"To read a writer is for me not merely to get an idea of what he says, but to go off with him and travel in his company." -- Andre Gide
World
International Children's Book Day
April 2, 2008
http://www.ibby.org/index.php?id=269
“Since 1967, on or around Hans Christian Andersen’s birthday, 2 April, International Children’s Book Day (ICBD) is celebrated to inspire a love of reading and to call attention to children’s books.” – from International Board on Books for Young Children (IBBY) Website
Argentina
Buenos Aires International Book Fair
April 24-May 12, 2008
Buenos Aires
http://www.el-libro.org.ar/
Canada
Frye Festival
April 23-27, 2007
Moncton, New Brunswick
http://www.frye.ca/
“The Frye Festival in Moncton, New Brunswick promotes the pleasure and discovery of reading by bringing together authors, storytellers, poets and playwrights from around the world each year in April. Festival audiences hear these writers at debates, readings, workshops and dialogues in schools, cafes, restaurants, bars, theatres, and libraries throughout the region.”
England
John Milton: 400th Anniversary Celebrations
Ongoing
http://www.christs.cam.ac.uk/milton400/
The London Book Fair
April 14-16, 2008
Earls Court, London
http://www.londonbookfair.co.uk/page.cfm/Link=1/t=m/goSection=1
“The London Book Fair is the global publishing community's leading spring forum for booksellers, publishers, librarians and book production services worldwide. Ideally timed to provide you with a concentrated 3-day trading and educational platform offering access to the world's books, real business contacts and shared knowledge.”
Scarborough Literature Festival
April 17-20, 2008
Scarborough, North Yorkshire
http://www.scarboroughliteraturefestival.co.uk/
“Pack your bags and come along to Scarborough, the perfect place to spend a 'Long Weekend'. Soak up the atmosphere, meet your favourite authors and catch festival fever!”
France
International Antiquarian Book Fair Grand Palais
April 18-20, 2008
Paris
http://www.salondulivreancienparis.fr/articles.php?lg=us
Ireland
The 23rd Cúirt International Festival of Literature
April 22-27, 2008
Galway
http://www.galwayartscentre.ie/cuirt.htm
“The 23rd Cúirt International Festival of Literature will take place 22-27 April 2008. The festival will once again feature the eclectic and exciting range of Irish and international writers for which Cúirt is renowned.”
Italy
Bologna Children’s Book Fair
March 31-April 3, 2008
Bologna
http://www.bookfair.bolognafiere.it/book_index.asp?m=52&l=2&ma=3
United States
National Library Week
April 13-19, 2008
http://www.ala.org/ala/pio/natlibraryweek/nlw.cfm
National Poetry Month
http://www.poets.org/page.php/prmID/41
“Inaugurated by the Academy in April 1996, National Poetry Month (NPM) brings together publishers, booksellers, literary organizations, libraries, schools, and poets around the country to celebrate poetry and its vital place in American culture. Thousands of businesses and non-profit organizations participate through readings, festivals, book displays, workshops, and other events.”
Alabama
Alabama Bound : Celebrating Books and Authors
April 12, 2008
Birmingham
http://www.alabamabound.org/
“The Birmingham Public Library’s 10th annual author festival and
The Big Read present a day-long series of programs featuring
To Kill a Mockingbird.”
Alabama Book Festival
April 19, 2008
Montgomery
http://www.alabamabookcenter.org/
“Join us for this free event with over 50 authors, storytellers, publishers, illustrators and performers!”
Arizona
Northern Arizona Book Festival
April 25-26, 2008
Flagstaff
http://www.nazbookfest.com/
“What began as a moment of love and pure vision among local lovers of books evolved into a large-scale event of international regard within the lively culture of contemporary literature.
Enjoy what has been called the “premier cultural event of the Northland” as well as the “single greatest reason to live in Flagstaff!””
Arkansas
Arkansas Literary Festival
April 4-6, 2008
Little Rock
http://www.arkansasliteraryfestival.org/
“The general public is warmly invited to celebrate literacy through admission-free sessions with authors, musicians, spoken word performers, and costumed characters. Visit the outdoor bookfair in the River Market to learn more about literacy related vendors and nonprofits, and local authors”
California
William Saroyan Centennial (1908-2008)
Ongoing
Fresno, California
http://www.saroyancentennial.org/index.html
“Fresno, California is leading a statewide celebration honoring their most high-spirited native son, William Saroyan, during the 100th anniversary year of his birth (1908-2008). Saroyan was an internationally renowned Armenian-American novelist and playwright, whose published writings topped over 4,000 literary works, including short stories, plays, and novels. William Saroyan was born in Fresno and died in Fresno, and in between he became an award-winning writer and playwright, to include a Pulitzer Prize, an Academy Award, and The Drama Critic’s Circle Award. He had an illustrious career that spanned over forty-seven years.”
