• James Billington, the 13th Librarian of Congress, and his wife, Majorie Billington, pose with authors and Donald Graham, a representative of The Washington Post, at the National Book Festival gala. From left to right: Donald Graham, Majorie Billington, James Billington, Azar Nafisi, Marc Brown, and Sandra Brown Photo credit: John Harrington

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  James Billington, the 13th Librarian of Congress, and his wife, Majorie Billington, pose with authors and Donald Graham, a representative of The Washington Post, at the National Book Festival gala. From left to right: Donald Graham, Majorie Billington, James Billington, Azar Nafisi, Marc Brown, and Sandra Brown Photo credit: John Harrington

• Festivalgoers walk around outside of the festival pavilions. Photo credit: John Harrington

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  Festivalgoers walk around outside of the festival pavilions. Photo credit: John Harrington

• Festivalgoers browse the author’s featured books for sale. Photo credit: John Harrington

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  Festivalgoers browse the author’s featured books for sale. Photo credit: John Harrington

• Jim and Kate Lehrer discuss their work in the fiction pavilion. Photo credit: John Harrington

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  Jim and Kate Lehrer discuss their work in the fiction pavilion. Photo credit: John Harrington

• Young festivalgoers watch as cars are about to be released on a race track for reading. Photo credit: John Harrington

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  Young festivalgoers watch as cars are about to be released on a race track for reading. Photo credit: John Harrington

• Dorothy Height, civil rights activist, president emeritus of National Council of Negro Women, and author, discusses her most recent book of the time Open Wide the Freedom Gate in the History and Biography pavilion. Photo credit: John Harrington

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  Dorothy Height, civil rights activist, president emeritus of National Council of Negro Women, and author, discusses her most recent book of the time Open Wide the Freedom Gate in the History and Biography pavilion. Photo credit: John Harrington

• Mrs. Frizzle reads a book to a crowd in front of the Magic School Bus with her lizard “Liz” nearby. Photo credit: John Harrington

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  Mrs. Frizzle reads a book to a crowd in front of the Magic School Bus with her lizard “Liz” nearby. Photo credit: John Harrington

• Kids stand in line to take a picture with one of the dragon’s from the PBS Kids show, Dragon Tales. Photo credit: John Harrington

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  Kids stand in line to take a picture with one of the dragon’s from the PBS Kids show, Dragon Tales. Photo credit: John Harrington

• Dana Gioia, award winning poet and critic, speaks to a crowd in the poetry pavilion. Photo credit: John Harrington

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  Dana Gioia, award winning poet and critic, speaks to a crowd in the poetry pavilion. Photo credit: John Harrington

• Ted Kooser, 13th Poet Laureate Consultant in Poetry to the Library, signs his book Delights & Shadows: Poems. Photo credit: John Harrington

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  Ted Kooser, 13th Poet Laureate Consultant in Poetry to the Library, signs his book Delights & Shadows: Poems. Photo credit: John Harrington

• Sandra Brown, mystery author, signs her books for festivalgoers. Photo credit: John Harrington

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  Sandra Brown, mystery author, signs her books for festivalgoers. Photo credit: John Harrington

• Neil Gaiman, best-selling novelist, signs books for his readers. Photo credit: John Harrington

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  Neil Gaiman, best-selling novelist, signs books for his readers. Photo credit: John Harrington

• Leigh and Leslie Keno, authors of Hidden Treasures: Searching for Masterpieces of American Furniture and hosts of PBS TV Show Find!, pose with the line of people waiting to have books signed. Photo credit: John Harrington

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  Leigh and Leslie Keno, authors of Hidden Treasures: Searching for Masterpieces of American Furniture and hosts of PBS TV Show Find!, pose with the line of people waiting to have books signed. Photo credit: John Harrington

• Joyce Carol Oates, acclaimed adult author, speaks to a crowd in the Fiction pavilion. Photo credit: John Harrington

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  Joyce Carol Oates, acclaimed adult author, speaks to a crowd in the Fiction pavilion. Photo credit: John Harrington

• Cokie Roberts, political commentator and bestselling author, speaks to a crowd in the history & biography pavilion. Photo credit: John Harrington

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  Cokie Roberts, political commentator and bestselling author, speaks to a crowd in the history & biography pavilion. Photo credit: John Harrington

• Azar Nafisi, professor and author of Reading Lolita in Tehran, poses with a festivalgoer. Photo credit: John Harrington

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  Azar Nafisi, professor and author of Reading Lolita in Tehran, poses with a festivalgoer. Photo credit: John Harrington

• Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, professional basketball player, signs copies of his book Brothers in Arms: The Epic Story of the 761st Tank Battalion, WWII’s Forgotten Heroes. Photo credit: John Harrington

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  Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, professional basketball player, signs copies of his book Brothers in Arms: The Epic Story of the 761st Tank Battalion, WWII’s Forgotten Heroes. Photo credit: John Harrington

• Festivalgoers check out the Library’s online exhibitions. Photo credit: John Harrington

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  Festivalgoers check out the Library’s online exhibitions. Photo credit: John Harrington

• A view of festivalgoers navigating the book signing area. Photo credit: John Harrington

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  A view of festivalgoers navigating the book signing area. Photo credit: John Harrington

• John Cole, Director of the Center of the Book, poses with Target representatives, who was one of the main sponsors of the festival. Photo credit: Francine Liem

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  John Cole, Director of the Center of the Book, poses with Target representatives, who was one of the main sponsors of the festival. Photo credit: Francine Liem

• Festivalgoers navigate the Pavilion of the States where each state and U.S. territories are represented at booths. Photo credit: Francine Liem

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  Festivalgoers navigate the Pavilion of the States where each state and U.S. territories are represented at booths. Photo credit: Francine Liem

• Festivalgoers check out a booth in the Pavilion of the States. Photo credit: Francine Liem

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  Festivalgoers check out a booth in the Pavilion of the States. Photo credit: Francine Liem

• Representatives from Wisconsin share books and resources from their state in the Pavilion of the States. Photo credit: Francine Liem

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  Representatives from Wisconsin share books and resources from their state in the Pavilion of the States. Photo credit: Francine Liem

• Festivalgoers wait in line to get their picture taken with characters from PBS Kids television shows like Sesame Street, Zoboomafoo, and Clifford. Photo credit: Francine Liem

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  Festivalgoers wait in line to get their picture taken with characters from PBS Kids television shows like Sesame Street, Zoboomafoo, and Clifford. Photo credit: Francine Liem

• Tony Diterlizzi and Holly Black, coauthors of The Spiderwick Chronicles, pause to sign books for festivalgoers. Photo credit: Francine Liem

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  Tony Diterlizzi and Holly Black, coauthors of The Spiderwick Chronicles, pause to sign books for festivalgoers. Photo credit: Francine Liem