The Tucson Festival of Books is a literary blockbuster and a HUGE supporter of Literacy Connects. If fact, the Festival is currently the single largest financial supporter of our programs.
The Festival is only in its 5th year, but already is the 4th largest event of its kind – challenging long-standing book festivals in huge cities like Miami, Washington D.C. and Los Angeles. Last year’s event drew an estimated 120,000 attendees and featured more than 400 presentations from authors, illustrators and agents.
The 2013 edition of the Festival will be held this Saturday, March 9th and Sunday, March 10th on the University of Arizona Mall.
With special author events for every genre, themed panel discussions – even live cooking demonstrations by noted cookbook authors – there is something for everyone at the Tucson Festival of Books! Entrance and parking are FREE for the whole family, and kids of all ages will enjoy hands-on literacy activities, live performances and the chance to meet their favorite storybook characters, who come to life in the children’s area.
Be sure to visit Literacy Connects at Booth 300 and contribute to the “Literacy Connects to Everything” Art Wall.
Stories that Soar! will be performing in the children’s area at Noon on Saturday – a wonderful show you don’t want to miss! And Reading Seed is collecting used and new children’s books at the LC Booth for their Lending Library and Free Book Distribution.
Among the highlights is an expanded Science City area powered by UA’s College of Science and BIO5 Institute and featuring dazzling science demonstrations, tours of the university’s world-class science facilities and a Science Café where experts will give casual lectures on everything from hurricanes to genomes to octopi.
With special author events for every genre, themed panel discussions—even live cooking demonstrations by noted cookbook authors—there is something for everyone at the Tucson Festival of Books. Entrance is free for the whole family, and kids of all ages will enjoy hands-on literacy activities, live performances and the chance to meet their favorite storybook characters, who come to life in the children’s area.
Local favorite and literacy advocate J.A. Jance will be at the Festival again this year, along with actor/environmentalist Ted Danson and filmmaker/novelist John Sayles.
The lineup of best-selling authors also includes:
- Jodi Picoult (The Storyteller)
- R.L. Stine (Goosebumps series)
- Bill Roorbach (Life Among Giants)
- Robert Crais (Suspect)
- John Mariani (How Italian Food Conquered the World)
- Chang-rae Lee (The Surrendered)
- Peter Brown (Creepy Carrots)
- Adam Rex (Chu’s Day)
- Margaret Peterson Haddix (Shadow Children series)
Since its inception, the Tucson Festival of Books has contributed $700,000 to organizations dedicated to improving literacy in the Tucson community, and Literacy Connects has received a significant portion of those funds.
For more information on the 2013 Tucson Festival of Books, including the complete list of presenters and activities, please go to tucsonfestivalofbooks.org.
