July 7, 2003 2003 National Book Festival to be held October 4 on the National Mall
Contact: Library of Congress Contact: Helen Dalrymple (202) 707-1940; Sheryl Cannady (202) 707-6456 | Fleishman-Hillard Contact: Danny Maiello (202) 828-8899; Jennifer Dart (202) 828-8817
The third annual National Book Festival, organized and sponsored by the Library of Congress and hosted by Mrs. Laura Bush, will be held on Saturday, Oct. 4, on the National Mall in Washington, D.C., between 7th and 14th streets from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. (rain or shine).
This national cultural event, free to the public, has become widely anticipated by authors, publishers and readers of all ages. Last year’s festival drew approximately 45,000 people from all over the country and featured 70 authors and storytellers as well as guest of honor Ludmila A. Putina, first lady of the Russian Federation.
The 2003 event is expected to attract an even bigger crowd with 80 award-winning authors, illustrators and storytellers. There will be three new pavilions: "Home & Family," "Poetry" and "Teens & Children." Jacques Pepin, renowned French chef, author and host of popular television cooking shows, will appear in the "Home & Family" pavilion. He will be joined by authors Esmé Raji Codell, Barbara Damrosch, P. Allen Smith, Julie Sussman, Stephanie Glakas-Tenet and Patrick O’Connell.
Other celebrated authors attending this year include Julie Andrews, Steven Kellogg, Jerry Spinelli, Walter Dean Myers, Christopher Myers, Avi, Sharon Creech, R.L. Stine, Julia Glass, James Patterson, David Baldacci, Nelson DeMille, Robert Caro, Michael Beschloss, David Maraniss and Bob Schieffer.
Pavilions popular at the 2002 event—"Children," "Fiction & Imagination," "Mysteries & Thrillers," "History & Biography," "Pavilion of the States," "Let’s Read America" and
"Storytelling"—are back again for 2003. In addition, there will be many "hands-on" activities for kids, book sales, author readings and signings, appearances by NBA/WNBA players and PBS storybook characters.
The National Book Festival celebrates America’s love for reading and books and encourages everyone, children and adults, to appreciate the rich resources found in our country’s libraries. Updates on authors, illustrators, storytellers and performers participating in the 2003 National Book Festival can be found on the Library of Congress Web site at www.loc.gov/bookfest or by calling toll-free, (888) 714-4696.
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PR 03-125
2003-07-08
ISSN 0731-3527