Book, Art, & Music Festival is Back

Panels led by celebrated children's book authors and illustrators and kid-friendly fun await at the Mandel Public Library's April 9 event

Story time with author Lauren Castillo at BAM 2019
Story time with author Lauren Castillo at BAM 2019.

The Book, Art, & Music (BAM) Festival will return in-person on April 9, from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. with 39 award-winning authors and illustrators from across the country convening at the Mandel Public Library of West Palm Beach. The kid-friendly event is free and open to the public and celebrates books, art, and music through interactive activities including book signings, author readings and writing workshops, illustrator demonstrations and activities, writing and drawing competitions, live music, street chalk drawing, and more. 

“BAM is bigger and better than ever this year with almost 40 bestselling authors, illustrators, and musicians. The festival gives children and young adults a chance to meet, learn, and be inspired by their favorite authors and illustrators,” said Claire Salmon, president of BAM. “It is truly a unique experience that can inspire children to read, write, and explore the next level for those aspiring to be authors and artists.” 

Kids enjoy a presentation at BAM 2019
Kids enjoy a presentation at BAM 2019.

The event’s quintessential author and illustrator panels will take place all day long at the library. Speakers will host story times and workshops that will inspire and ignite the imagination. A total of 34 panels are available for children in K through fifth grades, middle schoolers, and young adults. For a complete schedule of activities and author/illustrator panels, click here.

Chalk art at BAM
Chalk art at BAM

Panelists and presenters include: Audrey Ades, Alexandra Alessandri, Valerie Bolling, Vanessa Brantley-Newton, Yangsook Choi, Christina Diaz Gonzalez, Antwan Eady, Robert Forbes, Van G. Garrett, Lauren Gibaldi, Shannon Hitchcock, Kim Johnson, Adib Khorram, Stephen Kozan, David LaRochelle, Jarrett Lerner, Lynne Marie, Ed Masessa, Kwame Mbalia, Juana Medina, Jenin Mohammed, G. Neri, Kerry O’Malley Cerra, Claribel A. Ortega, Linda Sue Park, Akshaya Raman, Stacie Ramey, Jess Redman, Debbie Reed Fischer, Shauna Reynolds, Chad & Dad Richardson, Rob Sanders, Neal Shusterman, Eric Smith, Dana Swift, Danette Vigilante, Sherri Winston, Mike Wohnoutka, and Ashley Woodfolk.

Participants can pre-register here to receive information and updates, as well as enter for a chance to win prizes and giveaways, like a-meet-and-greet with their favorite author/illustrator, BAM merchandise, book swag, signed books and posters, and more. For those that cannot make it in person, one panel per hour will be streamed on YouTube. Links will be sent out the day of the event to those that register here

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