Book Festival Authors Announced - Hudson Hosts Biggest Event in NYS

HUDSON, NY (04/18/2012)(readMedia)-- Hudson Children's Book Festival-Authors Announced

Nearly 90 of the nation's top children's authors will be "on site" for the Hudson Children's Book Festival .

Authors include:

Ellen Jensen Abbott, Mike Loki Anthony, Willow Bascom, Alice (A.C.E.) Bauer, Artie Bennett, Jennifer Berne, Keith Bendis, Suzanne Bloom, Nick Bruel, Laurie Calkhoven, Mercedes Cecilia, Richard Loren Copley, Donald Crews, Nina Crews, Doreen Cronin, Debbie Dadey, Katie & Jerry Davis, Barbara Dee, Michael Delaney, Julia DeVillers, Johnette Downing, Monique Duncan, Sandra Dutton, Kate Feiffer, Alison Ashley Formento, D. Dina Friedman, Nancy Furstinger, Melanie Hall, Jeanette & Bruce Hopkins, Jennifer Hubbard, Lynda Mullaly Hunt, Ty Allan Jackson, Ann Jonas, Danielle Joseph, P.G. Kain, Lucine Kasbarian, Alan Katz, Elizabeth Cody Kimmel, Devon Kinch, Jo Knowles, Michelle Knudsen, Rosanne Kurstedt & Lisa Carletta-Vieites, Lisa LaMonica, Kara LaReau, Ann Haywood Leal, Barbara Lehman, Sarah Darer Littman, Barry Lyga, Torrey Maldonado, Amanda Marrone, Richard Michelson, Victor Ramon Mojica, Walter Dean Myers, Michael Northrop, Lionel Oliver II, Ammi-Joan (A.J.) Paquette, Coleen Murtagh Paratore, Helen Perelman, Christen S. Prete, Calvin A. Ramsey, Lesa & James Ransome, Cindy Mauro Reisenauer, Jennifer Roy, Michael Sampson, Anita Sanchez, Renee Sherkness, Seymour Simon, Ruth Ann Smalley, Aaron Nigel Smith, Ryan Smithson, Doug Snelson, Laurie Faria Stolarz, Hudson Talbott, Mark Teague, Kyra Teis, Lisa Thiesing, Timothy Tocher, Iza Trapani, Terry Trueman, Erica Pelton Villnave, Lea Wait, Dustin Warburton & Nathan Gorman, Laura Wiess, Maryrose Wood, Jacqueline Woodson Organizers say that this fourth annual festival should draw more than 5,000 students, parents and literacy professionals with over 90 children's authors and illustrators participating. This year's participants are traveling from all parts of the United States including writers and illustrators from Washington, Louisiana, Florida and California.

The National Children's Book Council lists Hudson's Children's Book Festival as "one of the 10 National Events". Walter Dean Myers, the new National Ambassador for Young People's Literature, will kick off the festival with a 10 A.M. Myers' keynote address will promote "READING IS NOT OPTIONAL!"

Walter Dean Myers will also be available to sign his books. The "heavy hitters" of children's literature will also be participating. They include: Seymour Simon, Donald Crews, Terry Trueman, Jacqueline Woodson, Mark Teague, and Nick Bruel.

Those attending the Hudson children's Book Festival can meet and greet the authors and illustrators, attend "read aloud" sessions or presentations by their favorite authors. Hudson's Exhibit Hall will house 2,500 free books and participants can purchase a signed book by the authors.

Free transportation will be provided from designated locations.

Organizers are planning a "free" Kindle giveaways each hour. Other prizes will be awarded and favorite storybook characters, and Whoopsie Daisy the Clown will be

touring the exhibit hall.

The Hudson Children's Book Festival (HCBF) is taking place this year on May 5th, 2012 from 10 A.M. – 4 P.M. on the campus of the Hudson City School District's Junior/Senior High School.

For more information view:

www.hudsonchildrensbookfestival.com

Book Festival contact is Lisa Dolan 518-821-8741