An awesome celebration of books for children

October 21st, 10am – 3pm

Nubian Square, Roxbury

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Schedule

Saturday, October 21, 10am – 3pm Nubian Square, Roxbury

Author Sessions at Bolling Building School Committee Room

10:00 – 10:45 am

Early Chapter Books: Adventures with Friends

Janet Costa-Bates, Maddie Frost, and Raul the Third, with Angela Bonds

What’s one of the strongest elements in the world? If you guessed the power of friendship, then you are correct! Join the luchadores in Raul the Third’s Taco Tuesday: El Toro and Friends, as Taro and his friends are stuck in a sticky situation where they don’t have enough money to buy tacos for lunch. Together they must figure out creative, fun, and wacky ways to score those delicious tacos! In Janet Costa-Bates’ Rica Baptista: LLamas, Iguanas and My Very Best Friend, Rica hatches a plan to convince her parents to get her a pet to keep her company after learning that her best friend, Laini, is moving away. With the help of Laini, Rica goes on a topsy-turvy journey full of hysterical moments. In Maddie Frost’s Wombats Go Camping, an unlikely pair of best friends, Pickles and Albert, decide to explore the great outdoors for the first time. They find there is much more to the wilderness than meets the eye. Will Pickles and Albert together triumph out in nature? With
the power of friendship, anything is possible! This session will be moderated by Angela Bonds, BPL children’s librarian.

11:15 am – 12:00 pm

Massachusetts Children’s Book Award

Megan E. Freeman with Megan Murphy

The Massachusetts Children’s Book Award is a children’s choice book award that encourages a continued love of reading into the middle grades. Each year the MCBA creates a nominee list of 25 books to share with 4th, 5th, and 6th graders. For this year, over 3,000 children across the Commonwealth voted for their favorite book, choosing Alone by Megan E. Freeman as the winner. Come meet Freeman who will talk about how she creates her stories. She also will take questions from the audience. Kids are especially encouraged to attend and participate! This session will be hosted by Megan Murphy, Massachusetts Children’s Book Award Coordinator.

12:30-1:15 pm

Comics and Courage

Jerry Craft and Nikki Grimes, with Liz Phipps-Soeiro

BBF is thrilled to present Jerry Craft and Nikki Grimes as our JustKids! keynote speakers. Don’t miss this conversation with Newbery Medal recipient, Jerry Craft, and winner of the Coretta Scott King-Virginia Hamilton Award for Lifetime Achievement, Nikki Grimes. Known for his graphic novels, Jerry Craft will present the third installment of the New Kid series: School Trip. Join beloved characters Jordan, Drew, and Liam as they journey somewhere they never have before: Paris. Follow the crew as they experience art, language, food… and overcoming homesickness! Nikki Grimes will reveal a reimagining of her famous novel Garvey’s Choice. Transformed into comic style, the story of young Garvey’s struggle with parental expectation and self-acceptance proves timeless for any reader. Come see yourself in the worlds of New Kid and Garvey’s Choice – working to navigate independence, change, and maybe even love! Moderated by Felicia Humphries, Assistant Director of Library Services for Boston Public Schools.

1:45-2:15 pm

Crazy Cool Robotics: Charlie Numbers returns

Ben Mezrich, Tonya Mezrich

Ben and Tonya Mezrich return with Boston Book Festival fan favorite Charlie Numbers. This time Charlie and his friends must separate fact from otherworldly fiction as they set out to find their missing classmate. Their zany adventure introduces them to some crazy cool technology and gets them to start considering the possibility that aliens have landed nearby! From meeting with UFO enthusiasts, sneaking into hidden rooms, and being following by shadowy and dangerous agents, the Mezrichs serve up the thrills, the laughs and the STEM in Charlie Numbers and the UFO Bash. BONUS: Robotics enginner Kris Dorsey will join the Mezrichs on stage for a fun conversation about the technology referred to in the book!

Story Times at Roxbury Public Library Community Room

10:00-10:30 am

Acclaimed illustrator Shadra Strickland celebrates a community at play in a rhythmic and joyul story that will get your toes tapping. Jump start your JustKids! Day with Strickland’s irresistible debut Jump In! Ages 4-8

10:45-11:15 am

NAACP Image Award Finalist Kaija Langley celebrates Black Boy Joy with her multi-award winning story book When Langston Dances. Twirl and leap along with Langston who loves to dance. Watch as he turns his whole street into his stage, feeling inspired by the Alvin Ailey performers. Ages 4-8

11:30 am – 12:00 pm

Come watch well-known children’s book illustrator Mark Hoffman bring to life the little things that we use every day! With his well- known silliness, Hoffman shares how he takes a dollar on a journey in his book A Dollar’s Grand Dream. Ages 4-8

12:15-12:45 pm

Poet Kaliis Smith and #1 New York Times bestselling author Holly Black team up to share the little-known tale of Sir Morien, the Moor who became a Knight of the Round Table. Clever brave and true, Sir Morien finds adventure and friendship around the world. Ages 4-8

1:00-1:30 pm

Winner of both the Pura Belpre Award and the MacArthur Genuis Award, Ruth Behar joins together with her son Gabriel Frye-Behar to delight children with the story of doggie Pepita who has to learn to make room for the new bebita. Follow along as Abuela, Abueulo, Mami and Papi talk in English and Spanish in Pepita Meets Bebita. Ages 3-6

1:45 – 2:15 pm

With the lyrical picture book Your One and Only Hear, Dr. Rajani LaRocca, Newbery Honoree, combines poetry and science to introduce children to the many wonders of the human heart! Ages 4-8