Detail from 2015 Princeton Children’s BookFestival Posterby Jarrett J. Krosoczka

saturday, sept. 1911 a.m. to 4 p.m.hinds plazasponsored by princeton public library

TENTH ANN I VERSARY

Welcome to the 2015 Princeton Children’s Book Festival. We’re happy that you’ve joined us to celebrate the 10th anniversary of one of our favorite library events.

Over the past decade, the festival has grown from a gathering of 24 authors and illustrators to one of the largest events of its kind on the East Coast with more than 100 participants this year. Librarian Allison Santos, who brought the first festival to the library and has coordinated each one since, couldn’t be happier about the event’s evolution. But she isn’t really surprised.

“Everybody in the community seemed to love the festival right from the beginning,” she said. “We had about 24 authors and illustrators the first year, mostly very local and all from New Jersey. And when the festival was over, I had many requests for authors from families in town and lots of questions about the next year’s festival. It was clearly an event the community enjoyed.”

Over the years, the book festival continued to grow in popularity and reputation. The event now draws an average of 5,000 guests of all ages who enjoy the chance to meet the creators of their – or their children’s – favorite books. “And now authors, illustrators, publishers and literary agents often contact me to ask to be part of the next festival,” said Santos.

The book festival has grown in other ways, too, with live entertainment and partnerships

with other local organizations becoming part of the event. This year, in response to community requests, food vendors have been added, too.

Since 2011, the poster announcing the Princeton Children’s Book Festival has been created by one of the illustrators who attend, a tradition Santos feels “elevates our event to another level.” “With a new illustrator creating distinct artwork for us, our festival is reinterpreted and made fresh yearly,” she said. “Each illustrator brings something different to their poster.”

Meeting the festival’s highly acclaimed illustrators and authors, who she calls “really wonderful people with amazing imaginations and tremendous dedication to children,” has been one of the most rewarding parts of coordinating the festival for Santos. But if she had to name her favorite thing?

“To see a child pick up and look over a book, and to see them exchange words and smiles with the creator of that book while getting their personal autograph, is my favorite thing about the festival,” she said. “You know those exchanges are something the child will always remember. And that they will cherish the book forever.”

Newspaper ad for the first Princeton Children’s Book Festival.

Herman Parish speaks with young readers at the inaugural Princeton Children’s Book Festival, Sept. 16, 2006.

2015 POSTER

The library’s partnership with jaZams is one that festival coordinator Allison Santos calls “vital to the success of the Princeton Children’s Book Festival.” Owned and operated by Joanne Farrugia and Dean Smith, who are on the festival’s planning committee, the children’s book and toy store is a favorite destination for families from Princeton and beyond – as is the festival itself. “I can’t say enough about Joanne and Dean,” said Santos. “They are the most wonderful people to work with. They have such a strong dedication to the Princeton community and to our library.” Along with supporting other library events and programs, jaZams handles the book sales for the children’s book festival and donates 20 percent of proceeds to the library’s Youth Services Department. “We are so grateful, not only for their generosity, but for all of the effort they put in behind the scenes for the festival,” said Santos.

SPECIAL THANKS

The 2015 Princeton Children’s Book Festival is co-sponsored by jaZams, Johnson & Johnson Consumer Companies, Inc., Bai Brands, the Friends of the Princeton Public Library, D’Angelo Italian Market and Rojo Roasters

Among the many things to look forward to about the Princeton Children’s Book Festival is seeing the poster that announces the event. Created every year since

2012 by one of the acclaimed illustrators attending the festival, the posters reflect each artist’s take on the role books play in children’s lives.

Jarrett J. Krosoczka, who has written and/or illustrated many books for young readers including the highly acclaimed Lunch Lady graphic novel series and the Platypus Police Squad series, created this year’s poster. His inspiration was found in “It’s Tough to Lose Your Balloon,” the latest of his dozen picture books.

“In the book, calamities befall several children (a lost balloon, a sandwich dropped at the beach, a broken toy, etc.) and creative solutions to each problem are offered,” said Krosoczka. “Since it isn’t a storybook, more a self-help book for preschoolers, I was able to give equal page time to a very diverse group of children. I wanted to bring all of those children together in one illustration for the Princeton Children’s Book Festival poster. In the image, everybody is reading … alas, one boy has lost his balloon.”

A graduate of the Rhode Island School of Design, Krosoczka’s first children’s book, “Good Night, Monkey Boy,” was published in 2001. He has twice won the Children’s Choice Book Award

Jarrett J. Krosoczka

Photo by Derek Fowles

for the Third to Fourth Grade Book of the Year, and both his Lunch Lady series and “Punk Farm” picture book are currently in development as feature films.

Krosoczka believes books have an important role to play in the lives of children, and calls them “escape portals” for young readers. “Regardless of what a kid is currently dealing with — be it good or bad — they have very little control of their current

state of affairs,” he said. “Reading (and writing and drawing) offers kids the chance to escape their current realities.”

Krosoczka, who lives in western Massachusetts, is visiting the Princeton Children’s Book Festival for the first time this year. “I have so wanted to participate in the past, but it seemed that every time I received an invite, my wife, Gina, and I were expecting a baby,” he said. “I’m so excited to attend, and hopefully bring along my wife and our two daughters!”

While Krosoczka knows he’ll enjoy seeing many of his peers in the children’s book world at the festival, he’s mostly looking forward to meeting young readers. “It’s the best,” he said. “When you write a book, you spend months toiling away on your own. You have your editor and other people on your team helping shape the story, but the real gratification comes a year or so later when the book publishes, and you’re able to get it in front of its intended audience. For authors, meeting readers is like an actor getting to jump on stage and perform.”

