2017 – National Book Festival
The New Jersey Center for the Book represented the State of New Jersey for its 17th year at the annual National Book Festival in Washington D.C. on September 2nd, 2017. An annual event not to be missed, tens of thousands of book lovers descended on the Walter E. Washington Convention Center on Saturday to enjoy the all- day literacy events on ten stages, meeting and getting their books signed by their favorite authors, and visiting us in the Pavilion of States where all 50 states were represented! Our exhibit this year celebrated poetry and New Jersey, with the children’s Caldecott Honor Award winning book A River of Words written by Jen Bryant and illustrated by Melissa Sweet that tells with exquisite collage art technique the story of New Jersey’s own renowned poet, William Carlos Williams. Art and poetry resources for students were distributed to teachers and families alike and created much buzz and conversation with the crowd of visitors to our exhibit. The launch of this poetry initiative will continue throughout the coming year as the New Jersey Center for the Book highlights the gifts of poetry in our great state.
