Tents are about to rise on the Festival Lawn at World’s Fair Park as final preparations come together for the Children’s Festival of Reading.

On Saturday, May 16, from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m., thousands of children and their families will gather for a day filled with stories, imagination, and hands-on fun—celebrating the books and creators who inspire young readers.

For 20 years, Library staff and volunteers have made magic and celebrated children’s books and their authors in that space between school and summer.

This Saturday, we invite you to meet the creative rock stars who help children think, learn, laugh, and better understand the world around them. Children’s book authors and illustrators are a particularly imaginative sort. We’ve invited back some of our favorites over the years. We know you’ll love them.

Meet our authors:
Allan Wolf is an award-winning author of novels, nonfiction, and poetry for young readers, including The Watch That Ends the Night, named one of the 50 Best YA Novels of All Time by Booklist. He lives in Roanoke, Virginia.
Alyssa Satin Capucilli is a New York Times bestselling author of more than 150 children’s books, including the beloved Biscuit series, which has sold more than 54 million copies worldwide.
Bob Shea is an award-winning author and illustrator known for favorites like Unicorn Thinks He’s Pretty Great, Ballet Cat, and the Dinosaur vs. series.
Carmen Agra Deedy is an award-winning author and storyteller and a 2026 Astrid Lindgren Memorial Award nominee. Her books include 14 Cows for America and The Rooster Who Would Not Be Quiet!.
Chris Grabenstein is a #1 New York Times bestselling author of the Lemoncello series and a longtime James Patterson collaborator. A University of Tennessee graduate, he lives in New York City.
Erin Falligant is the author of more than 40 books for young readers, best known for her work with American Girl. She is also known as Jen Marlin, author of this year’s One Book Read City novel, Wind Riders, Search for the Scarlet Macaw. 
Kwame Mbalia is a New York Times bestselling author of the Tristan Strong series and a Coretta Scott King Author Honor recipient.

Whether you’re raising a lifelong reader or just beginning the journey, the Children’s Festival of Reading is a chance to make memories, spark curiosity, and celebrate the joy of books—together.

Mary Pom Claiborne is assistant director for marketing, communications and development for Knox County Public Library.

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