Best Book Event for Kids

Book Events for Kids

By Christa Fletcher

On October 1, 2023 I had the honor of hosting a booth at the OC Children’s Book Festival in Costa Mesa at Orange Coast College. Every year I look forward to this event full of amazing books, local authors, and captivating dance and musical performances. What I love about this free event is how kids can see a variety of books and often meet the authors and illustrators who make them. Getting to meet these creators shows kids that they can become authors, editors, designers, and illustrators too.

Plus, these events bring families together. My kids saw many of their friends from school and other schools in Costa Mesa. So in honor of the festival, I’d like to share some more types of book events that bring people and books together!

Library Events

These events are great for babies and little kids alike. From toddler and bilingual story time to craft events, scavenger hunts, and the In-N-Out Cover to Cover Club where kids from 4-12 years old who read five books earn a free burger or cheeseburger, there are events each month if you check the OC Public Library website (ocpl.org).

Book Festivals

As mentioned above, book festivals are a great opportunity to explore books, see puppet shows, dance and musical performances, book readings, and even do an illustration workshop (kidsbookfestival.com).

Book Fairs

These are often hosted by elementary schools and they’re wonderful because kids can buy books at school and a percentage of the profits goes back to the school for the school library. So even if a family doesn’t purchase a book, book fairs improve the school library for all kids.

Book Swaps

These are great community events where everyone brings books they’ve finished reading and swaps books for free!

Bookstore Events

Local bookstores like Lido Village Bookstore in Newport Beach and Arvida Book Co. in Tustin have themed events, book clubs, workshops, and more.

Book Clubs

Gathering together monthly to talk about a book everyone has read is a notable pastime for adults, but is also a fun way to get middle and high school students together too. 

Little Free Library

You’ve seen these all over Costa Mesa: “Take a Book, Leave a Book.” Families apply for or build their own curbside library which houses books to share with neighbors (littlefreelibrary.org).

Children’s Book Week 

From November 6-12 you can find activities with local literacy organizations and libraries that celebrate children’s books.