Children’s Village Brings Non‑Stop Creativity to the 2026 Gaithersburg Book Festival

Interactive booths, hands-on art and story writing and beloved authors transform May 16 into a story‑filled adventure for kids  

Gaithersburg, Md. – April 14, 2026 –  The Children’s Village at the 2026 Gaithersburg Book Festival will be buzzing from the start, inviting young readers to dive into a full day of hands‑on creativity, storytelling adventures and meet‑the‑author magic. Kids can craft Lune poems, tap out messages on vintage typewriters, build zines and LEGO sculptures, churn butter, sketch dinosaurs, explore Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library, and even create Mad Libs about service dogs—all while award‑winning children’s and YA authors share their stories just steps away.

Non-Stop Activities in the Children’s Village

Throughout the day, hands-on activities will take place in the Children’s Village, hosted by our sponsors:

• Story Inspired Art and Lune Poetry with Story Tapestries: Create your own colorful image and 11 word Lune poem using crayons, markers, and shimmering glitter. Leave the booth twirling away with your stories, your sparkly masterpiece, and a brand new book in hand.

• Hands On Typewriter Pop Up with Montgomery History: Tap into the past as you bring your words to life on a real, clacking typewriter. Discover the joy of hands on history in a pop up exhibit that turns writing into an adventure.

• Literary-Inspired Crafts and Sensory Fun with Kiddie Academy of Gaithersburg: Spark creativity with literary-themed arts and crafts, hands-on sensory play, and joyful early writing activities. It’s a lively mix of imagination, learning, and pure kid-powered fun.

• Story Building Adventures with Girl Scout Council of the Nation’s Capital: Create your own story using imaginative story cards and adventure-filled maps. Play with words through Mad Libs and design a character bookmark to bring your tale to life.

• Create Your Own Bookmark Fun with Coconut & Palm Pediatrics, LLC: Design a personalized bookmark to help you keep your place in whatever story you’re adventuring through. Craft something cute, colorful, and totally you.

• Monoprint Magic on a 1960s Etching Press with Frederick Book Arts Center: Roll up your sleeves and create a one of a kind monoprint using an authentic 1960s etching press. It’s hands-on, inky fun that brings classic printmaking to life.

• Service Dog Mad Libs and Craft Fun with Warrior Canine Connection: Create a hilarious Mad Lib all about service dogs, color your favorite canine characters, and enjoy a sweet moment at the dog kissing booth. It’s paws-on fun for all ages.

• Dolly-Inspired Creativity and Dress Up Fun with Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library of Montgomery County: Color your way through Dolly themed sheets, draw and write about your favorite storybooks, and dress up like Dolly herself. Explore the magical world of Imagination Library books while shining in your own sparkly style.

• Zine Making and LEGO Sculptures with VisArts: Dive into hands on creativity as you craft your own mini zine and build imaginative LEGO sculptures. It’s a perfect mix of art, play, and endless possibilities.

• Dinosaur Sketchbooks and Story Adventures with Montgomery County Public Libraries: Unearth a tale of your own by creating a dinosaur-themed sketchbook and grabbing a festival scavenger hunt map. Stop by for an adventure that brings stories to life.

• Pete the Cat Reading Fun with Twinbrook Community Church and Christian DayCare: Stop by the Pete the Cat tent to explore the joy of reading with children. Make bookmarks and bracelets, listen to stories, play games, and join in on all the colorful, book-loving fun.

• Braille Games and Bookmark Making with Federation of the Blind of Maryland Sligo Creek: Explore the world of Braille through fun and games, then create your own Braille bookmark to take home. It’s an inviting way to learn, play, and discover new ways to read.

• Dairy Discovery and Butter Churning Fun with King Farm Dairy MOOseum: Learn all about Maryland’s dairy history while you churn your own butter, create a dairy-themed craft, and explore books about cows and farm life. It’s a “mooovelous” way to dig into dairy fun.

Award-Winning, Best-Selling Authors and Book Signings

Visit our children’s and young adult author tents to hear from award-winning and best-selling authors and illustrators, then take your books to get signed afterwards. Featured authors include:

Children’s Authors

Full biographies and children’s book descriptions can be found here.

• B. Alston, “Amari and the Metalwork Menace”
• Andrew Auseon, “Spellbinders: Overpowered”
• Tracey Baptiste, “Moko Magic: Museum Mayhem”
• Derrick Barnes, “Seven Million Steps: The True Story of Dick Gregory’s Run for the Hungry”
• Fred Bowen, “Special Teams”
• Nick Bruel, “Bad Kitty Gets a Job”
• Miriam Chernick, “The Zuzu Secret”
• Alyssa Colman, “Where Only Storms Grow: A Novel About the Dust Bowl”
• Katie Cotugno, “Penelope Positano Sees It All”
• Sayantani DasGupta, “Theft of the Ruby Lotus”
• Lily Berlin Dodd, “The Last Ember: The Aerimander Chronicles Book 1”
• Craig Kofi Farmer, “A Method for Magic and Misfortune”
• Sharon G. Flake, “Hattie Mae Begins Again”
• Alexis Frederick-Frost, “Team Unihorn and Woolly”
• John Patrick Green, ““Investigators: Agents of S.U.I.T.: Sew Much Trouble”
• Corey Ann Haydu, “The Ordinary and Extraordinary Auden Greene”
• Alan Katz, “The Funniest Animal Joke Book Ever for Kids”
• Erin Entrada Kelly, “The Second Life of Snap”
• Michelle Knudsen, “Into the Wild Magic”
• David LaRochelle, “This Superhero Needs Your Help!”
• Brian Lies, “Cat Nap”
• Carolyn Mackler, “Right Back at You”
• Leonard S. Marcus, “Earthrise: The Story of the Photograph That Changed the Way We See Our Planet”
• Nicole Melleby, “Brady Mason’s Perfect Fit”
• Leland Melvin, “Space Chasers: To the Moon”
• Naomi Milliner, “The Trouble with Secrets”
• Rebecca Morrison, “The Blue Dress”
• Neri, “My Bicentennial Summer: True Adventures from the Most Epic Family Road Trip of All Time”
• Linda Sue Park, “Just One Gift”
• Tim Probert, “Lightfall: A Place Between”
• Sherri Duskey Rinker, “Construction Site: Firefight!”
• Barbara Carroll Roberts, “The Metamorphosis of Bunny Baxter”
• Dave Roman, “Unicorn Boy”
• Jonathan Roth, “Almost Underwear: How a Piece of Cloth Traveled from Kitty Hawk to the Moon and Mars”
• Steve Sheinkin, “Diamond Fever!: A True Crime Story in the Wild West”
• Shana Targosz, “Relic of Thieves (The Underwild)”
• Jasmine Warga, “The Unlikely Tale of Chase and Finnegan”
• Carole Boston Weatherford, “Fourteen Ways of Looking at Jellyfish”
• Katie Yamasaki, “Mural Island”

Teen/Young Adult Authors

• Darlene P. Campos, “The Center of the Earth”
• Sarah Dessen, “Change of Plans”
• Gareth Hinds, “The Odyssey”
• Jenni Howell, “Boys with Sharp Teeth”
• Tony Keith Jr., “How the Boogeyman Became a Poet”
• Amanda McCrina, “Beyond Seven Forests”
• SJ Sindu, “Tall Water”
• Charlene Thomas, “It’s You Every Time”
• Alexandra Villasante, “Fireblooms”

Writing Workshops

The Children’s Village also will offer free writing workshops for children and teens, led by authors, illustrators and local writing experts. More details about these workshops are available on the Children’s Workshop webpage of the Festival website.

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.

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