Event Features Storybook Parade and Award-Winning Authors Dave Eggers, Eve L. Ewing
(Chicago) August 10, 2023—Printers Row Lit Fest (PRLF), one of the three largest and oldest literary festivals in the United States, presents the power of ideas to inspire, educate and transform lives through books. As a way to encourage youngsters to see literary works as passports to new worlds and make them lifelong readers, Lit Fest is planning special children’s events as part of its schedule. Lit Fest will run from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 9, and Sunday, Sept. 10 in Chicago’s famous Printers Row neighborhood.
In its 38th year, Lit Fest is completely free for visitors and annually attracts more than 100,000 people. It stretches across five blocks, along South Dearborn Street from Ida B. Wells Drive to Polk Street and then to State and Clark Streets.
Kicking off the children’s programming will be a fun, festive, and colorful Storybook Parade where youngsters will be the main attraction. Children are invited to come at 10 a.m. Saturday to the outdoor Center Stage in Printers Row Park wearing their favorite costumes. The parade will be led by the Chicago Public Library’s Great Horned Owl and the Yin He Dancers, in partnership with the Chinatown Chamber of Commerce. Dancers will wear traditional Chinese clothing called HANFU at the parade. Miss Friendship Ambassador 2023 Amy Xie will tell the story of „Chang’E and Houyi Goddess of the Moon.”
With touches of whimsy, magic, and imagination, several authors will use their books to let readers explore social issues, personal feelings and the communication methods demonstrated in the animal kingdom among other themes.
Visitors will hear from 2009 Harold Washington Literary Award recipient Dave Eggers, author of “The Eyes and the Impossible.” The book, aimed at readers ages 8 to 12, tells the story of Johannes, a free dog who lives in an urban park by the sea. His role is to be the Eyes—to see everything happening within the park and report back to the park’s elders, three ancient Bison. His friends—a seagull, a raccoon, a squirrel, and a pelican—work with him as the Assistant Eyes, observing the humans and other animals who share the park and ensuring the Equilibrium is in balance.
Eve L. Ewing, whose work includes “Electric Arches,” “1919” and the comics “Black Panther” “Ironheart” and “Monica Rambeau: Photon,” will be in conversation about inheriting legacy withJulian Randall, poet, and author of books such as “Pilar Ramirez and the Curse of San Zenon,” and “Black Boy Joy.”
DJ Corchin, an award-winning illustrator and author, will present an interactive activity as he reads and discusses the „I Feel...” children’s series. The series helps kids recognize, express and deal with the rollercoaster of emotions they feel every day. Corchin will invite participants to draw along the emotional spectrum as they learn other ways to start a discussion about “all the feels.” Corchin’s catalog includes “A Thousand NO’s,” “Do You Speak Fish?” and his newest book “If You Find A Unicorn, It Is Not Yours To Keep.”
Rekha Rajan, a classically trained opera singer, musician, and educator, will get kids moving and grooving as she reads her forthcoming book “Can You Dance Like A Peacock?” Rajan will encourage participants to do animal dances as she explains how creatures in the wild use movement in their communication.
Other talented authors coming to PRLF will include Zetta Elliott of “The Enchanted Bridge,” part of “Dragons in a Bag Series;”Cozbi Cabrera of “Me and Mama;” Karla Valentiof “Loteria”and “Biography of Selena Gomez”and Keir Graffof “Minerva Keen’s Detective Club.” Graff co-wrote the book with internationally renowned mystery and suspense writer James Patterson known for adult tomes such as “Along Came a Spider,” “Kiss The Girl,” and “Zoo” and children’s books such as “Ali Cross,” “Maximum Ride,” “Max Einstein: The Genius Experiment,” and “Treasure Hunters.”
PRLF celebrates independent booksellers that encourage youngsters to explore beyond boundaries and learn pivotal historical moments. Visitors can become literary sleuths as they enter a “Kid Lit Detective Scavenger Hunt” that will be presented by Bookish Chicago, a woman-owned and minority-vested small bookseller. Local author, Keir Graff, will write a dynamic clue-based literary scavenger hunt, which will drive attendees with middle-grade children to collect sheets at Bookish Chicago’s table and then visit participating exhibitors to solve clues. Participants will look for different themed books with certain topics and key landmarks and win prizes along the way.
PRLF also will bring the return of Mrs. Yuka of Drag Story Hour Chicago, a nonprofit organization showcasing storytellers using the art of drag to read books to children in libraries, schools, and bookstores. The organization’s chapter network creates diverse, accessible, and culturally-inclusive family programming where kids can express their authentic selves and become bright lights of change in their communities. Mrs. Yuka is the creator and producer of the Nebraska Chapter, co-producer of the Chicago Chapter, and is on the national board of directors.
PRLF is supported by a Chicago Presents grant from the City of Chicago Department of Cultural Affairs and Special Events. Major sponsors include Robert R. McCormick Foundation, Poetry Foundation, Joseph & Bessie Feinberg Foundation, Alphawood Foundation Chicago, Chicago Public Library Foundation, ReadersMagnet, LLC., Crain’s Chicago Business. Media sponsors are Chicago Sun-Times and WBEZ 91.5 FM Chicago.
For more information about PRLF, visit http://printersrowlitfest.org/.
About Printers Row Lit Fest:
The Printers Row Lit Fest (PRLF), now in its 38th year, has become a cornerstone of the literary scene, attracting thousands of visitors annually. As one of the largest literary festivals in the country, it offers an incredible platform for established and emerging authors to engage with their readers and discuss their latest works. The festival celebrates the power of ideas to inspire, educate, and transform lives, making it a must-attend event for book lovers of all ages and the opposite of banning books.
