Free Workshops for Children and Teens Led by Top Authors and Illustrators Featured at the Gaithersburg Book Festival on May 20
Journaling, Poetry, Collaborative Storytelling and College Essays Among Workshops to be Featured in the Children’s Graphic Novels and Workshops Tent
Gaithersburg, Md. – April 13, 2023 – The Gaithersburg Book Festival is providing children of all ages opportunities to explore their creativity through creating graphic novels, writing poetry, journaling, collaborative storytelling and brainstorming their college essays on Saturday, May 20, at Bohrer Park at Summit Hall Farm (506 S. Frederick Ave.) in Gaithersburg, Md. A full day of free workshops—designed for elementary, middle and high school students—will be led by some of today’s top authors and illustrators in the Children’s Graphic Novels and Workshops Tent during the 2023 Festival.
The children’s workshops include:
Create Your Own Out-of-This-World Graphic Novel – Jonathan Roth and Jarrett Lerner with Dave Roman
11:15 a.m.
In this presentation, authors Jonathan Roth (“Rover and Speck: The Planet that Rocks”) and Jarrett Lerner (“The Hunger Heroes: Snack Cabinet Sabotage”) will share their books and give helpful tips and fun prompts to kids who want to create comics. Participants will review comics and graphic novel styles and brainstorm characters and stories of their own through drawing, writing and role-playing exercises. This session will be moderated by Dave Roman, author of the “Astronaut Academy” graphic novel series.
Let’s Celebrate Animals – Susan Stockdale
12:25 p.m.
Join author/illustrator Susan Stockdale, who will read and demonstrate how she researched, wrote and illustrated her picture book, “Line Up! Animals in Remarkable Rows.” Afterwards, participants will create their own animal images and compose a title for their artwork.
Sticky Situations – Mika Song and Isabel Roxas with Dave Roman
1:15 p.m.
In this live drawing and collaborative storytelling session using audience participation and prompts, authors Isabel Roxas (“Pizza My Heart”) and Mika Song (“The Adventures of Team Pom 2: The Last Dodo) will take turns illustrating the characters from their books, navigating sticky situations (slime, bananas, extreme size changes) drawn from cards the audience picks and with creative input from them and each other. This session will be moderated by Dave Roman, author of the “Astronaut Academy” graphic novel series.
Nature Journaling for Beginners – Rebekah Lowell
2:25 p.m.
Join author Rebekah Lowell (“Catching Flight- Soaring on the Wings of Birds”) to learn what nature journaling is, how to find inspiration and what questions to ask while nature journaling. Participants also will learn how to create a page spread, how to design a page layout, and how to add data facts such as date, time, weather or any other observations of the moment to their journaling.
Animal Artwork and Poetry – Jennifer Klein
3:15 p.m.
Let’s be creative! After reading some animal poems together, participants will create an original animal artwork and poem. Learn techniques to make animals come alive! Then write about the animal using a fun format for writing poems.
Brainstorm Your College Essay Topic – Suzanne Zweizig
4:15 p.m.
This workshop will give participants a chance to explore potential topics for their Common App college essay. Look at samples of successful essays and brainstorm ideas based on the Common App list of prompts. The second half of the session will focus on writing and exploring participants’ own topics, sharing their writing and receiving feedback. Participants will leave with several options for their topic and a take-home packet containing sample essays and tips.
No pre-registration is required for these free workshops. Participants should plan to show up at the time their preferred workshop is scheduled to start. Workshops are generally limited to 20 participants, but individual presenters can expand the workshop at their discretion.
For more information about children’s and teens workshops, the presenters and the schedule, including additional workshops geared for adults and older teens, please visit the Workshop pages of the GBF website.
About the Gaithersburg Book Festival
The Gaithersburg Book Festival is an annual all-day celebration of books, writers and literary excellence. One of the premier literary events in the Washington, D.C., metropolitan area, the 2023 Festival is scheduled for Saturday, May 20, at Bohrer Park at Summit Hall Farm (506 S. Frederick Ave.) in Gaithersburg, Md. Activities will include author appearances, discussions and book signings; writing workshops; a Children’s Village; onsite sales of new and used books; literary exhibitors, food, drink, ice cream and more. FREE admission and accessible shuttle will be available from Shady Grove Metro, Lakeforest Mall, Quince Orchard Park and Ride, and Walnut Hill Shopping Center. The Gaithersburg Book Festival also hosts author events in Montgomery County throughout the year to encourage continued appreciation for all things literary. The Gaithersburg Book Festival is sponsored in part by its official bookseller, Politics & Prose, and title sponsor, The Carnegie at Washingtonian Center. For more information please visit www.gaithersburgbookfestival.org, follow us on Twitter @GburgBookFest or like us on Facebook and Instagram.
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