Adirondack Family Book Festival boasts stellar lineup in August

Robin Caudell, The Press-Republican, Plattsburgh, N.Y.
·2 min read

Feb. 17—WESTPORT — The Adirondack Family Book Festival returns this summer on Saturday, Aug. 17 with a stellar lineup of award-winning children's and YA authors and illustrators.

The event will be held from 9:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. at the John Brown Farm State Historic Site located at 115 John Brown Road, Lake Placid.

Now in its third year, the Adirondack Family Book Festival is a cherished community event, presented by John Brown Lives! and numerous community partners, that cultivates an expansive sense of belonging and safety, of well-being, connectedness, and the joy of reading.

In the unhurried natural setting of the John Brown Farm, readers of all ages hear from and mingle with beloved authors and artists.

The festival has also garnered statewide recognition by the Museum Association of New York (MANY) for engaging the community and building new audiences.

"We are thrilled to once again be a part of this wonderful community event," Bambi Pedu, director of Lake Placid Public Library, said.

"The list of authors is diverse and very impressive. I am looking forward to hearing their stories."

Local author Kate Messner is also thrilled with this year's lineup, noting that the festival "already has a reputation among authors and illustrators, thanks to our organizing team's care and enthusiasm and Lake Placid's warm summer welcome."

Excited to have five new titles for this year's events, Messner will be joined by fellow North Country authors: Maxwell Eaton III, Amy Guglielmo, and Loree Griffin Burns.

They will be joined by authors and illustrators from all over the country, including New York Times best sellers, prestigious award winners, and family favorites.

The 2024 roster also features Jason Chin, Brian Floca, Meredith Ireland, Rajani LaRocca, Kelly Starling Lyons, Kekla Magoon, Kayla Miller, Sharee Miller, Raúl The Third, Cynthia Leitich Smith, Lauren Tarshis, and Jasmine Warga.

For author bios and a festival schedule, go to https://adirondackfamilybookfestival.com/

"We are doubly-honored this year to host these amazing authors and to receive the MANY Engaging Communities Award of Distinction for the festival itself," Marth Swan, JBL! executive director, said.

"We couldn't do it without the best festival volunteers, partners and sponsors one could hope for or without the support of the NYS Office of Parks, Recreation, and Historic Preservation and the site staff at the John Brown Farm."

The Engaging Community Award celebrates organizations across New York State that use exceptional and resourceful methods to engage their communities and build new audiences. One of 15 Awards of Distinction recognizing unique leadership, dedicated community service, and transformational visitor experiences and innovative programs, it will be presented at MANY's 2024 annual conference "Giving Voice to Value" in Albany in April.

To learn more about MANY and the Awards of Distinction, visit: https://nysmuseums.org/annualconference.

Email: rcaudell@pressrepublican.com

Twitter@RobinCaudell