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BATON ROUGE, La. — An exciting slate of activities and book programs for young readers from toddlers to teens will be among the attractions during the Louisiana Book Festival on Saturday, October 31. The state’s flagship literary event is scheduled for 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. in downtown Baton Rouge, at the State Library of Louisiana and the surrounding Capitol Park area.
The festival’s Young Readers Pavilion will feature appearances by storybook characters, award-winning authors discussing their featured books, musical performances, face painting, balloon artists, and book-related crafts.
"One of the best things about the Louisiana Book Festival is watching kids discover something on the page that sparks their curiosity," said Lieutenant Governor Billy Nungesser. "Whether they're drawn to picture books, graphic novels, or young adult fiction, the festival brings them face to face with the authors and stories that speak to them. That kind of experience stays with a young reader."
Programs will be featured in three children’s tents on the front lawn of the State Library beginning at 9 a.m., where more than 25 highlighted authors will make appearances and interact with young readers.
Headlining the 2026 festival’s youth programming will be the all-ages panel discussion “Little Books, Big Lives: Picture Book Biographies” featuring seven award-winning writers and illustrators. A panel for middle-grade readers on Realistic Fiction, and Sci-Fi, Romance, Suspense, and Fantasy panels within the Young Adult genre are also part of this year’s program.
Included among the festival’s lineup of celebrated children’s, middle-grade, and young adult authors are Carlotta Wells Lanier and Lisa Frazier Page (Carlotta's Special Dress: How a Walk to School Changed Civil Rights History), Andrea Beatriz Arango, Artie Bennett, Pamela Courtney, Callie Dean, Johnette Downing, Leslie Helakowski, Jason Peterson, Kirk Reedstrom, Misako Rocks!, T.L. Simpson, and others.
For the first time, all winning authors from the latest Louisiana Readers’ Choice awards will be in attendance, including Tadgh Bentley (One Chicken Nugget) Frank Murphy, Charnaie Gordon, and Anastasia Magloire Williams (Heroic Heart: An Illustrated Biography of Joe Delaney); Kelly J. Baptist (Eb & Flow); Deya Muniz (The Princess and the Grilled Cheese Sandwich); along with teen honor book selection author Nicki Pau Preto (Bonesmith). The 2025-2026 Young Readers’ and Teen Readers’ Choice Awards honorees will be recognized at special ceremonies on the day of the festival.
"Libraries are often where children first fall in love with reading, and the Book Festival extends that experience in a powerful way," said State Librarian Meg Placke. "Connecting young readers with authors and hands-on activities reinforces the value of books and storytelling at every age."
Activities for tween and teen readers include a variety of games and arts and crafts. The papermaking tent, balloon artists, and face painting return this year. Halloween costume contests for both children (1:00 p.m.) and teens (3:00 p.m.) are also scheduled. The East Baton Rouge Parish Library and Kids Orchestra conducts their popular “Books & Music” program at 3:15 p.m., and costumed book characters in attendance will be Elephant and Piggie from the Mo Willems children’s series.
Times and locations of authors’ appearances at the festival on October 31 can be found on the individual author pages on the book festival's website. Featured authors will also be scheduled for signings in the festival book tent operated by Cavalier House Books of Denham Springs and Lafayette.
Participating authors and presenters are helping to spread the word about the Louisiana Book Festival. Musical performer Rick Kelley will visit dozens of schools and libraries around the state to promote the event through interactive performances that include music, singing, and promotion of early literacy. Several of the featured children’s authors will also be making appearances at Louisiana schools, giving young readers the chance to connect with festival authors through story times, book talks, and workshops.
For complete details on the 2026 Louisiana Book Festival, a schedule of events, and featured authors and titles, visit LouisianaBookFestival.org and follow the event on the Louisiana Book Festival Facebook page.
The Louisiana Center for the Book was established in the State Library of Louisiana in 1994. Its mission is to stimulate public interest in reading, books, literacy, and libraries and to celebrate Louisiana’s rich literary heritage. It is the official state affiliate of the Library of Congress Center for the Book.
Contact information:
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Kevin Calbert |
Barry Landry |