The first Florida Children’s Book Festival comes to Orlando's Loch Haven Park this weekend
- Alastair Mac
- Feb 19
- 5 min read
The three-day Florida Children’s Book Festival is a celebration of books and reading. Mark your calendars and bring the kids for a weekend of fun and discovery.
Calling all book lovers, dreamers, and storytellers — big and small! Families, educators, authors, playwrights, and community members are invited to a weekend filled with wonder, creativity, and connection.
Orlando Family Stage, in partnership with Writer’s Block Bookstore is launching the very first Florida Children’s Book Festival: a statewide gathering of families, authors, educators, and artists who believe in the magic of children’s literature.
Taking place from February 20 - 22, 2026 in the heart of Loch Haven Park, events will be happening indoors at Orlando Family Stage’s three-theatre complex and outdoors in the park, with author talks, book signings, live readings, stage performances and more.
Some two dozen children’s book authors are expected to take part in the festival, with around half of them from Florida.
Highlights of the event will include two productions from Orlando Family Stage’s centennial season. Tiara’s Hat Parade, a play adapted from a 2020 picture book by Kelly Starling Lyons, and Lilly and the Pirates, a musical adapted from a 2010 middle-grade book by Phyllis Root.
Admission to these productions will be free during the festival,
WHAT TO EXPECT
Meet the Authors
Connect with award-winning and emerging children’s book authors. Hear them read from their work, learn about their writing journeys, and get your favorite books signed.
Interactive Experiences
Dive into hands-on activities, story strolls, and live readings designed to spark creativity and curiosity in young readers.
Performances on Stage
See beloved stories leap from the page to the stage through dynamic performances by Orlando Family Stage.
Educator & Industry Connections
Dedicated sessions for teachers, librarians, and industry leaders provide resources to bring more stories into classrooms and communities.
In collaboration with UCF’s MFA in Theatre for Young Audiences, Writer’s Block Bookstore, and WUCF, the festival is set to become a movement to make books and theatre accessible for all.
Looking for more fun events and things to do in Central Florida? Check out our Events Guide. We also publish weekly and monthly event guides with the can’t-miss happenings throughout Central Florida.
Performances
February 21 - 22
A beautiful story about self-expression, resilience, and the power of family, based on the book by Kelly Starling Lyons and illustrated by Nicole Tadgell, adapted for the stage by Paige Hernandez. Featuring a talkback with author Kelly Starling Lyons
February 21 - 22
A swashbuckling story full of adventure, discovery, and a daring young heroine, based on the book by Phillis Root, adapted by John Maclay and Will Eno. Including special talkback with playwright John Maclay.
February 21
Hop into a world of imagination with Peter Rabbit and his mischievous siblings: Flopsy, Mopsy, and Cotton-tail! In this playful, hands-on experience, young creators will make their very own puppets, explore Mr. McGregor’s Garden through creative drama, and then settle in to enjoy a joy-filled puppet show starring their favorite floppy-eared friends.
February 22
A 30-minute adventure with a pirate on the high seas following a treasure map! Parrots, crabs, mermaids, and more join the fun! Theatre for the Very Young at Orlando Family Stage is created specifically for 1 to 5-year-olds and is an interactive, multi-sensory, developmentally accessible experience that encourages caregiver interaction and creative play.
Authors and Creators Attending the Festival
Meet the storytellers behind the stories! The Florida Children’s Book Festival will feature author panels, engaging talks, book signings, and more—all designed to connect young readers with the people who bring their favorite characters and adventures to life.
Jenny Alvarado (Pencil & Eraser: We Have a Dull-Emma!, Fridays Are for Churros)
Kerry O’Malley Cerra (Just a Drop of Water, Hear Me, One Light)
Nicole D. Collier (Just Right Jillian, The Many Fortunes of Maya)
Jerry Craft (New Kid, Class Act, School Trip)
Lily Berlin Dodd (The Aerimander Chronicles, Search and Rescue)
Michael Grover (On the Wing, nature-based educational readers)
José Pablo Iriarte (Benny Ramírez and the Nearly Departed)
Alan Katz (Take Me Out of the Bathtub, The Funniest Joke Book Ever, My Parent Has Been Grounded)
Michelle Knudsen (Library Lion, Argyle, Big Mean Mike)
Kelly Starling Lyons (Tiara’s Hat Parade, Sing a Song, Going Down Home with Daddy)
Ed Masessa (The Rootlets, music-infused storytelling for children)
Kate Messner (The Seventh Wish, All the Answers, Ranger in Time)
Audrey Perrott (Moo Hoo, Baa Haa, A Hat for House, Once Upon a Tail)
James Ponti (City Spies, Framed!, Dead City)
Rekha S. Rajan (Ladoo and the Boy, The Swinging Sloth)
Tammi Sauer (Wordy Birdy, Chicken Dance, Your Alien)
John Schu (This Is a School, Jake Makes a World)
Amar Shah (Play the Game, Find the Gaps, Start Small Think Big)
Taryn Souders (Coop Knows the Scoop, Dead Possums Are Fair Game)
Elly Swartz (Finding Perfect, Give and Take)
Kristin Tubb (The Story Collector, A Dog Like Daisy)
Salina Yoon (Penguin and Pinecone, Be a Friend, Stormy Night)
A full schedule of readings, panels, signings and workshops will be released early February.
Partnership with WUCF
Collaborating with WUCF, Central Florida’s PBS station, the festival is planning programming for children, families, and educators.
Highlights include:
Be My Neighbor Day on Saturday, February 21 at Loch Haven Park.
Aaron Augenblick, creator of the PBS Kids series City Island: Families will have the chance to meet the animator and understand how characters are built from shapes and interactive elements.
Interactive screenings from Ken Burns’ new documentary American Revolution: Offering hands-on activities, these sessions will allow children to understand the world of documentary storytelling further.
Vendors, book marketplaces and author presentations are free to attend, but some panels and shows are individually ticketed.
This festival celebrates imagination, community, and the power of stories to bring people together. Whether you’re here with your child, your class, or your heart wide open, magic is waiting for you.
Save the date, spread the word, and come make memories with Orlando Family Stage..
For more details: https://orlandofamilystage.com/bookfest/
Orlando Family Stage is located at 1001 East Princeton Street, Orlando, in Loch Haven Park. For more information, call 407.896.7365 or visit orlandofamilystage.com.
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