Subtexts Beehive Kids Books hosts a festival

If you want to make a young bookworm’s summer and psych them up for the start of the school year at the same time, take them to the Beehive Kids BookFest on Saturday, Aug. 13, at Beehive Kids Books (328 Montezuma St.) for a day — or just a couple of hours — of readings and activities. The festival begins at 10 a.m. with picture-book authors and illustrators reading from their works for younger children. Readers include Sandi Wright, author of The Adventures of Santa Fe Sam, a historical overview of New Mexico through the eyes of a prairie dog, as well as Valori Herzlich, illustrator of My Best Ever Grandpa, and Maggie DeVore, who wrote Blue Kazoo. Also at 10 a.m., Sally Blakemore, creator of NASCAR Pop-Up Book: A Guide to the Sport, and other pop-up books, presents a workshop on 3-D paper art for children ages seven and up. At noon, Albuquerque author Ross Van Dusen demonstrates the creative process he used for his picture book, How Crocka Dog Came to Be. Other authors presenting in the early afternoon include Paige Grant (Kitten Caboodle) and Talia Pura (Alexia Wants to Fly). Authors of books for young-adult and middlegrade readers present and discuss their work from 2 to 4 p.m. Laura Sanchez reads from her award-winning young adult novel, Freaking Green, about a family in Albuquerque that accepts the challenge to reduce its carbon footprint by 80 percent for a chance to win $5 million; additional authors read from their work throughout the day. The event comes complete with balloons, bubbles, and activities designed to entertain and appeal to kids. There is a $2 materials fee for the 3-D paper art workshop, and space must be reserved by calling 505-780-8051, but the rest of the book fest is free of charge and open to all ages. — J.L.