Have you ever heard about a book and thought Wow, that sounds amazing! I would buy that right this very minute if I could ? Well, at THIS SATURDAY’S Adirondack Family Book Festival, there will be instant gratification available.
Lake Placid’s very own The Bookstore Plus will be on site ready to go with a selection of Festival participant’s books. They will be accepting cash, check or any credit card via Square. If you haven’t checked out their physical location on Main Street, add it to your list of Lake Placid to-dos. The wide array of Adirondack books, puzzles, art supplies, and tote bags is impressive.
Pro tip: After purchasing your new favorite book, get it signed by the author!
Have you ever met an author of a book you read? It is like meeting a movie star! You might even get tongue tied or say something totally weird. But nothing fazes authors and they will answer any question you have with kindness and humor. Listening to them speak about what inspires them to write, read, create, and make the world a better place really opens your eyes to your own possibilities!
When the authors are not participating in presentations (see schedule here), they will be available to meet, talk to, AND sign books in the tent adjacent to the welcome area.
Enjoy creating nature crowns and folded paper creature puppets with beloved Plattsburgh author and artist Amy Guglielmo, Creative Director of Reading Rainbow Lives and co-author of the popular Touch the Art series. All are welcome to join in the creativity throughout the day at the old barn next to the pond.
PS – Check out Amy’s presentation on the main stage at 10 am!
After months of advertising a 10:00 am start time and a schedule “subject to change,” we have a made a change in order to include two more exceptional speakers! Grounds will still open at 9:30, but presentations will now begin at 9:45 instead of 10:00 am.
Time
Title
Age
Presenters
9:45
A Dream Realized
All
Martha Swan
9:50- 10:00
Writing on the Spectrum
All
Benjamin Giroux
10:00- 10:30
The Art of Stories (and Stories of Art!): Three Author-Artists Share Their Books and Process
Picture Book
Jason Chin, Max Eaton, Amy Guglielmo
10:40- 11:10
Hidden History: Three Nonfiction Authors Share the Stories Behind Their Books
Middle Grade
Tracey Baptiste, Kekla Magoon, Kate Messner
11:20- 11:50
Laughter and Tears: Books that Share Stories of Families, Yesterday and Today
Picture Book/Middle Grade
Laura Ruby, Kyle Lukoff, Calvin Alexander Ramsey
12:00- 12:30
Let’s Build a Character! An All-Ages Writing Workshop with Kekla Magoon
All
Kekla Magoon
12:40- 1:10
Making Space for Stories: Three Poets Share Their Novels in Verse
Middle Grade
Joe Bruchac, Rajani LaRocca, Linda Sue Park
1:20- 1:50
Searching for Jumbies: Meet Caribbean Monsters with Tracey Baptiste
Picture Book/Middle Grade
Tracey Baptiste
2:00- 2:30
Bite-Sized Read-Alouds: A Book Tasting for Hungry Readers (Each author will give a three-minute reading!)
Picture Book/Middle Grade
Rajani LaRocca, Laura Ruby, Joe Bruchac, Kyle Lukoff, Linda Sue Park, Kate Messner, Jason Chin
2:40- 3:10
Truth in the Fiction: The Power of Authenticity in Novels for Teens
Young Adult
Kekla Magoon, Laura Ruby
3:20- 3:50
Youth Voices: A New Generation of Readers and Creators
Benjamin Giroux is the author of the Kirkus Reviews Star children’s book “I am odd, I am new” which they listed as one of the best picture books of 2021. Benjamin was only 10, in 5th grade, when he wrote his iconic viral poem about his life on the spectrum, that has inspired millions around the globe to embrace their differences and celebrate what makes them unique. Benjamin was made Poet Laureate of both the town of Plattsburgh NY, and Beekmantown school district. Ben is also the face of the National Autism Awareness anti-bullying campaign. Through the inspiration of his poem, Ben is now a award winning song writer as the song and music video I AM ODD by BRM won multiple awards in film festivals around the world. Ben will be a high school senior this year, and is currently working on a new children’s book series that talk about acceptance, anxiety, body shaming, and autism that is being shopped by his agent.
Benjamin , Plattsburgh NY Poet Laureate, is excited to be part of the Adirondack Family Book Festival as a guest speaker. When Ben was 10, he wrote a I AM poem for a school assignment. Fearing it wasn’t any good, and not wanting to read it in front of his classmates, his father posted it to the National Autism Association Facebook page. Within 24 hours, his words were shared around the world. Ben’s poem inspired people to embrace their uniqueness and to celebrate being odd, or different. Ben’s poem has been translated in 20 different languages, has been made into award winning songs, and has been turned into a Kirkus Reviews Star Children’s book, that was named one of the best picture books of 2021, published by Schiffer Publishing. Ben loves to hang out with his 2 pet corn snakes which have inspired him to write a children’s book series that follow his pet snake Monty through adoption, to school adventures and vet visits, all while talking about anxiety, body shaming, depression and acceptance. Ben loves attending elementary schools and reading his book to students and engaging them in conversation about bullying, autism, acceptance and the importance of being kind. you can find Benjamin online at his website benjamingiroux.com, Facebook, Instagram and Twitter.
