Telling Tales announces lineup for 10th event
Free children’s literary festival takes place Sept. 16
Telling Tales has announced a star-studded lineup for its 10th anniversary children’s literary festival — which organizers are calling the strongest ever in its 10-year history.
The event, which will take place Sept. 16 from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. at Westfield Heritage Village, announced its lineup May 2 at Hamilton’s Central Library. This year’s festival will feature Canadian literary icon Dennis Lee, as well as David Bouchard, Eric Walters, Kevin Sylvester, Kenneth Oppel and Sarah Mlynowski.
Founder Susan Jasper was so happy to be at the 10th Telling Tales launch, saying it’s remarkable how the idea for a free children’s literary festival has been so strongly embraced.
“It means we must be doing something right,” said Jasper with a laugh.
“We’re really, really thrilled the way it keeps snowballing and growing.”
She said it means a lot that the people who were at the first Telling Tales festival in 2009 are still supporting the event, in addition to the new supporters they’ve gained over the years.
Jasper said organizers are thrilled that Lee, who was part of the inaugural Telling Tales lineup, is returning, sharing poems from “Good Night, Good Night,” the fourth story derived from his best-loved “Alligator Pie.”
As well, she noted David Bouchard, one of Canada’s leading Indigenous children’s authors, will entertain with flute playing and illuminating stories, while Walters will launch his 100th book, “Elephant Secret,” at the festival.
In addition to Walters, Oppel, Sylvester and Mlynowski will also debut works at the event.
The festival is expected to attract 7,000 visitors to the Rockton-area heritage village.
Jasper added that although Telling Tales takes place on Sept. 16, the mission to inspire a love of reading and improve youth literacy
continues year-round.
To that end, Telling Tales has begun holding family literacy workshops with the Hamilton Wentworth District School Board, bringing authors to schools.
As well, they have also announced a second day of the festival, Teen Tales, which will take place Sunday, Sept. 23, from 2 to 4 p.m. at Central Library.
The event will feature presentations and creative writing workshops for teens.
Sylvester, who was the MC for the launch event, said it is an honour to be part of the 10th Telling Tales, and that he “absolutely loves” the festival.
“Authors love this one,” he said of the event.
“It’s the most direct one — they bus in kids who would never maybe go to a lit festival on their own.”
“From an author’s perspective, it’s a blast.”
“I never met an author growing up,” he continued, “but the fact
that kids get to see authors, meet authors and be one-on-one with authors, it demystifies it for them.”
“So if they want to be creative, even in school, they see that we’re just normal, goofy people.”
Sylvester, who has taken part in a handful of Telling Tales festivals, said the event is huge for Canadian authors and illustrators.
While Canada has a small literary community, it punches above its weight — in part due to events
like Telling Tales.
“You’re a rock star, you’ve got all these kids there at the gazebo at Westfield — they go nuts,” he said of the Telling Tales festival. “The kids don’t care if you’re American or Canadian, but a festival like this puts you in front of them.”
“The kids now know your name, they want to read your books, it’s unbelievable.”
For more information visit www.tellingtales.org.