Schedule
Saturday Children’s Stage on the MARTA Plaza Presented by Greenlight
Kick Off Parade with Katherine Applegate
Saturday, May 4th, 9:30am
Courtyard by Marriott at 130 Clairemont Avenue
Do you have a favorite sea creature? Come dressed like one for our Saturday kick off parade with Katherine Applegate! We’ll “swim” on over to the Children’s Stage to start our day. Parade lineup begins at 9:30am at the Courtyard by Marriott at 130 Clairemont Avenue.
Odder: An Otter’s Story with Katherine Applegate
Saturday, May 3rd, 10:00 am – 10:30 am
The much-loved author of books like One and Only Ivan and Willodeen has a new picture book inspired by a real program that cares for orphaned otter pups!
Big Stuff with Varian Johnson and John Schu
Saturday, May 3rd, 10:45 am – 11:15 am
When you are little, everything may feel BIG! Varian Johnson (Little Big Man) and John Schu (Ruthie Rose’s Big Idea) share picture books brimming with playfulness and possibility.
Laugh Your Pants Off with Drew Daywalt and Rachel Michelle Wilson
Saturday, May 3rd, 11:30 am – 12:00 pm
Who knew pants could be so silly? Drew Daywalt (Little Freddie Two Pants) and Rachel Michelle Wilson (How to Pee Your Pants) are sure to make you giggle (no judgement if you tinkle in your pants a bit)!
Picture Books Are Poetry with Irene Latham and Charles Waters
Saturday, May 3rd, 12:15 pm – 12:45 pm
In If I Could Choose a Best Day: Poems of Possibility, collaborators and friends Irene Latham and Charles Waters have collected the works of 30 poets celebrating imagination and the power of “if”!
The Kids Save the Day…Again
Saturday, May 3rd, 1:00 pm – 1:45 pm
The kids are the heroes we’ve been waiting for! The richness of legends in the modern world are explored in these kid-led, kid-forward titles by Terry J. Benton-Walker (Alex Wise series), Katherine Marsh (The Myth of Monsters series) and Mark Oshiro (Jasmine is Haunted).
Graphic Novel Game Show
Saturday, May 3rd, 2:00 pm – 2:45 pm
3, 2, 1, DRAW! Join us as authors Jacqueline Davies (The Lemonade War), Shauna Grant (Karen’s Prize), and Ursula Murray Husted (Botticelli’s Apprentice) face off in a friendly, fast-paced draw-off with help from the audience!! Pencils at the ready!
The Power of Place
Saturday, May 3rd, 3:00 pm – 3:45 pm
An assisted living home, a sentient apartment building, and an island off the coast of Maine feature prominently in three novels about young people finding their voices with the help of unexpected friends. Gayle Forman (Not Nothing), Allie Millington (Once for Yes), and Lauren Wolk (Candle Island) share their newest mid grade reads.
Saturday Keynote
Dave Eggers
Saturday, May 3rd, 7:00 pm
Holy Trinity Parish Decatur
515 East Ponce de Leon Avenue
Come meet Dave Eggers and hear him talk about his Newbery award winning book, The Eyes and The Impossible! This event is free to attend but registration is required at https://bit.ly/441FVRx.
Author signings to follow all events. Book sales provided by Little Shop of Stories.
Sunday Children’s Stage
Star Wars Parade with Leland Melvin
Sunday, May 4th, 10:30 am
Courtyard by Marriott at 130 Clairemont Avenue.
May the 4th be with us! Dress up as your favorite Star Wars character or other out of this world hero and join as we march to the Children’s Stage! Our parade will be led by real life astronaut Leland Melvin! Parade lineup begins at 10:30 am at the Courtyard by Marriott at 130 Clairemont Avenue.
Space Chasers with Leland Melvin
Sunday, May 4th, 11:00 am – 11:30 am
Former space shuttle astronaut Leland Melvin shares his debut graphic novel, Space Chasers!
It’s A Beautiful Day in the Neighborhood
Sunday, May 4th, 11:45 am – 12:15 pm
It’s a bird! It’s a plane! It’s… a new neighbor? Popular authors X. Fang (We Are Definitely Human), Christy Mandin (Millie Fleur’s Poison Garden), and Alex Willan (Mermaids are the WorstI) highlight the joys of meeting someone new and the friends we make along the way!
My Hair Is a Book
Sunday, May 4th, 12:30 pm – 1:00 pm
In her new picture book, author Maisha Oso (My Hair Is a Book) celebrates the beauty and magic of Black children and their hair. Maisha will be interviewed by Atlanta-based photographer and author Tomesha Faxio (Wash Day: Passing on the Legacy, Rituals, and Love of Natural Hair).
