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PRINCETON: Booking it

Thousands attend event for children, authors

By Philip Sean Curran, Staff Writer
Hinds Plaza in Princeton was transformed Saturday into a tent city with more than 80 authors and illustrators of children’s books sitting at tables waiting to greet their young audience.
This was the vision Allison Santos had in mind nine years ago. Ms. Santos, a youth services librarian at the Princeton Public Library, conceived of having a children’s book festival. The first one was in 2005, and each year after that, the festival has grown: more people, more authors. Saturday was expected to draw 3,500 to 4,000 people.
"This is the most ever," said library director Leslie Burger from behind a table at the fair. "As news about the event spreads, people are increasingly coming to us and saying can we be part of this event."
Ms. Santos navigated her way to a quiet place on Hinds Plaza. The murmur of all the people talking is akin to something one might hear at a baseball game.
Ms. Santos, recalling the history of how the festival got started, was able to get about 20 authors and illustrators nine years ago and the event took off from there.
"People heard about it in the publishing world. Other authors and illustrators heard about it from their friends," said Ms. Santos in calling Saturday’s festival the largest ever.
While there are other book festivals around the country, Princeton’s is one of the larger ones for kids only. "There’s so much enthusiasm," Ms. Santos said.
For the event, the library partners with children’s toy and book store jaZams. The Princeton-based store ordered thousands of books that are sold during the festival; 20 percent of the sales go to the library. "It’s a wonderful partnership between us and jaZams," Ms. Burger said.
Store co-owner Joanne Farrugia, joined by her young son, Felix, said jaZams makes no money off the festival.
"We’re passionate about keeping this library as beautiful as it is and getting books in children’s hands and getting them to meet these incredible authors and illustrators," she said. "I think it’s transformative for children to meet the people who write and illustrate their books."
In all, 86 authors and illustrators attended Saturday; they were busy meeting people and signing copies of their books. A line has formed at the table of illustrator Dan Yaccarino, busy giving out his autograph. He said the festival is a way for him and his peers to "connect with our readers."
The festival also offered the sight of children holding and buying books made of ink and paper, as opposed to digital reading devices like Nooks or Kindles. No electronic books were being sold, Ms. Santos said in calling the festival "old school."
Nadine Poper, a librarian at Amanda Stout Elementary School in Reading, Pa., came to the festival and said she does not think tangible books will disappear from children’s hands. "It’s not going anywhere," she said.
But Peter Frankel, sitting on a bench in Hinds Plaza next to her, thinks otherwise. A book lover, he said he feels "sorry for publishers and newspapers because everything is online."
"I do not believe the book is dead," Ms. Santos said, "and it will take a whole lot to convince me that printed books are going away and that we’ll only be digital."