 2:30 p.m. Writers in Wonderland: Write about your own wonderland with Genevieve Morgan.
Adult readers will also find an inspiring schedule of both adult fiction and non-fiction authors who have found success at their craft and can alter your world view.
Writing is a gift that authors share with us page by page, book by book.
I hope you’ll join us at the Newburyport Literary Festival to celebrate some of the authors who’ve contributed their works of art to our society.
Who knows? Maybe you’ll learn something. If you’re not in the area, stay in touch with your library to find out when authors will be visiting for local events.