Librarian of Congress Carla Hayden (left) interviewed U.S. Supreme Court Justice Sonia Sotomayor on the Main stage of the National Book Festival on Sept. 1. Photo by Shawn Miller.
Crowds of book lovers happily took time out last Saturday from the holiday weekend to celebrate books at the Library of Congress’ 18th National Book Festival.
Held in the Washington, D.C., Convention Center, the festival featured more than 100 authors of books of all kinds – presidential histories, memoirs, graphic novels, spy thrillers, illustrated children’s stories, popular science, poetry and more. Thousands more watched the festival’s Main stage streamed live on the Library’s Facebook page.
Supreme Court Justice Sonia Sotomayor was among the featured authors. She launched two new books for young readers at the festival: “The Beloved World of Sonia Sotomayor,” a middle-school adaptation of her best-selling memoir, and “Turning Pages: My Life Story,” a children’s picture book published simultaneously in English and Spanish.
Scroll down to view other photographs from the festival. And mark your calendars for next year: the 19th National Book Festival will take place on Aug. 31, 2019!
Librarian of Congress Carla Hayden casts a spell on a Harry Potter fan. Photo by Shawn Miller.
Family-friendly activities are a festival mainstay. Photo by David Rice.
Authors sign books for long lines of fans at the festival. Here, Kirk Savage signs one of his. Photo by Claire Gardiner.
Poet Laureate Tracy K. Smith (center) and former Poet Laureate Robert Hass talk with moderator Anya Creightney about the unique role of the nation’s official poet. Photo by Kimberly Powell.
Volunteers roll book festival posters. Photo by Shawn Miller.
Children can choose from activities of all kinds on the festival’s expo floor. Photo by David Rice.