Los Angeles Times Festival of Books
April 26-27, 2008
UCLA Campus, Los Angeles
http://www.latimes.com/extras/festivalofbooks/
“Welcome to the 13th Annual Los Angeles Times Festival of Books, the country’s largest celebration of the written word.”
Connecticut
Connecticut Storytelling Festival
April 25-27, 2008
New London
http://www.connstorycenter.org/festival.html
Florida
Tampa-Hillsborough County Storytelling Festival
April 12, 2008
Tampa
http://www.tampastory.org/
Much Ado About Books
April 25-26, 2008
Jacksonville
http://www.muchadoaboutbooks.com
“Celebrating Florida’s natural resource: great authors.”
Kansas
William Inge Theatre Festival
April 23-26, 2008
Independence
http://www.ingecenter.org/ingefestival.html
“2008 promises to be another exciting year for the Inge Festival. Our 2008 honoree is one of the theatre's true funnymen, Christopher Durang.”
Kentucky
Southern Kentucky Book Fest
April 19, 2008
Sloan Convention Center, Bowling Green, Kentucky
http://www.sokybookfest.org/
“The Southern Kentucky Book Fest is the state's largest literary event and is presented by WKU Libraries, Bowling Green Public Library, and Barnes and Noble Booksellers. Held annually during National Library Week, the Book Fest draws thousands of readers of all ages who welcome the occasion to meet their favorite authors.”
Maryland
Bethesda Literary Festival
April 18-20, 2008
Bethesda
http://www.bethesda.org/specialevents/litfest/litfest.htm
Massachusetts
Newburyport Literary Festival
April 25-27, 2008
Newburyport
http://www.newburyportliteraryfestival.org/
“The Newburyport Literary Festival is a celebration of literature, authors, and readers. With its rich literary heritage, the greater Newburyport area has a lot to be excited about. Writers as diverse as John Greenleaf Whittier, John P. Marquand, Edna St. Vincent Millay, and Andre Dubus II have called Newburyport home.”
Mississippi
The 41st Annual Fay B. Kaigler Children's Book Festival
April 2-4, 2008
The University of Southern Mississippi, Hattiesburg
http://www.childrensbookfestival.org/
“Come celebrate 41 years of promoting excellence in children’s literature with Southern Miss Medallion winner Pat Mora.
The 15th Oxford Conference for the Book
April 3-5, 2008
The University of Mississippi, Oxford
http://www.oxfordconferenceforthebook.com/
“Dedicated to Zora Neale Hurston.”
New Mexico
17th Albuquerque Antiquarian Book Fair
April 4-5, 2008
Albuquerque
http://www.unm.edu/~alshal/aabf.htm
The 14th Annual Border Book Festival
“Return”
April 18-20, 2008
Mesilla
http://www.borderbookfestival.org/
“What does Return mean? Maybe you've lost something that can never be returned? Or maybe someone meaningful has gone missing? What is it that needs to be "returned" in a very physical and actual sense? What can never be returned?”
New York
New York Antiquarian Book Fair
April 4-6, 2008
The Park Avenue Armory, New York City
http://www.sanfordsmith.com/antiquarian_info.html
PEN World Voices
“Public Lives/Private Lives”
April 29-May 4, 2008
New York City
http://www.pen.org/page.php/prmID/1096
South Carolina
A[ugusta] Baker's Dozen - A Celebration of Stories Festival
Columbia
April 18-19, 2008
http://www.myrcpl.com/children/a-baker.cfm
“RCPL’s annual storytelling festival, cosponsored by the University of South Carolina School of Library and Information Science, brings to life the world of storytelling and children’s literature. The festival honors the works and achievements of nationally-known author and storyteller Augusta Baker, who moved to Columbia in 1980 and was appointed the Storyteller-in-Residence at USC.”
Texas
Texas Storytelling Festival
April 10-13, 2008
Denton
http://www.tejasstorytelling.com/
“Stories tell us of what we already knew and forgot, and remind us of what we haven’t yet imagined…join us as we explore the art of storytelling.”
"Read books. They are good for us." -- Natalie Goldberg