Over the Moon with Noah Grigni and Katrina Moore
Sunday, May 4th, 1:15 pm – 1:45 pm
Located in the dance studio at the Decatur Recreation Center at 231 Sycamore Street
Bask in the light of Noah Grigni (Mama Moon) and Katrina Moore’s (Chang’e on the Moon) beautiful storytelling in these thoughtful picture books.
Graphic Novel Panel with Audrey Meeker and Sarah Clawson Willis
Sunday, May 4th, 2:00 pm – 2:45 pm
Audrey Meeker (Swing) and Sarah Clawson Willis (Band Nerd) share two new graphic novels exploring middle school coming of age through music and dance. Great for fans of Raina Telgemeier!
Carmen and Lauren Agra Deedy
Sunday, May 4th, 3:00 pm – 3:45 pm
Like mother, like daughter! Beloved author Carmen Agra Deedy (The Peanut Man) and her daughter AND debut picture book author Lauren Agra Deedy (New Shoes for Leo) share poignant and powerful stories of immigrant families finding new homes in the US.
Author signings to follow all events. Book sales provided by Little Shop of Stories.
Saturday Young Adult Stage
Book Dating Game
Saturday, May 3rd, 10:30 AM
Decatur Library at 215 Sycamore Street
Congratulations, lucky contestant, and come on down to participate in The Book Dating Game! Cue the flashing lights and vintage-y theme music! During this panel, four lucky attendees looking for their next favorite read will get the chance to ask our mystery book bachelors (authors) a series of questions before choosing a book to take home! We’ll play four rounds of The Book Dating Game, each round featuring a different genre! Want to know who the mystery book bachelors are? You’ll have to come and find out!
Literary High Tea
Saturday, May 3rd, 1 PM
Little Shop of Stories at 133 East Court Square
You have been cordially invited to the Literary High Tea at Little Shop! Don your largest sunhats and dig out your paper fans as we prepare to feast on the finest fare provided by our gracious host and rub elbows with six truly spectacular authors! While delicately dining and gracefully gulping, each author will take to the mic to give us a blurb of their books throughout the affair. Each ticket includes scrummy tea and other delectables courtesy of The Reading Room. Participating authors: Julian Winters, MK Lobb, Trang Thanh Tran, Channelle Desamours, Gayle Forman, Shveta Thakrar. Registration required.
Sour Ones
Saturday, May 3rd, 3 PM
Decatur Library at 215 Sycamore Street
We’re Little Shop of Stories and you’re watching Sour Ones. It’s the show with tangy questions and even more sour candy! We’re taking inspo from one of our favorite web-shows and getting into it with some of our favorite authors, asking them increasingly juicy questions as they eat increasingly sour candy! Don’t miss what’s sure to be a hilarious evening with some of our favorite writers! Participating authors include: Mark Oshiro, Terry Benton-Walker, Auburn Morrow
Sunday Young Adult Stage
Live D&D
Sunday, May 4th, 10:30 AM
Decatur Library at 215 Sycamore Street
Calling all fighters, bards, wizards, and those who love adventure! Come watch as our authors go from writers to characters in a brief Dungeons & Dragons one-shot adventure! Playing as a character from one of their books, our featured authors will go on an exciting quest, fight monsters, and maybe even save the realm in front of a live audience (provided no one rolls a one during a pivotal moment)! Participating authors include: Trang Thanh Tran, RM Gray, Kamilah Cole, MK Lobb, Mark Oshiro, Preeti Chhibber
Clue, Live at Little Shop
Sunday, May 4th, 1 PM
Little Shop of Stories at 133 East Court Square
Inviting all mystery fans! Bodies have been discovered at Little Shop of Stories and we need YOUR help to discover which dangerous (fictional) characters may have done it. You will receive an invitation, game rules, and clues at the door, then play your way through a themed game of Clue to solve the mystery! We encourage you to come dressed as your favorite literary character (or just as yourself)! Each ticket will include a random book from one of the featured authors. Participating authors include: Ginny Myers Sain, Emily J. Taylor, Channelle Desamours, Elora Cook, Jessica Goodman, and Gayle Forman. Registration required.
Sunday Talent Show
Sunday, May 4th, 3 PM
Decatur Library at 215 Sycamore Street
We know our featured authors are extremely talented writers, but what other super secret abilities are our novelists hiding under their scholarly facade? Come see our authors close out the festival with a bang and show off some serious skills in our Sunday Talent Show. Each author will give us a brief summary of their frontlist title followed by a 5 minute slot to showcase whatever talent they choose, from juggling to lipsyncing to stand up to sword swallowing… okay, maybe not sword swallowing… but who knows, anything could happen! Participants include: Kelly Quindlen, Juan Vidal, Julian Winters, and YOU!
For more info about all of these events, including participating authors, visit: https://www.eventbrite.com/cc/ya-programming-at-the-lsos-childrens-book-fest-4201623