Tuesday, September 9, 2014

Kerrytown BookFest 2014

The 2014 Kerrytown BookFest gave out awards Friday evening for the winners of the annual high-school cover contest--scroll down to September 6 to see them on the festival's Facebook page. Art students were asked to re-imagine the cover for Holling Clancy Holling's classic Paddle-to-the-Sea, published in 1941. Out of about 80 entries, eight were chosen as finalists (see them here), and Mariah Rossi's storm-tossed-ship-and-canoe painting placed first. I was one of three judges, and we were inspired by the imagination of the contestants.

The Sunday festival, whose theme was Celebrating the Art of the Book, started with a children's-book breakfast organized by author Shanda Trent, and went on to numerous programs. Here are some samples:
Bookseller Nicola Rooney, receiving the Community Book Award, answers a question from BookFest president Robin Agnew.
Ruth McNally Barshaw, author of the Ellie McDoodle books, gave a drawing workshop for kids.
Author Deborah Diesen interviews Caldecott winners Brian Floca, Philip and Erin Stead, and Chris Raschka.