A two-time National Book Award Finalist, Laura Ruby writes fiction for adults, teens and children. She is the author of the Printz Medal Winning novel Bone Gap, as well as Thirteen Doorways, Wolves Behind Them All. Other works include the Edgar®-nominated children’s mystery Lily’s Ghosts, the ALA Quick Pick for teens Good Girls, the York trilogy, and the picture book Me and Ms. Too. Laura is on the faculty of Hamline University’s Masters in Writing for Children Program. She makes her home in the Chicago area, and you can visit her online at https://lauraruby.com/.
Laura will be participating in the following presentations during the AFBF. At 11:20, she will be part of “Laughter and Tears: Books that Share Stories of Families, Yesterday and Today” and at 2:40 “Truth in the Fiction: The Power of Authenticity in Novels for Teens.”
The following titles will be featured at the Festival:
Thirteen Doorways: Wolves Behind Them All Bone Gap Me and Ms. Too York: The Shadow Cipher York The Clockwork Ghost York: The Map of Stars
Calvin Alexander Ramsey is a playwright, writer, and photographer. He is the author of Ruth and the Green Book and Belle, the Last Mule at Gees Bend and was a recipient of the Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Drum Major for Justice Award. He was born in Baltimore but grew up in Roxboro, North Carolina and now splits his time between New York City and Sarasota, Florida. Learn more at his website: http://calvinalexanderramseysr.com/
Calvin will be participating in one presentation during the AFBF. At 11:20, he will be part of “Laughter and Tears: Books that Share Stories of Families, Yesterday and Today.”
The following titles will be featured at the Festival:
Ruthie and the Green Book Belle, the Last Mule at Gee’s Bend
Linda Sue Park is the author of many books for young readers, including the 2002 Newbery Medal winner A Single Shard and the NYTimes bestseller A Long Walk to Water. Her most recent title is The One Thing You’d Save, a collection of linked poems. Linda Sue serves on the advisory boards of We Need Diverse Books and the Rabbit hOle museum project, and created the kiBooka website, www.kibooka.com, to highlight Korean American creators of children’s books. Visit her website at www.lindasuepark.com; follow her on Twitter @LindaSuePark.
Linda Sue will be participating in several presentations during the AFBF. At 12:40, she will be part of “Making Space for Stories: Three Poets Share Their Novels in Verse,” and at 2:00 “Truth in the Fiction: The Power of Authenticity in Novels for TeensBite-Sized Read-Alouds: A Book Tasting for Hungry Readers (Each author will give a three-minute reading!).”
The following titles will be featured at the Festival:
A Single Shard Long Walk to Water Prairie Lotus The One Thing You’d Save Bee-bim Bop! Gurple and Preen
New York Times bestselling author Kate Messner is passionately curious and has written more than fifty books for kids who wonder, too. Her award-winning titles include picture books like Over and Under the Snow and The Brilliant Deep; novels like Breakout and Chirp; engaging nonfiction like The Next President and the History Smashers series; the Ranger in Time adventures; and the Fergus and Zeke easy readers. Kate lives on Lake Champlain. Online, you’ll find her on Twitter @KateMessner, and at her website, katemessner.com.
Kate will be participating in several presentations during the AFBF. At 10:400, she will be part of “Hidden History: Three Nonfiction Authors Share the Stories Behind Their Books,” and at 2:00 “Bite-Sized Read-Alouds: A Book Tasting for Hungry Readers (Each author will give a three-minute reading!).”
The following titles will be featured at the Festival:
History Smashers: The Mayflower History Smashers: The Underground Railroad Chirp Breakout Over and Under the Pond Ranger in Time: Rescue on the Oregon Trail
Kekla Magoon (she/her) writes novels and nonfiction for young readers, exploring themes of identity, community, empowerment, and social justice. Acclaimed titles include The Season of Styx Malone (winner of the Boston Globe-Horn Book Award), How It Went Down (a Coretta Scott King Honor book), and Revolution in Our Time: The Black Panther Party’s Promise to the People, which was a Michael L. Printz Honor winner and National Book Award Finalist. Kekla loves ice cream, board games, and her two energetic orange cats. She holds an MFA in writing from Vermont College of Fine Arts, where she now teaches. Learn more at her website: https://keklamagoon.com/
Kekla will be participating in several presentations during the AFBF. At 10:400, she will be part of “Hidden History: Three Nonfiction Authors Share the Stories Behind Their Books,” at 12:00 “Let’s Build a Character! An All-Ages Writing Workshop with Kekla Magoon” and at 2:40 “Truth in the Fiction: The Power of Authenticity in Novels for Teens.”
The following titles will be featured at the Festival:
Revolution in Our Time: The Black Panther Party’s Promise to the People The Season of Styx Malone Chester Keene Cracks the Code Thurgood Marshall’s Life Leadership and Legacy Shadows of Sherwood How It Went Down
Adirondack Family Book Festival 