The Orange County Children’s Book Festival is Truly Outdoing Themselves This Year

Every year the Orange County Children’s Book Festival provides an exciting day for children and their families filled with a wide variety of activities, but this year they are truly outdoing themselves. Not only is this year expected to be the biggest so far, with 39,000 attendees expected, but it will also feature the most activities. 

Attendees will have a chance to be surrounded by a “melting pot” of some of the most talented illustrators, authors, and publishers. Purchase books on the spot from your child’s favorite author and personally ask the writers any questions you have. In addition, there will be over 100 authors available for book signings and autographs. Six different stages are located at the festival where authors will perform live readings of some of their newest or most popular books. 

But for the 2014 festival, the fun doesn’t stop there. This year’s most beloved movie is coming to the OC Festival too! One of the Storyteller Stage performances will be a sing-a-long rendition of Frozen’s “Do You Want to Build a Snowman?”, bringing the movie’s magic to life before a live audience. 

Other performances include a puppet show of the classic fairytale, “Thumbelina”, as well as Miss Mouse, Swallow, the Ugly Toad, and Mr. Mole. 

After the Storyteller Stage, children and their parents can migrate to the Illustrator Stage, where they can get in touch with their creativity by participating in drawing lessons taught by professional artists and cartoonists. 

After learning to draw like a professional, kids can get become acquainted with their wild side by walking through the Wild Animal Stage, which includes a free petting zoo and a showing of exotic birds. 

Parents who love to cook or want to learn can bond with their children during the Cooking and Health Stage. Renowned chefs will be present to teach parents some quick, easy, and healthy meal ideas that the whole family will love. 

The Orange County Children’s Book Festival was created in 2004 based off of the idea of spreading a love of reading to all children, and that idea is still very much present in the festival today. So many people come together on this day to create a magical, fun, and educational environment that all children can open up their minds, hearts, and imaginations in. 

OnceKids is incredibly honored and excited to be able to be a part of that mission this year. So stop by and spend some time in the World of Fujimini Island at Booth 50 for a while during your adventure at the festival!

ONCEKids Publishing is run by literacy advocate and Mompreneur Eileen Wacker.  Click here to find her acclaimed books

Join OnceKids at the Annual Orange County Children’s Book Festival

This upcoming week on September 28th, the only children’s book festival in all of California is taking place. Over 39,000 attendees are expected this year, making it the biggest one yet! Families with children of all ages come to meet and buy books from the the 150 authors, illustrators, and publishers that will be there. And this year that list includes OnceKids! 

The Orange County Children’s Book Festival was created in 2004 with a vision of increasing literacy and a love of reading in children. We at OnceKids, strongly support and believe in this vision, so we could not be more thrilled to be able to be a part of it this year. Author of our beloved Fujimini Adventure Series, Eileen Wacker, admires the dedication and level of commitment made to reading by Orange County and the Corporate sponsorship required to keep this event coming back every year. 

We are excited to announce that at this event we will be launching Ms. Wacker’s seventh addition to the Fujimini Adventure Series, Blue Penguin and the Sensational Surf, as a multi-media book. It will be available in print, ebook, animated app, and dvd. The first six books will be available as well for families to buy and enjoy!

Escape for a little while and enter the Fujimini World at Booth 50, which will feature a variety of fun and exciting activities. Parents and children can watch our YouTube interviews regarding reading trends and discussions about the characters in the books, and get their picture taken or interview Jason James Richter, Anita Vora (two of our amazing actors), and author Eileen Wacker. But the fun doesn’t stop there; kids can get their face painted or temporary tattoos, play our latest game app, Fujiscene, or color in our special coloring corner. The actors and author of the animated books will perform a live rendition of the “Making of the Animated Book”, where children will laugh and learn about how our latest animated book was created. 

Join author Eileen Wacker on September 27th at the Hilton Hotel for a “Pre-Event Cocktail Hour”

Join us for gifts, conversation, and a toast to the Orange County Children's Book Festival.

Actors Anita Vora and Jason James Richter will also be present to meet and greet fans, answer questions, and talk about the animated books. 

The Pre-Event will take place at the Hilton Hotel on September 27th from 4:30 to 6pm.

Celebrate Reading at the Orange County Children's Book Festival September 28th

Barry Ackerman began the Orange County Children's Book Festival with a vision of encouraging literacy and a love of reading in children. During its first year in 2004, 5,000 people attended the festival. Fast forward to 2013 and over 39,000 people are in attendance with even more expected this fall.

As the only children's book festival in all of California, the festival has worked tirelessly to promote literacy in children as well as support children's book authors and book sellers. Their mission is to have a first-class family event that hosts a variety of children's book authors, publishers, and more. This year the event will take place on September 28th and more than 150 authors and illustrators are expected as well as other exhibitors such as Disney Radio and PBS.

There is something for kids of all ages to love at the Orange County Book Festival. A wide variety of the newest selections of books are available for purchase and kids can get their favorites signed by the author. Little kids and their parents can even jump on the trackless train and get driven all around the festival.

Although the purpose of the festival is to celebrate books and reading, there are a whole host of other activities. Kids can get their face painted, get a crazy hairdo, visit the petting area, draw, listen to an author read their book on stage, or watch the various musicians and dancers. This festival has something for everyone to love, so even your most reluctant readers can find something they'll enjoy.

The people behind the OC Book Festival say it is their dream that "every child will be asking over and over 'is it time for the book festival yet?'" 

We truly believe this year is going to be the best one yet and encourage everyone to bring their families to show them the gift of reading and why Barry Ackerman calls it the "secret to a happy and successful life."

OnceKids is incredibly honored and excited to be able to be a part of that mission this year. So stop by and spend some time in the World of Fujimini Island at Booth 50 for a while during your adventure at the festival!

The OC Book Festival takes place Sunday September 28th, 2014 from 9:30 AM- 4:30 PM

For more information visit the Orange County Book Festival website