Finn, right, poses with his favorite author Maxwell Eaton III on Saturday, Aug. 17 during the Adirondack Family Book Festival at the John Brown Farm State Historic Site. (Provided photo — Naj Wikoff)

Joy happened at the John Brown Farm State Historic Site on Saturday, Aug. 17, not once but multiple times throughout the day. The joy of young readers meeting their heroes — the men and women who illustrated and wrote their favorite books — and for the artists and authors, the thrill of meeting their fans.

The 3rd annual Adirondack Family Book Festival that brought so much joy was founded by Martha Swan of John Brown Lives!, Marc and Sarah Galvin of the Bookstore Plus and Karen Armstrong and Bambi Pedu of the Lake Placid Public Library.

The festival showcased the remarkable and diverse talent of children’s book authors and illustrators, many of whom live in the Adirondack region. It provided young readers with the opportunity to get books signed by their favorite authors, who were all willing to be photographed with their fans. In addition, the setting provided a multitude of benefits: plenty of parking, stunning vistas, the excitement of being in the shadow of the Olympic ski jump tower and the profound history of the John Brown Farm.

Along with the opportunity for readers to meet the authors and illustrators, the schedule included a variety of hands-on arts activities organized by the Lake Placid Library and presentations that were engaging for people of all ages.

“We are engaging kids in various crafts; in this case, creating a bead bracelet that features an inspirational word they selected,” said Trish Friedlander, a volunteer assisting the library. “They can wear the word on their wrists, a word they will use to help them create a story.”

Author/artist Amy Guglielmo, left, poses with Jackie and Thom Hallock on Saturday, Aug. 17 during the Adirondack Family Book Festival at the John Brown Farm State Historic Site in Lake Placid. (Provided photo — Naj Wikoff)

Like many other libraries throughout the region, the Lake Placid Public Library has expanded its array of activities held at the library and in community settings, such as the book festival.

“We do a lot of children’s and adult programming in and outside the library,” said Pedu, director of the library. “That’s why we have these tents here at the farm where we do curriculum-based arts and crafts activities that go along with the story or theme the festival is featuring. We do similar events at schools — all over the place. John Brown’s Lives! helps us introduce children to the history of the region. We’re teaching and entertaining them, and they don’t even know it. They’re learning and having fun doing so.”

“The festival is a huge celebration of children’s literature, and it enables adults to see that it’s for everyone,” said Armstrong, assistant librarian for children’s programming. “Children’s literature started as the cautionary tale (think ‘Little Red Riding Hood’ or Dickens’ ‘A Christmas Carol’), so we have come a long way.”

Books today reflect the growing diversity of society and nonfiction topics such as history, science, the environment, social justice and sustainable living in engaging and educational ways. They build on breakthrough books like “The Wizard of Oz” and the Dr. Seuss collection. Seeing the stellar illustrations accompanying today’s books is fun, a feature that excites many.

“I like Lauren Tarshis’s books because they’re nonfiction and real,” said young reader Didien.

Lake Placid Public Library Director Bambi Pedu, left, poses with assistant librarian Karen Armstrong on Saturday, Aug. 17 during the Adirondack Family Book Festival at the John Brown Farm State Historic Site in Lake Placid (Provided photo — Naj Wikoff)

“He was so excited to meet Lauren,” said his mom, Kaysie Kyler. “He spent a half hour on his hair, picked out that fancy outfit and could not wait to meet her. He dressed to impress.”

“How old is he?”

“He’s 7.

“Isn’t it great that a 7-year-old has a favorite author?”

“It’s the best, as is having this festival,” said Kyler. “The setting is gorgeous, and it’s wonderful to know our local community, the library, the school, the Bookstore Plus, John Brown Lives! — all the partners are invested in reading and promoting reading for our kids. It’s awesome.”

Lake Placid Public Library volunteer Trish Friedlander helps a young reader create an inspiration bracelet on Saturday, Aug. 17 during the Adirondack Family Book Festival at the John Brown Farm State Historic Site in Lake Placid. (Provided photo — Naj Wikoff)

“Readers like Didien make this job unbelievable,” said Lauren Tarshis. “It’s the luckiest thing to be a part of the children’s book world, be you the author, bookseller, illustrator, librarian, parents, grandparents, teachers or the festival organizers. I feel so lucky.”

Author Kate Messner attends many book festivals. She said that the Adirondack Family Book Festival is her favorite. She loves the audience and how interactive they are, the variety of activities, that the festival showcases local authors and the setting.

“I love meeting my readers,” said Messner. “Usually, as authors, we’re by ourselves, so when we come here and meet the people we’re writing for, the kids who love our books, there’s nothing better.”

Keene Central School teacher Megan Wellford was attending, loading up on books for her classroom. She said she came because it has the best authors and illustrators.

“I love the book festival,” said young reader Finn, 12. “I think it’s a great chance to meet many authors. I like seeing Maxwell Eaton III here because I know him. He lives nearby, so I see him fairly often. I like tons of things about reading. I especially like that books don’t have to be about everything. They leave space for my imagination.”

Eaton, who lives in Wilmington, has been writing and illustrating his stories since he was very young and has published them for about 20 years.

“I feel wonderful and humbled that Finn wanted to have his picture taken with me,” said Eaton. “It is so heartening, as this is the community I live in, 10 miles down the road. Finn reaching out is a reminder of how wonderful this area is and how supportive the readers of the authors who live here are. The Adirondacks are in my books and the stories I tell. How could this beautiful place not seep into everything you write and do?”

Thom and Jackie Hallock came to receive and thank many of the authors for donating books to Hallock Giving Library and the Tristan Fund based at Mountain Lake PBS. The fund is named after their son, who sadly died in 2023.

“We read to our son Tristan, when we were in the hospital with him,” said Thom. “Out of that, the station created the Tristan Fund, allowing us to accept donations to buy books to give to kids. The station hosts half a dozen events throughout the year, during which we invite kids or come to events out in the community. At those events, we give out free books, ideally to kids as young as possible, but we have books for all ages.”

“The fun part is kids get to choose whatever book they’d like,” said Jackie. “We hope it will inspire a love of books and reading; as we all know, reading is a key to education and bettering one’s life.”

(Naj Wikoff lives in Keene Valley. He has been writing his column for the Lake Placid News since 2005.)