The Detroit Festival of Books is delighted to announce that this year’s festival will feature more children’s programming than it ever has in its eight-year history. Bookfest in general, and the children’s programming, remain free for all attendees. This year’s event will run from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Sunday, July 20, in Detroit’s Eastern Market

“Bookfest is growing by leaps and bounds every year,” said Ryan M. Place, founder and chairman of the festival. “Each year we partner with more organizations devoted to promoting literacy, arts, and culture in the city. We encourage families to bring their kids and participate in the many free offerings. And, we urge all attendees who can afford to do so to bring new and gently used children’s books and drop them into one of several bright-color collection bins to get them in the hands of Detroit children who would love to read them.” 

Below are some of the various free events for kids that will be available all day during Bookfest on July 20:

• 826michigan will host a writing activity area with templates to create zines, awards, and original poems. 826michigan will have books written by students in its programs for sale (by donation), and information about free upcoming programs for K-12 students in Detroit, Ypsilanti, and Ann Arbor. 
• Birdie’s Bookmobile will feature a reading area where children’s books will be read aloud to children continuously from the beginning of the festival to the end, from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. There will also be a couple of fun hands-on activities to help kids build their literacy skills. Finally, the organization will also be inviting families to register to visit Birdie’s Book Nest — “Detroit’s not-so-ordinary book bank.” It operates like a book bank, but it looks like a children’s bookstore. 
• The Detroit Institute of Arts’ Drop-In Workshop is a fun and accessible art-making offering for both adults and children. Art projects focus on creative work from different cultures, various techniques, and concepts of identity —- all designed to be completed within 15 minutes to an hour. All materials are included and participants are encouraged to take their art home with them.
• Arts and Scraps: “Join us for a hands-on, family-friendly experience where creativity meets sustainability; where recycled materials become works of art that celebrate stories, characters, and imagination! In partnership with the Detroit Festival of Books, Arts & Scraps invites you to create pieces that spark a deeper love and appreciation for books, reading, and the joy of storytelling.”

One more note about the book donation: Bookfest has set a goal of collecting 2,000 children’s books to promote literacy and reading in Detroit in partnership with Detroit nonprofit Birdie’s Bookmobile. Birdie’s Bookmobile has distributed more than 100,000 new and pre-loved books to children and families in partnership with police precincts, community organizations, and Metro Detroit public and charter schools.