The National Book Festival 2006
The 2006 National Book Festival, organized and sponsored by the Library of Congress and hosted by Mrs. Laura Bush, was held on Saturday, September 30, on the National Mall in Washington, D.C. The sixth annual National Book Festival featured more than 70 award-winning and nationally known authors, illustrators, poets, and storytellers who delighted the public with their readings and performances. The 2006 National Book Festival attracted a crowd of more than 100,000 to the National Mall.
"The National Book Festival is a great way for families and friends to share in the joys of reading and discover the works of some of America's most-loved authors," Mrs. Bush said. "Readers of all ages can listen to and meet their favorite writers and enjoy a day on the National Mall."
Pavilions included "Children," "Teens & Children," "Fiction & Imagination," "Mysteries & Thrillers," "Home & Family," "Poetry," and "History & Biography." Featured authors included Khaled Hosseini, Geraldine Brooks, Joan Didion, John Hope Franklin, Doris Kearns Goodwin, Taylor Branch, Kai Bird, Martin Sherwin, Andrew Clements, Stephanie Meyer, Betsy Lewin, Elmer Kelton, and Dana Gioia. Festival-goers brought their own books or bought them at a kiosk on the Mall for signing in the Book Signing pavilion.
In the "Let's Read America" pavilion, kids had their pictures taken with favorite storybook characters such as Elmo, Curious George, and Clifford. As part of the National Basketball Association's Read to Achieve program, WNBA star Ruth Riley, NBA star Brendan Haywood of the Washington Wizards, and former NBA All-Star BJ Armstrong read several books aloud with the help of students from local area schools.
