MORRISTOWN, NJ — Young book lovers will have plenty to explore in downtown Morristown next month as KidFest returns with dozens of children's authors and illustrators, activities, and a special celebration marking 40 years of "The Baby-sitters Club."
KidFest, the children's portion of the annual Morristown Festival of Books, will run from 10:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 10, rain or shine.
Throughout the day, children and families will have opportunities to meet authors, buy books, and have them personally signed. Several authors and illustrators will also give readings and talks.
This year's lineup includes Dan Gutman, author of the "My Weirdtastic School" series; Rachel Renée Russell and Nikki Russell of "Dork Diaries"; Kayla Miller, author of "Besties"; Steve Sheinkin, author of "Mind vs. Machine"; and Erin Entrada Kelly, author of "Fatal Glitch."
Other scheduled participants include Beth Ferry, Jacky Davis, David Soman and Kate Milford.
One of this year's special programs will celebrate the 40th anniversary of "The Baby-sitters Club," the long-running children's book series first published in 1986. Emma Straub, Coe Booth, Peter Lerangis and Shauna J. Grant are scheduled to participate in the anniversary event.
KidFest will also feature activities beyond the books, including crafts, face painting, balloon art and giveaways.
New Jersey high school students will get their own turn in the spotlight from 3 to 4 p.m., when winners of the festival's Teen Writing Contest read their entries. Contest winners are scheduled to be announced the previous evening during the festival's keynote event.
KidFest will be held on the lawn of St. Peter's Episcopal Church, 121 South St., while select author talks will take place nearby at St. Peter's Parish House, 70 Maple Ave.
The children's event is part of the larger Morristown Festival of Books, which continues throughout downtown Morristown on Oct. 10. The free Main Festival runs from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. and brings together authors of fiction, nonfiction, history, sports, poetry and other genres for talks and book signings.
The festival kicks off Friday, Oct. 9, with a sold-out keynote event featuring bestselling author and "Revisionist History" host Malcolm Gladwell discussing his new book, "The American Way of Killing."
Saturday's Main Festival and KidFest are free and open to the public.
The complete KidFest schedule and author lineup are available online here.
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