Other Library of Congress National Book Festivals
Related Resources at the Library
The Library of Congress 2002 National Book Festival
The 2002 National Book festival, the second annual, was held October 12 on the West Lawn of the U.S. Capitol and the National Mall. That year, more than 70 award-winning authors, illustrators and storytellers drew an even bigger crowd than the previous year's festival. The Web site for the 2002 festival features information about the day's activities and biographies of the authors. You can even view recorded webcasts of more than 50 of the authors and other participants. Listening and watching them will give you new insights into their creativity and what inspires them to write or draw.
View the 2002 National Book Festival poster.
Storybook Characters
StoryTraveler Puppet Theater
Tucked into the tall trees near the pavilions on the National Mall, you'll find the StoryTraveler Puppet Theater, sponsored by The Coca-Cola Company and Reading is Fundamental (RIF). These two groups are working together to enhance the reading skills of children throughout the United States. Theater presentations will run throughout the day, along with the distribution of free, high-impact, age-appropriate books to children.
Adventure Theatre Players
Storybook characters from Adventure Theatre in Glen Echo Park, Maryland, will be strolling the Festival grounds. Look for Centipiede and Ladybug from James and The Giant Peach, a spooky bunny from the current production of Bunnicula, and other familiar characters from favorite children's books, brought to life by Adventure Theatre players.
PBS Kids Characters
Throughout the day, favorite characters including Caillou, crime-biters McGruff and Scruff, the lions from Between the Lions, Timothy the Racoon, and Dragon Tales' Ord will be on the West Lawn of the U.S. Capitol to greet you. There will also be an opportunity for you to have your picture taken with Elmo, Arthur, Clifford the Big Red Dog and other characters near the Let's Read America Pavilion II on the National Mall. Drop by the Children's and Young Adults Pavilion I at 11:30 a.m. and 4:00 p.m. to see Theo and Leona Lion and the Vowelles and others in special performances of "PBS KIDS Share a Story." Public Broadcasting Service (PBS) has arranged for Clifford and many of the other familiar characters to be with us. McGruff and Scruff are making their appearance courtesy of the National Crime Prevention Council.
Special Guests
LeVar Burton, chair of the "PBS KIDS Share a Story" campaign and star of the Emmy award-winning PBS KIDS series "READING RAINBOW", helped host two presentations in the Children and Young Adult Pavilion I with Pat Mitchell, PBS president. LeVar and Pat were joined by PBS KIDS celebrities, Bob McGrath from Sesame Street and Fred Newman from Between The Lions, who MCed the day's line-up. As a special celebration for the National Book Festival, PBS presented a unique performance, "PBS KIDS Share a Story," starring Bob and Rosita from Sesame Street, Theo and Leona Lion and the Vowelles from Between The Lions and the ZOOM kids.
Players from the NBA and WNBA including Bob Lanier (NBA Hall of Fame), Nate "Tiny" Archibald (NBA Hall of Fame), Tamika Williams (WNBA Minnesota Lynx), Stacey Dales-Schuman (WNBA Washington Mystics), Jerry Stackhouse (NBA Washington Wizards), Jeff Malone (Coach of the NBDL Columbus Riverdragons and former NBA All-Star), Swin Cash (WNBA Detroit Shock), Jahidi White (NBA Washington Wizards) were featured in the Children and Young Adult Pavilion II. These players and others support the NBA's "Read to Achieve" program, a year-round campaign to help young people develop a life-long love for reading and encourage adults to read regularly to children.
Music
America's rich and varied musical traditions will be celebrated by a full day of performances on stage between the Capitol Reflecting Pool and Third Street.
Mariachi Los Amigos
"Mariachi Los Amigos" kicks off the National Book Festival with its festive selections of mariachi music.
Ceoltoiri
"Ceoltoiri" makes its debut appearance with the National Book Festival with various selections of authentic Irish folk music. The group, comprised of three musicians who play multiple instruments, will perform on the Irish harp, the fiddle and the guitar and will provide vocal renditions of the best in Irish folk music.
The Wright Touch
"The Wright Touch" returns to the National Book Festival with a fresh repertoire of White House jazz arrangements. The six-member ensemble will perform in matching outfits under the direction of David Wright of "Wright Music and Productions."
Squeeze Bayou
"Squeeze Bayou" makes it debut with the National Book Festival with a full menu of exciting Cajun dance music. "Squeeze Bayou" will perform selections incorporating various styles from country to blues and Creole that reflect the wonderful diversity of sounds from Southwestern Louisiana. Vocals will be sung in Cajun French.
Broadcreek Dixieland Band
"Broadcreek Dixieland Band," a traditional Dixieland ensemble, will entertain guests with delightful authentic New Orleans style music. The group will perform in its signature candy-striped vests and arm garters.
Barretones
"Barretones," a four-member ensemble, offers the best in down-home authentic Bluegrass music. The group will feature songs from various states along the Appalachian trail.
Monumental Brass Quintet
"Monumental Brass Quintet" will close out this year's festival with its stately brass sound.
Nationwide Activities
Twenty-two state centers for the book will promote the 2002 National Book Festival at events and programs in their states between late August and October 6. The events and programs are supported by awards from the Center for the Book in the Library of Congress made possible through the generosity of AT&T and the Carnegie Corporation of New York.
The Center for the Book in the Library of Congress - a small, catalytic office - was established in 1977 to use the resources and prestige of the Library of Congress to stimulate public interest in books, reading, literacy and libraries. A public-private partnership, it is responsible for organizing the National Book Festival's author and reading promotion programs.
For further information about the reading promotion activities of the center's affiliates in 47 states and the District of Columbia and the 90 organizations that serve as its national reading promotion partners, visit the Center for the Book's Web site. It also contains a current listing of Book Fairs and other literary events across the U.S. and around the world.