Children’s Book Festival

Friday, May 3 – SUNDAy, MAY 5
All around Decatur | Free

Hear From (And Meet!) Authors and Illustrators

The Decatur Children’s Book Festival is happening alongside the Decatur Arts Festival! It will feature authors and illustrators of children’s picture books, middle-grade literature, and graphic novels — as well as a dedicated young adult stage.

Kick off the inaugural event with keynote speaker, Kate DiCamillo, on Friday night at 5pm. Then browse the vendor booths and author tables on Saturday and Sunday, and don’t miss the author talks held throughout the weekend. 

Children’s Stage
Saturday, May, 4 • 9:30 am – 6 pm
Sunday, May, 5 • 10 am – 5 pm
Decatur Recreation Center (Inside), 231 Sycamore St., Decatur, GA 30030

YA Stage
Saturday, May, 4 • 9 am – 2 pm
Sunday, May, 5 • 10 am – 5 pm
Sycamore Chapel, 318 Sycamore St., Decatur, GA 30030

Friday, May 3  • 5 pm
Decatur First Baptist Church, 308 Clairemont Ave.
Free LIMITED TICKETS

Keynote: Kate DiCamillo

With more than 25 novels published, stories translated into 41 languages, and 44 million books in print worldwide, DiCamillo is a renowned best-selling children’s fiction author. Her accolades include the Newbery Medal, the Newbery Honor, the Boston Globe-Horn Book Award, and the Theodor Geisel Award. Additionally, DiCamillo is a National Ambassador for Young People’s Literature Emerita, appointed by the Library of Congress.

This event is free to attend but registration is required.

Saturday, May 4  • 9-9:45 Am
The Chapel on sycamore, 318 Sycamore St.

YA Opening Keynote: LaDarrion Williams

LaDarrion Williams is a Los Angeles based-playwright, filmmaker, author, and screenwriter whose goal is to cultivate a new era of Black fantasy, providing space and agency for Black characters and stories in a new, fresh and fantastical way. He is currently a resident playwright/co-creator of The Black Creators Collective, where his play UMOJA made its West Coast premiere in January 2022 and produced North Hollywood’s first Black playwrights festival at the Waco Theater Center. Blood at the Root is his first novel. His viral and award-winning short film based on the same concept, is currently on YouTube and Amazon Prime.

Sunday, May 5  • 3-3:45 pm
The Chapel on sycamore, 318 Sycamore St.

Keynote: Rebecca Ross

A story of two rival journalists finding love amidst a magical war, The New York Times bestselling Letters of Enchantment duology will have you reading well into the night! Join us as we close out our inaugural year at the Young Adult stage with Atlanta native and YA phenom Rebecca Ross. Be prepared to swoon! 

Ross has written more highly acclaimed duologies, including Elements of Cadence and The Queen’s Rising as well as two standalone novels: Dreams Lie Beneath and Sisters of Sword & Song. When not writing, she can be found in her garden where she plants wildflowers and story ideas.

This event is free to attend but registration is required.