Who is going to be there

 

 

 

BookFest is a wonder-full, fun day for children and adults alike. Authors and illustrators from across Canada are invited to present their work and tell stories about their creations and lives.

Divided into three sessions of 45 minutes each, the presenters use a variety of techniques to inspire creativity and enthusiasm for books in their audience: some use technology, some use story-blankets, and others may leap and bounce about. Audience participation is common, as the presenters ask children to help with future book ideas, or invite them to pick a story or assist with a new illustration.

Noon-hour activities feature The Kerplunks, a hot new children's entertainment group. They were at BookFest last year, too, and everyone enjoyed their songs and music. There's also giant bubble blowing and face painting.

There will be a book vendor on site if you wish to purchase presenters' books, and at the end of the day there is an opportunity to get them signed by the author or illustrator!

Our Objectives:

• To promote literacy and a love of literature in the central Vancouver Island region by introducing children to high-quality works by Canadian authors & illustrators;


• To stimulate children's creativity by bringing them together with professional authors and illustrators who share their creative development and processes;


• To celebrate excellence in Canadian children's literature and book illustration by showcasing both well-established and notable new authors and illustrators.

In 1986, a group of local teachers from School District #68, booksellers, and librarians from the Vancouver Island Regional Library organized the first Vancouver Island Children's Book Festival in Nanaimo, BC. The following year, Malaspina College joined as a sponsor, providing a central site for the festival.

The festival is unique in Canada. It is organized for children. Each child who registers may bring a parent, and it is held on the first Saturday in May so that families may attend. The festival is organized and managed by a team of volunteers known as The Nanaimo Children's Literature Round Table. This group not only organizes the festival but billets, feeds and provides transportation for the authors to all their readings both on the day of the festival and on the days when authors do readings in the schools. The festival is a cooperative effort: The Vancouver Island Regional Library applies for a major grant; School District 68 (especially the Teacher Librarians); Vancouver Island University; SaveOn Foods administers the sale of the authors' books onsite.

Each year the festival committee invites 9 Canadian children's authors/illustrators to meet with Island children ages 5 - 12 in Nanaimo. We have hosted the over 150 of the most esteemed authors from every part of Canada including the Northwest Territories. Many Nanaimo, Vancouver Island and British Columbia authors have attended. Each year we have an author/illustrator from Quebec and on many occasions have invited First Nations authors. Over the years, festival attendance on the day of the event has varied from 450 - 1000 . In addition because of our outreach program from 6000- 9500 children on Vancouver Island have heard an author speak in their schools each year. Thus we know that over 150,000 children on Vancouver Island have heard a Canadian author over the 24 years.

We now have a Mother Goose program for parents with babies and toddlers. We are also actively reaching out to grandparents inviting them to bring grandchildren.

Our main source of funding is the Canada Council for the Arts, which provides us with money for transportation and reading fees for the authors. Local organizations have been generous in their support which allows us to pay the transportation and reading fees of authors from British Columbia and Alberta. A list of those organization is appended.

Registrations costs are minimal: $10.00 per child or $25 for a family of 3 or more. This entitles each child to attend 3 sessions, and noon hour activities-- face-painting, bubble blowing, and a musical group--last year it was the Kerplunks from Gabriola Island. We also have a scholarship program which is administered by the schools. Children who might not otherwise be able to attend because of costs are looked after. Each year one of the illustrators designs a t-shirt for the festival which raises some funds.

For further information on our history, see our Anniversary page.