Among the excellent book festivals scattered across the United States, the Hudson's Children's Book Festival stands out. The Second Annual Hudson Children's Book Festival attracted 100 authors and illustrators and was attended by a steady flow of area families (estimated: 5500 people). This is amazing success in a town with a population of about 7000.

Co-Directors, Lisa Dolan and Maria Suttmeier and Festival Coordinator Theresa Moran pay attention to details. For instance, the local newspaper ran articles ahead of time featuring each of the authors and illustrators who signed on to participate. Upon arrival, each of us was given a goodie bag with the piece the paper did on us, a festival t-shirt, a pin, thank you card, announcement about the 2011 date, the 32-page newspaper section detailing who would be where when, and best of all, a locally-made chocolate bar (our choice of milk, dark or white) with the festival logo. How cool is that?!                      


An abundance of enthusiastic  adult and youth volunteers kept us supplied with water, lunches, breaks as needed. All the blue-shirted helpers seemed to be thoroughly enjoying themselves, and the festive atmosphere included area school children performing a dance routine about reading. With all the amazing illustrators and authors who participated, I wish I had more pictures to share, but we were each there to meet people, talk about children's literature and sell books, so there wasn't much time for socializing.

                                                                             
                                    with author Lea Wait                                                                           with author Jennifer Berne

                                                       
        author Olugmesola Rhuday-Perkovich                                     &nb