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This distinctive poster was created for this year's National Book Festival by illustrator Yuko Shimizu.
This distinctive poster was created for this year’s National Book Festival by illustrator Yuko Shimizu, known among comics fans for her distinctive covers for Vertigo’s Unwritten.

The 2016 National Book Festival, sponsored by the Library of Congress, is scheduled for Saturday, September 24, 2016, at the Washington Convention Center. Originally sited on the Mall, it was relocated a few years ago due to concern about the thousands of attendees effect on the grounds.

Who’s appearing from the wonder world of comics?

TWO Pulitzer Prize winning cartoonists! TWO finalists for the National Book Award! And the rest? Whoa… This is a stellar group! Scroll down for the schedules and links to the author pages.

Matter of fact, the entire roster of 120+ authors and illustrators is spectacular! You know that feeling at Comic-Con, when there are two or three panels you want to see, but they’re at the same time? That’s what the National Book Festival is like for bibliophiles.  Thankfully, the Library of Congress archives the video, for free, and you’ll be able to watch it a few months later. (We’ll have a master list of past videos here soon.)


Basic information


Schedule

Main Stage

5:30 pm-6:30 pm Raina Telgemeier 4:00 pm-5:00 pm

Graphic Novels

Time Author Signing
5:10 pm-5:50 pm Andrew Aydin 6:30 pm-7:30 pm
5:10 pm-5:50 pm Rep. John Lewis 6:30 pm-7:30 pm
6:00 pm-6:40 pm Berkeley Breathed 4:00 pm-5:00 pm
6:50 pm-7:30 pm Noelle Stevenson 5:00 pm-6:00 pm
7:40 pm-8:20 pm Michael Ramirez 6:00 pm-7:00 pm
7:40 pm-8:20 pm Darrin Bell 6:00 pm-7:00 pm
8:30 pm-9:10 pm Ed Piskor 6:30 pm-7:30 pm
9:20 pm-10:00 pm Gene Luen Yang 3:30 pm-4:30 pm

Note that the some signings are BEFORE the event.

Children I

2:00 pm-2:30 pm Juana Medina 12:30 pm-1:30 pm

Children II

Noon-12:30 pm Kate Beaton 1:00 pm-2:00 pm
2:00 pm-2:30 pm Shannon Hale 3:00 pm-4:00 pm

Teens

2:30 pm-3:00 pm Gene Luen Yang 3:30 pm-4:30 pm

Poetry & Prose

6:00 pm-6:45 pm Yuko Shimizu 4:00 pm-5:00 pm

Authors (of interest to comics fans)


Andrew Aydin

Presentation

  • Graphic Novels
    Saturday, September 24
    5:10 pm – 5:50 pm

Book Signing

  • Saturday, September 24
    6:30 pm – 7:30 pm

Kate Beaton

Presentation

  • Children II
    Saturday, September 24
    noon – 12:30 pm

Book Signing

  • Saturday, September 24
    1:00 pm – 2:00 pm

Darrin Bell

Presentation

  • Graphic Novels
    Saturday, September 24
    7:40 pm – 8:20 pm

Book Signing

  • Saturday, September 24
    6:00 pm – 7:00 pm

Berkeley Breathed

Presentation

  • Graphic Novels
    Saturday, September 24
    6:00 pm – 6:40 pm

Book Signing

  • Saturday, September 24
    4:00 pm – 5:00 pm

Shannon Hale

Presentation

  • Children II
    Saturday, September 24
    2:00 pm – 2:30 pm

Book Signing

  • Saturday, September 24
    3:00 pm – 4:00 pm

Rep. John Lewis

Presentation

  • Graphic Novels
    Saturday, September 24
    5:10 pm – 5:50 pm

Book Signing

  • Saturday, September 24
    6:30 pm – 7:30 pm

Juana Medina

Presentation

  • Children I
    Saturday, September 24
    2:00 pm – 2:30 pm

Book Signing

  • Saturday, September 24
    12:30 pm – 1:30 pm

Jerry Pinkney

Presentation

  • Children I
    Saturday, September 24
    1:20 pm – 1:50 pm

Book Signing

  • Saturday, September 24
    2:30 pm – 3:30 pm