RED TENTTent designated by color of tablecloths

BLUE TENTTent designated by color of tablecloths

LOOK FOR THESE BOOKS AND AUTHORSON TABLES WITH RED TABLECLOTHS

LOOK FOR THESE BOOKS AND AUTHORSON TABLES WITH BLUE TABLECLOTHS

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Mike Curato and Angela DominguezNancy TafuriJacky Davis and David SomanJerry PinkneyDavid Ezra SteinWendy MassCourtney Sheinmel and Lisa GreenwaldDavid LubarJordan SonnenblickTracey West

Tommy GreenwaldCharles SantoreJen BryantRosemary WellsBruce CovilleSarah WeeksAlyssa Satin CapucilliGail Carson LevineSean Ferrell and Beth FerryJennifer Sattler

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John ParraJarrett J. KrosoczkaVal Jones and Adam AuerbachNancy KrulikRita Williams-GarciaMichelle KnudsenMatt PhelanTad HillsBrett HelquistAmmi-Joan Paquette and Audrey Vernick

Melissa IwaiAnne Rockwell and Lizzy RockwellMonica WellingtonHerman ParishLauren CastilloAlan KatzSophie BlackallBrian FlocaSergio Ruzzier and Edward HemingwayMichael Buckley

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YELLOW TENTTent color designated by color of tablecloths

PURPLE TENTTent color designated by color of tablecloths

LOOK FOR THESE BOOKS AND AUTHORSON TABLES WITH PURPLE TABLECLOTHS

LOOK FOR THESE BOOKS AND AUTHORSON TABLES WITH YELLOW TABLECLOTHS

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1Patrick McDonnellFlorence Minor and Wendell MinorHazel Mitchell and Liza Gardner WalshFran ManushkinTony AbbottSteve SheinkinJames PrellerKristine A. Lombardi Brian Biggs and Max BrallierJennifer Berne and Kelly Barnhill

Margery CuylerSusan Stockdale and Corey Rosen SchwartzAme Dyckman and Adam LehrhauptNick BruelGreg Pizzoli and Zachariah OHoraPaulette BoganDavid BiedrzyckiDeborah FreedmanE.B. LewisSteve Light

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Doris EttlingerJeff Campbell and Scott M. CohnRoxie MunroMatt Myklusch and Robin NewmanSamantha BergerLaurie CalkhovenCatia ChienChris Eliopoulos and Laura Marx FitzgeraldMark Greenwood and Frané LessacAaron Becker and Emilie Christie Burack

Eric WightLondon LaddJ.A. White and Lauren MagazinerClaire Legrand and Megan McCaffertyJerry PallottaSally Cook Ida Pearle and Kate SamworthJessica Olien and David PotterHeather AlexanderSujean Rim and Rachel Vail

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PRESENTATIONS

11-11:10 a.m. Jennifer Sattler

11:10-11:20 a.m. Alyssa Capucilli

11:20-11:30 a.m. Samantha Berger

11:30-11:40 a.m. Michael Buckley

11:40-11:50 a.m. Brian Biggs

11:50-Noon Jacky Davis and David Soman

Noon-12:10 p.m. Hazel Mitchell

12:10-12:20 p.m. Steve Light

12:20-12:30 p.m. Angela Dominguez

12:30-12:40 p.m. Jarrett J. Krosoczka

12:40-12:50 p.m. Rosemary Wells

12:50-1 p.m. David Lubar

1-1:10 p.m. Aaron Becker

1:10-1:20 p.m. Bruce Coville

1:20- 1:30 p.m. Matt Phelan

1:30- 1:40 p.m. E. B. Lewis

1:40- 1:50 p.m. Zach OHora

1:50- 2 p.m. Kate Samworth

2-2:10 p.m. Catia Chien

2:10- 2:20 p.m. Tommy Greenwald

2:20- 2:30 p.m. Michelle Knudsen

2:30- 2:40 p.m. London Ladd

2:40- 2:50 p.m. John Parra

2:50- 3 p.m. Ame Dyckman

3-3:10 p.m. Mark Greenwood and Frané Lessac

3:10- 3:20 p.m. Nancy Tafuri

3:20- 3:30 p.m. Sean Ferrell

3:30- 3:40 p.m. Alan Katz

3:40- 3:50 p.m. David Ezra Stein

3:50- 4 p.m. Edward Hemingway

ACKNOWLEDGMENTS

Sponsors Committee

Entertainment

Food Vendors

of the

Guitarist Kenn KwederSingers Easha and Shravya NandyalaPrinceton Symphony Instrument Petting Zoo.Kidlit TV

LIBRARY STAFFAllison Santos, Festival Director

Caroline Quinones, Associate Festival Director

Amanda Chuong, Website Coordinator

Steven Millett and Nick Stuart, Technical SupportYOUTH SERVICES DEPARTMENT: Mimi Bowlin, Katie Bruce, Cory Bys,Susan Conlon, Violetta Manzaneres, Geena Molinaro, Martha Perry Liu, Kerri Sullivan

Leslie Burger, Executive Director

Timothy Quinn, Marketing and Communications Director

Janet Simon, Development Director

COMMUNITYJoanne Farrugia and Dean Smith, jaZamsMegan McCafferty

D’Angelo Italian MarketRojo Roasterthe bent spoonHouse of Cupcakes

S A V E T H E D A T EFriday, Oct. 23 // Children’s Literature Conference

This daylong summit features speakers and panels focusing on topics at the forefront of the children’s book world. bit.ly/PrincetonCLCMade possible by a generous gift from Johnson & Johnson Consumer Companies, Inc.

PRINCETON PUBLIC LIBRARY // SANDS LIBRARY BUILDING // 65 WITHERSPOOIN STREET, PRINCETON, NJ, 08542609.924.9529 // WWW.PRINCETONLIBRARY.ORG