What's on tap for the 2023 RI Festival of Children's Books & Authors? What to know.

PROVIDENCE – A panel discussion on banned books will kick off the 2023 Rhode Island Festival of Children's Books and Authors, which will bring writers and illustrators from around the country to Lincoln School next weekend.

The banned books discussion, featuring Rhode Island librarians and authors Grace Lin, Shannon Hale and Anika Aldamuy, will take place Friday, Oct. 13, from 7 to 8 p.m. at the Lincoln School's music center. It is open to the public and recommended for ages 12 and up.

The books festival will run Saturday, Oct. 14, from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. with a lineup that includes Lin and fellow Caldecott award winners Carole Lindstrom and Chris Van Allsburg; Hale, a Newbury honoree; Coretta Scott King Award winner as well as four-time Caldecott honor recipient Bryan Collier; Rhode Island authors Jeanette Bradley, Kelly Murphy and Jamie Michalak; and fan favorites Ellen T. Crenshaw, Josh Funk and Kah Yangni. Authors will give talks throughout the day, sign their books and mingle with fans.

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Participants can also try bookmaking and other crafts, get a glitter tattoo and view performances by the Rhode Island Black Storytellers and Ricky Rainbow Beard.

“This event brings literature to life not only for our students, but for students across Rhode Island and neighboring Massachusetts. We’ve even had people come from as far as New Jersey to take part in the day,” says Meagan Lenihan, lower school librarian at Lincoln School. “Our goal is to inspire a love of reading and books that will last a lifetime.”

Lincoln School is at 301 Butler Ave. Admission is $5 ($10 per family). For a full listing of performances and activities, go to lincolnschool.org or call (401) 331-9696, ext. 3135.

This article originally appeared on The Providence Journal: Banned books event will kick off 2023 RI children's book festival