{"id":355695,"date":"2026-09-24T13:46:45","date_gmt":"2026-09-24T13:46:45","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ny\/355695\/"},"modified":"2026-09-24T13:46:45","modified_gmt":"2026-09-24T13:46:45","slug":"brooklyn-book-festival-childrens-day-is-back-new-york-family","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ny\/355695\/","title":{"rendered":"Brooklyn Book Festival Children\u2019s Day Is Back \u2013 New York Family"},"content":{"rendered":"

If your child is an avid reader, or you\u2019d like them to become one, you won\u2019t want to miss Brooklyn Book Festival\u2019s 2026 Children\u2019s Day.<\/p>\n

At a Glance:<\/p>\n

Meet favorite authors and illustrators, hear stories, and see books come to life.
\nHands-on fun where kids can draw, make crafts, play games, and take part in interactive activities.
\nThere\u2019s programming for little ones, early readers, elementary school kids, and tweens.
\nIt\u2019s a full day of family fun, and it\u2019s free!<\/p>\n

Psst\u2026 Check Out Things to Do with the Kids This Weekend in Brooklyn!<\/a><\/p>\n

A Fun, Free Day of Books, Art, and Activities for Kids at Brooklyn Borough Hall<\/p>\n

While the Brooklyn Book Festival celebrates books and reading, it\u2019s far from a quiet day, and even non-readers will have a good time with plenty of activities to keep kids entertained.<\/p>\n

The Brooklyn Book Festival returns for its 21st annual celebration this year, with more than 160 events and nearly 500 authors taking part in events across New York City and online. The full festival runs September 20\u201328, and Children\u2019s Day is its big family-focused celebration on Saturday, September 26, from 10 am to 4 pm at Brooklyn Borough Hall and Plaza.<\/p>\n

Meet the Authors<\/p>\n

There will be read-alouds, live illustration sessions, hands-on workshops, games, and interactive performances. Kids will have the chance to meet some of their favorite authors and illustrators, along with fun activities inspired by their books.<\/p>\n

For kids, meeting an author they love can be thrilling. I still clearly remember my kids meeting Marc Brown at 92NY years ago, after years of reading his Arthur series. It\u2019s a story we all fondly recall now and then, and we still have our signed copies.<\/p>\n

At the festival this year, kids can meet R.J. Palacio of Wonder fame, Bess Kalb of the Buffalo Fluffalo series, Vashti Harrison, Mahogany L. Browne, Adam Gidwitz, Jorge Aguirre, and John Patrick Green of the InvestiGATORS series.<\/p>\n

If you\u2019ve got an early reader, the Picture Book Stage is a must-see. Throughout the day, kids can listen to authors read their books, including Bess Kalb\u2019s Buffalo Fluffalo & Puffalo, R.J. Palacio and Brett Helquist\u2019s The Haunted Playground, and Rowboat Watkins\u2019 Moustache, Moosestache.<\/p>\n

For older elementary kids, the Young Readers Stage has an interactive trivia game, live storytelling, and a fantasy role-playing adventure with middle-grade authors.<\/p>\n

Books That Make Kids Laugh and Think<\/p>\n

While there are a lot of fun and funny books included in the mix, the festival is also introspective and focuses on deeper themes, which is so much of what good writing does. This year\u2019s lineup includes books about individuality, family, finding your place, creativity, and seeing the world from a different perspective, which is so crucial in our world right now.<\/p>\n

Some standout books include:<\/p>\n

The Haunted Playground by R.J. Palacio, a spooky story about two kids who dare to enter a playground where ghosts come to play
\nAnother Tongue by Yevgenia Nayberg, about the challenges and excitement of learning a new language
\nBlack Girl, Bloom Bright and Black Boy, Take Flight by Mahogany L. Browne, two collections of poetry celebrating Black joy
\nBe the Acorn by Jason Douglas Griffin, an inspiring story about a young squirrel determined to prove he can help his family<\/p>\n

There are also workshops where kids can create their own art and books, including origami, paper crafts, painting, self-portraits, and more.<\/p>\n

For Active Kids<\/p>\n

Events like \u201cAre You Smarter than an Author?\u201d, an interactive trivia game where kids can test their knowledge against middle-grade authors, let kids be part of the fun.<\/p>\n

There\u2019s also \u201cDraw Me A Story,\u201d where children can help authors and illustrators create a story live, as well as \u201cMad Libs Mix Up,\u201d a silly game inspired by graphic novels.<\/p>\n

For young artists, \u201cClash of the Creators: Illustrator Draw-Off\u201d has illustrators battling it out with live drawings inspired by audience suggestions.<\/p>\n

\u201cThe Monster and Puppet Show with Kate Micucci\u201d combines storytime, puppets, ukulele sing-alongs, and plenty of laughs.<\/p>\n

For Tweens and Older Kids<\/p>\n

Older kids can head to the Young Readers Stage for programming geared toward middle-grade readers. One highlight is \u201cAuthors & Escapades,\u201d an interactive fantasy role-playing adventure where kids can help three middle-grade authors complete a quest. Audience participation is encouraged, so this one is especially good for kids who like fantasy, games, and getting involved.<\/p>\n

There\u2019s also \u201cGrab Your Tiaras!\u201d, a conversation with bestselling author Meg Cabot and Corey Ann Haydu about princesses, new books, and 25 years of The Princess Diaries.<\/p>\n

Children\u2019s Day is Saturday, September 26, from 10 am to 4 pm at Brooklyn Borough Hall and Plaza, 209 Joralemon Street. All events are free. Find the full schedule and author lineup at brooklynbookfestival.org<\/a>.<\/p>\n

Psst\u2026 Check Out Ascarium Is Back at the New York Aquarium, With a New Illusion-Themed Exhibit<\/a><\/p>\n

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