The show will go on for the Orange County Children’s Book Festival, which will move its 17th annual event from an “in-person” to a “virtual” book festival, starting Monday, Sept. 14.
The Virtual Orange County Children’s Book Festival will have three parts: the first is the “Story & Activity Time” featuring authors and illustrators sharing their work through five 20-minute videos released daily beginning on Monday, Sept. 14 and wrapping up on Friday, Sept. 25.
On Saturday, Sept. 19, the Book Festival will host “Blue Ribbon Panels,” featuring authors who will be discussing current global events with young readers. Examples of panel topics include social justice, COVID-19, and grief and loss.
On Sept. 26 the Book Festival will present its “Red Carpet Time,” a two-session virtual event featuring a 90-minute morning session and a 90-minute afternoon session. Attendees won’t want to miss “Red Carpet Time,” which will include celebrities and notable, New York Times bestselling authors, such as author of the Diary of A Wimpy Kid series Jeff Kinney and top-rated Wharton professor Adam Grant, who will co-present with actress Kristen Bell.
“Red Carpet Time” also will include illustrators, wild animal experts, and celebrity chefs who will be teaching children how to cook. For more information about presenters, visit the OC Children’s Book Festival YouTube channel.
“Over the past 16 years, the OC Children’s Book Festival has presented California families with engaging storytellers, talented authors and accomplished illustrators to enjoy,” says Festival organizer Pat Burns. “Although nothing can replace the experience of attending the Book Festival, the Virtual Orange County Children’s Book Festival promises an entertaining and inspiring virtual event. As always, it features celebrity headliners, popular authors, studio illustrators and wonderful storytellers. This virtual event promises to be exactly what the Book Festival audience will want to see.”