February 5, 2025
By Aryanna Gamble
The New Orleans Book Festival at Tulane University is excited to announce the return of Family Day at the Fest, scheduled from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Saturday, March 29, 2025, in the Avron B. Fogelman Arena in the Devlin Fieldhouse. As a signature component of the festival, Family Day is a cornerstone event that brings literature to life for children and families in the community. Made possible through the generous support of the City of New Orleans, Ochsner Children’s Hospital, and Scholastic, Family Day is free and open to all.
The featured authors include Tamisha Anthony (Illustrator, On Our Way! What a Day!), Tessa B.H. Ruiz (The House, the Ghost and Me), Naomi DeBerry (My Daddy Needs a Gift), Adam Dennis (Gary and His Little Friend Jerry), Johnette Downing (Petit Pierre and His Wild Adventure), Marti Dumas (The Secret Society of Rebel Girls: Nina and the Mysterious Mailbox), M.R. Fournet (Darkness and Demon Song), Leslie Helakoski (When the Rain Comes Down), Loreal Ivory (Who Let the Nerves Out?), Meredith Jao (The Hesitant Hedgehog), Adam Karlin (Luna and the Heart of the Forest), Rachel Marsh (Rougarou Magic), Denise McConduit (Cane River Christmas), Alexandra Navarre Davis (Clyde the Giant Crawfish), Dr. Dionne Nichols-Condoll (Gardening with Poppa), Marie Rathe (The Best I Can Bee), Paul Schexnayder (The Gumbo Gators and the Swamp Circus), Michael Strecker (Jokes for Crescent City Kids) and Gayle Webre (When I Was a Pelican).
This year’s Family Day will once again feature a dynamic collaboration with Scholastic, the global children’s publishing, education and media company, and an exciting lineup of talented and award-winning local and national children’s authors.
“We are so happy to once again be supporting Family Day at the New Orleans Book Festival,” said Judy Newman, Chief Impact Officer at Scholastic. “At Scholastic, we know that kids benefit from literacy rich environments, and we applaud the festival’s commitment to inspiring a love of books and reading. We are grateful to be a part of such a wonderful event.”
Designed as a family-centered, free event, Family Day offers a diverse selection of authors and presenters set to engage with children throughout the day. From book signings to photos with beloved book characters, to live performances and interactive readings, Family Day guarantees something for every child—regardless of their age or reading level.
A special highlight this year is a middle-grade panel discussion featuring authors M.R. Fournet (Darkness and Demon Song), Marti Dumas (Nina and the Mysterious Mailbox), Rachel Marsh (Rougarou Magic) and Adam Karlin (Luna and the Heart of the Forest). This conversation will celebrate the power of storytelling for middle-grade and young adult audiences, offering insights into crafting tales of adventure, courage and discovery that resonate with young readers and adults alike. This panel discussion will take place in a nearby venue, enhancing Family Day programming that appeals to readers of all ages.
Each year, the festival partners with a wide range of local community organizations who provide programming during Family Day. The full list of programming partners and the schedule of authors will be published on the festival website in the weeks leading up to the event.
“Family Day is a testament to our commitment to making literature accessible and engaging for children and families,” said Cheryl Landrieu, festival co-chair. “We’re thrilled to provide an inspiring lineup of authors and activities that celebrate the joy of reading and the importance of storytelling in our community.”
Join us on Saturday, March 29, for a day filled with imagination, creativity, and fun at Family Day at the Fest! For more information about the New Orleans Book Festival at Tulane University and updates on programming, visit bookfest.tulane.edu.
