Children’s Book Festival is May 18 at Georgetown library

GEORGETOWN — Sussex County libraries are uniting this spring to plant seeds of literacy, hosting the third annual Children’s Book Festival on May 18.

More than 20 authors of children’s board, picture and chapter books will come together at the Georgetown Public Library, 123 W. Pine St., from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.

Admission is free, and attendees will receive a festival guide and tote bag (while supplies last).

Notable authors attending include Kevin McClosky, Kathy MacMillan, Jennifer Swanson and Georgetown’s own bilingual teen author, Maximo Castellanos, according to a release from the county’s libraries.

In addition to the writers, other activities like face painting, balloon animals and caricatures are scheduled. There also will be an inflatable obstacle course, a petting zoo and pony rides available for a small fee, as well as food trucks.

Children and teens will explore and create through hands-on games, activities and learning stations. There also will be a story stroll, with a gift at the end (while supplies last), and the mobile library will be on-site for library card sign-ups.

Along with everyone’s favorite librarians from across Sussex County, partners from ILC Dover and the Marine Education, Research & Rehabilitation Institute will lead various programs, and reading companion-trained therapy animals from PAWS for People will share storytime with children.

Additionally, there will be displays for Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library, the “Adventure Begins at Your Library” Summer Reading Challenges, Read Aloud Delaware, Literacy Delaware, kindergarten readiness teams and more.

Activities will be held in and around the library and along West Pine Street (which will be closed to vehicles), from Sussex Central Drive to the Delaware National Guard grounds.

Parking for the event will be at Georgetown Elementary School, a short walk from the library.

The festival is made possible, in part, with support from the Delaware Humanities and the National Endowment for the Humanities.

For information, visit facebook.com/sussexcbf.