Earlier this month, we took a trip up to Morristown, New Jersey for the annual Morristown Festival of Books. We started at St. Peter's Episcopal Church to see a conversation with Tessa Bailey and Annabel Monaghan, moderated by Maryann McFadden.
The room was completely filled, and while I wasn't crazy about McFadden's interviewing style, I truly enjoyed listening to Tessa and Annabel. I thought they had a great rapport with each other and I learned more from their questions to each other than from the moderator, ironically!
We forewent the signing lines and instead went to a panel discussion celebrating the 40th anniversary of The Babysitters Club series. My sister and I were obsessed with these books as kids, and my niece Luna is now a fan, too! The panel featured Shauna Grant, who writes and illustrates graphic novels for the spin-off series aimed at younger readers, and Coe Booth, Peter Lerangis, and Emma Straub, who all contributed to Babysitter Summer, a new novel in the series. Each author talked about their history with the Babysitters Club and how they came to be part of these new iterations. I loved that there were so many kids at the talk, and they got to ask their own questions, too!
My niece was able to meet a couple of the authors afterwards and get her book signed, and she even started reading her book at lunch, she was that excited!
It was a beautiful day for the Festival - it seems like every year I go, it rains, but this year was perfect, and we are already looking forward to going back next year!
Looks like it was a really fun event!
ReplyDeleteIt always is!
DeleteIt's awesome that you have family members who like to read. I'm the only one with a book obsession in my family. :)
ReplyDeleteHaha, yes, my sister has definitely surpassed me in the book obsession!
DeleteHow fun!! Loved hearing about this book festival and I also love attending those. Sounds like you guys had a perfect day. Do hope you get to go back next year and loved the pictures!!
ReplyDeleteThank you so much, Kay! We look forward to it every year!
DeleteOh I used to love the Babysitters Club series too! Looks like it was a really fun event!
ReplyDeleteI love that the BSC is still around and evolving for a new generation!
DeleteI should go to this one year. It's not far. I like who was there.
ReplyDeleteYou should! They always get some top-notch names.
Delete