Gaithersburg Book Festival Announces Dynamic Workshops to Inspire the Next Generation of Storytellers
Free, hands-on workshops led by top educators and authors to take place May 16
Gaithersburg, Md. – April 14, 2026 – Get ready for a burst of creativity at this year’s Gaithersburg Book Festival! Young storytellers, artists, poets and day‑dreamers can dive into a vibrant lineup of free, hands‑on workshops that will cover everything from crafting odes and building fantasy worlds to designing comics, art journals, nature poems and even reporter notebooks.
The children’s workshops, which are 55 minutes long and designed for children ages Kindergarten through 5th grade (unless otherwise noted) and their families, include:
Odes to Favorite Things – 10:00 a.m.
Work with poet Nancy Arbuthnot to practice writing odes in praise of a favorite person, place, or even thing! We will look at examples of contemporary odes by Pablo Neruda (“Ode to Things,” “Ode to Cats,” “Ode to My Socks”) and others, then spend some time jotting down ideas about your chosen subject. Then, after talking about ways to use repetition, concrete details and metaphors and similes, we will rework those ideas into poems. Finally, you’ll be encouraged to create a handmade “broadside,” or elegantly penned and lightly illustrated 8×10 in card. All supplies provided.
Comic Character Creation – 11:00 a.m.
Join cartoonists Dave Roman (“Unicorn Boy”) and Alexis Frederick-Frost (“Team Unihorn and Wooly”) for a fun-filled workshop about developing unique characters, brainstorming ideas, and collaborating with fellow artists to create unexpected comic stories full of crazy twists and turns.
Notice, Ask, Listen: Be a Reporter to Improve Your Stories – Noon
Notice, Ask, Listen: These three reporting skills can help spark creativity and improve writing. You will focus on noticing what’s around you and taking notes about those telling details; asking questions about things that make you curious; and listening to what people share.
Fantasy Worldbuilding – 1:00 p.m.
Calling all fantasy writers! In this workshop led by Writopia Lab, you will design a map for an original fantasy world. By drawing and outlining your fantasy world, you’ll explore how geography influences history, politics, cultures, and, of course, magic. This can serve as the framework for future or current projects.
Nature Art and Poetry Fun! – 2:00 p.m.
Let’s be creative! Come out and create a weather/nature artwork and “You” poem with Jennifer Klein! First, we will discuss some artworks and poems, then we will design our own nature artwork and write our own weather/nature riddle poem. Illustration tips for creating an artwork will be shared. Let’s see if we can guess each other’s riddles!
Epistolary Writing – 3:00 p.m.
In this workshop, led by Writopia Lab, you’ll write letters and postcards to or from fictional characters, exploring voice, perspective, and storytelling. Guided prompts and exercises will show how emotions can create intimate stories and characters. You also will be able to create a collaborative story with a partner through an exchange of letters.
Art Journaling: Stories Through Words and Pictures – 4:00 p.m.
What if stories did not stay inside the lines? In this joyful, hands-on workshop led by Jennifer-NeToi, you will explore art journaling as a space for imagination, color, and creative expression. Words and pictures come together in playful and unexpected ways, inviting participants to experiment, layer ideas, and let their creativity lead the way. There is no right way to create here, only curiosity, exploration, and the freedom to try something new. Together, we will discover how stories can spill across a page in shapes, textures, fragments, and bursts of inspiration. Come ready to imagine. Leave with pages full of possibility.
The workshops will be held during the Festival in the Children’s Workshops Pavilion in the Children’s Village. No pre-registration is required for these free workshops.
Learn more about these children’s workshops, the presenters and the schedule, as well as additional workshops geared for adults and older teens, being held between 10 a.m. and 6 p.m. on Saturday, May 16.
About the Gaithersburg Book Festival
The Gaithersburg Book Festival is an annual all-day celebration of books, writers and literary excellence, which is celebrating 17 years in 2026. One of the premier literary events in the Washington, D.C. metropolitan area, the 2026 Festival is scheduled for Saturday, May 16, at Bohrer Park at Summit Hall Farm (506 S. Frederick Ave.) in Gaithersburg, Md. Activities will include author appearances, discussions and book signings; writing workshops; a Children’s Village; onsite sales of new and used books; literary exhibitors and food, drink, ice cream and more. Admission and shuttles from Shady Grove Metro and Montgomery County Fairgrounds are FREE. The Gaithersburg Book Festival also hosts author events in Montgomery County throughout the year as a way to encourage continued appreciation for all things literary. For more information please visit www.gaithersburgbookfestival.org, follow us on X @GburgBookFest or like us on Facebook.
###