Brazos Valley Children’s Literary Festival: Open a Book, Open a World

Celebrate the joy of reading at the Brazos Valley Children’s Literary Festival: Open a Book, Open a World! Join the Bryan + College Station Public Library System on Saturday, April 11, at the Larry J. Ringer Library for a fun-filled day with renowned authors, including engaging presentations, book signings, creative arts and crafts, face painting, and more!

Event Highlights:

• Meet Renowned Authors: Live readings and presentations.
• Creative Fun: Arts, crafts, face painting, balloon art and MerMaid with Megan.
• Literary Joy: Book sales and signings, fostering imagination. 
• Community Non-Profit: Visit local organizations promoting literacy and child development.

Don’t miss this community celebration of literacy!

• When: Saturday, April 11 from 9 a.m. – 2 p.m.
• Where: Larry J. Ringer Library in College Station
• Audience: Children and families of all ages
• Admission: Free

Books by the authors will be available on-site for purchase at the event through our partner Hyperbole Bookstore in College Station, with 10% of the proceeds being donated to the Friends of the Library to help support the library system.

Eliza Kinkz

Performance: 9:30 a.m. | Book Signing: 10:15 – 11:15 a.m.

Eliza Kinkz is a Tejana artist who never stopped viewing the world through the bright colors of her crayons, AND she even ate a few, too! She’s illustrated many hilarious picture books, including “Papá’s Magical Water-Jug Clock” by Jesús Trejo which won the Pura Belpré Illustration Honor, and she was the 2022 James Marshall Fellow. All her ridiculous scribbles burst straight from her heart, which is overflowing with joy…and probably a few crayon pieces. “¡MISTACO!” is her author-illustrator debut, and you can spill all the frijoles to her anytime.

Drew Brockington

Performance: 11 a.m. | Book Signing: 11:45 a.m.

Drew Brockington has flown a space shuttle, repaired the International Space Station, and served in Mission Control — all during a week at Space Camp. He works at his drawing table and loves to use pencils until they are only little nubs. He has written and illustrated numerous graphic novels including the “CatStronauts” series, the “Waffles and Pancake” series and “Metropolis Grove.” His picture books include “Hangry,” “Puppy Bus” and “Kitty Camp.” He loves bad jokes and lives with his family and bulldog in Minneapolis. Find out more about the CatStronauts on the CatStronauts website and Drew’s other artwork on his website.

David Schwartz

Performance: 12:30 p.m. | Book Signing: 1:15 p.m.

With a wealth of visuals, David Schwartz leaves children laughing, learning and howling with delight — about math, science, books and how they go together. He shows students how math is everywhere and how it can be both enjoyable and useful. He stresses the joy and power of wondering, and he tells funny stories of his childhood curiosities and how he later turned them into award-winning books. Combining storytelling with preposterous props, David dramatizes some of the themes in his books, building to an interactive climax that has children thinking and wondering as they (literally) scream in suspense.

Darlene Campos

Adrianna Cuevas

Shanna Upchurch