What do digging holes and knitting sweaters have in common? Not much you may think, but both are the activities of choice in the witty, wonderful, and magical children’s books written by Mac Barnett and illustrated by Jon Klassen. With the help of a faithful dog and box of yarn, Mac and Jon weave two delightful tales of ingenuity, determination, and imagination in their collaborative books Sam & Dave Dig a Hole and Extra Yarn.

The creative team of Jon and Mac from Candlewick Press will be the featured speakers at the Bozeman Public Library’s 8th annual Children’s Festival of the Book on Saturday, November 7, 2015. This talented duo’s books will surely become favorites of kids and adults, alike.

Kicking off our morning will be “10,000 Laughs or Your Money Back: A Free Event with Mac Barnett.” To learn more about him as a speaker, please check out his TEDx talk www.ted.com/speakers/mac_barnett. I promise you won’t be disappointed.
Next up will be Jon’s “Getting Imaginary Animals To Do What You Want.” Speaking as a writer and illustrator, Jon will put his pen to work in ways kids cannot even imagine. To see more of his genius, please visit his Tumblr page http://jonklassen.tumblr.com/.
Both Jon and Mac’s talks are appropriate for ages 3+.

But wait! That’s not all. Also joining in the book festival shenanigans will be local author, actor, playwrite, and teacher Kent Davis, whose first book hit the shelves just last month. A Riddle in Ruby is an ambitious tale of trickery, cunning, thievery, and camaraderie, with a bit of steampunk thrown in for good measure.

Kent will lead “Idea Hunting: Stalking the Next Story,” a hands-on, interactive hour for kids ages 8+, incorporating a dash of improv, a pinch of his new book, and a heaping ladle of fun. Attendees will delve into the mysteries of where ideas come from, taking creative risks, and collaborating with others. Rounding out the afternoon will be a workshop for all ages by Jon and Mac and a moderated, chat with Mac, Jon, and Kent.

The morning begins with a writing workshop “Characters Make the Book” with local authors Michele Corriel and Janet Fox. For kiddos and their families, there will be crafts, knitting projects, book signings, and a writing and illustration contest. Once again Country Bookshelf is selling books and donating a portion to the Library Foundation, sponsor of the annual festival.

Thanks to our partners Humanities Montana, First Security Bank, Magpie Guesthouse, SCBWI, and MSU Education Department, this one-day festival is free and open to the public! For info about the festival and contest entries, see www.childrensfestivalofthebook.wordpress.com

More book info:
This is Not My Hat by Jon Klassen
Can a little fish really get away with stealing a hat from a much bigger fish? Ages 3-8; Caldecott Medal 2013

I Want My Hat Back by Jon Klassen
A bear almost gives up his search for his missing hat until he remembers something important. Ages 3-8; Geisel Medal 2012  --> Jon Klassen has illustrated many other books, including The Dark by Lemony Snicket and The Incorrigible Children of Ashton Place by Maryrose Wood.

The Skunk by Mac Barnett
When a skunk first appears in the man’s doorway, it’s a strange but possibly harmless occurrence. But then the man finds the skunk following him, and the unlikely pair embarks on an increasingly frantic chase through the city, from the streets to the opera house to the fairground. Ages 5-8

The Telephone by Mac Barnett
In this picture book a string of birds on a telephone wire plays a game of telephone, with the usual mixed up results. Ages 3-5

The Terrible Two by Mac Barnett and Jory John
When master prankster Miles Murphy moves to sleepy Yawnee Valley, he challenges the local prankster in an epic battle of tricks, but soon the two join forces to pull off the biggest prank ever seen. Ages 8-12

The Case of the Case of Mistaken Identity by Mac Barnett
First in the Brixton Brothers series. When twelve-year-old Steve Brixton, a fan of Bailey Brothers detective novels, is mistaken for a real detective, he must elude librarians, police, and the mysterious Mr. E as he seeks a missing quilt containing coded information. Ages 8-12

A Riddle in Ruby by Kent Davis
Ruby Teach is a thief. Well, a thief in training. And a pirate’s daughter.  A smuggler.  A picklock. In a world ruled by alchemists who mix magic and science, Ruby has always relied on nothing more mysterious than her skill and her sneakiness. Ages 8-12