Celebrating it’s 14th year, the National Book Festival moves to the Washington Convention Center this Saturday, offering twelve hours of bibliophila!  (The National Park Service says the hordes of eager readers, some 200,000, was damaging the lawn.)

Started in 2001 by librarian and First Lady Laura Bush with support from the Library of Congress, the National Book Festival has grown steadily, from a small fair set on the east lawn of the U.S. Capitol near the Library of Congress, to multiple tents on the National Mall, to the convention center.

The NBF was slow to discover the popularity of graphic novels, but that changed in 2012 with the first graphic novel pavillion.  It returns this year, along with the first night session of events!

But… most exciting and intriguing of all?  A special reception at the White House, hosted by honorary chairs President and Mrs. Obama!  (Is it considered gauche to present the President with a graphic novel at a formal event?)

Can’t get to DC?  C-SPAN2’s Book TV will have live coverage!

Sweet Golda Meir!  There’s an Activity Badge!

Here’s a listing of the various graphic novel creators appearing during the day!  The complete schedule can be found here!

Rep. John Lewis At the 2014 National Book Festival

Presentation

  • Contemporary Life
  • Saturday, August 30
  • 12:45 pm – 1:30 pm

Book Signing

  • Saturday, August 30
  • 2:00 pm – 3:00 pm

2004 podcast

2012 podcast

Jules Feiffer At the 2014 National Book Festival

Presentation

  • Picture Books
  • Saturday, August 30
  • 4:40 pm – 5:10 pm

Book Signing

  • Saturday, August 30
  • 3:30 pm – 4:30 pm

2002 podcast

2010 podcast

Gene Luen Yang At the 2014 National Book Festival

Presentation

  • Teens
  • Saturday, August 30
  • 4:40 pm – 5:10 pm

Book Signing

  • Saturday, August 30
  • 3:30 pm – 4:30 pm

2007 podcast

Dav Pilkey At the 2014 National Book Festival

Presentation

  • Children
  • Saturday, August 30
  • 11:20 am – 11:50 am

Book Signing

  • Saturday, August 30
  • 12:30 pm – 1:30 pm

Jeffrey Brown At the 2014 National Book Festival

Presentation

  • Children
  • Saturday, August 30
  • 10:00 am – 10:30 am

Book Signing

  • Saturday, August 30
  • 11:00 am – noon

Jeff Smith At the 2014 National Book Festival

Presentation

  • Graphic Novels Super Session
  • Saturday, August 30
  • 9:00 pm – 9:45 pm

Book Signing

  • Saturday, August 30
  • 7:30 pm – 8:30 pm

2010 podcast 

Liza Donnelly At the 2014 National Book Festival

Presentation

  • Graphic Novels Super Session
  • Saturday, August 30
  • 8:15 pm – 8:50 pm

Book Signing

  • Saturday, August 30
  • 9:00 pm – 10:00 pm

Kyle Baker At the 2014 National Book Festival

Presentation

  • Graphic Novels Super Session
  • Saturday, August 30
  • 7:30 pm – 8:05 pm

Book Signing

  • Saturday, August 30
  • 8:30 pm – 9:30 pm

Vivek Tiwary At the 2014 National Book Festival

Presentation

  • Graphic Novels Super Session
  • Saturday, August 30
  • 7:30 pm – 8:05 pm

Book Signing

  • Saturday, August 30
  • 8:30 pm – 9:30 pm

Bryan Lee O’Malley At the 2014 National Book Festival

Presentation

  • Graphic Novels Super Session
  • Saturday, August 30
  • 6:45 pm – 7:20 pm

Book Signing

  • Saturday, August 30
  • 8:00 pm – 9:00 pm

Raina Telgemeier At the 2014 National Book Festival

Presentation

  • Graphic Novels Super Session
  • Saturday, August 30
  • 6:00 pm – 6:35 pm

Book Signing

  • Saturday, August 30
  • 7:00 pm – 8:00 pm

2012 podcast

Bob Staake

Jennifer Gavin from the Library of Congress speaks with Bob Staake, poster artist for the 2014 National Book Festival on August 30 in Washington, D.C.

…and beyond!

2013

Jennifer and Matthew Holm

Jennifer and Matthew Holm appear at the 2013 Library of Congress National Book Festival.

Gilbert Hernandez

Graphic novelist Gilbert Hernandez appears at the 2013 Library of Congress National Book Festival.

Jaime Hernandez

Graphic novelist Jaime Hernandez appears at the 2013 Library of Congress National Book Festival.

Jonathan Hennessey

Jonathan Hennessey appears at the 2013 Library of Congress National Book Festival.

Fred Chao

Fred Chao appears at the 2013 Library of Congress National Book Festival.

Lynda Barry

Cartoonist Lynda Barry appears at the 2013 Library of Congress National Book Festival.

2012 (first Graphic Novel pavillion)

Craig Thompson

Podcast

Jennifer Gavin from the Library of Congress speaks with author Craig Thompson, who will appear at the 2012 Library of Congress National Book Festival on Sept. 22-23, on the National Mall in Washington, D.C.

Webcast

Graphic novelist Craig Thompson appears at the 2012 Library of Congress National Book Festival.

Hope Larson

At the 2012 Library of Congress National Book Festival, Hope Larson, Anita Silvey and Leonard Marcus discuss the classic book “A Wrinkle in Time” by Madeleine L’Engle upon its 50th anniversary.

Jeff Kinney

Sheryl Cannady from the Library of Congress speaks with author Jeff Kinney, who will appear at the 2012 Library of Congress National Book Festival on Sept. 22-23, on the National Mall in Washington, D.C.

2011 (Graphic Novels Super Session)

Mark Pett and Gary Rubinstein

Mark Pett & Gary Rubinstein perform at the 2011 National Book Festival.

Kazu Kibuishi

Kazu Kibuishi appears at the 2011 National Book Festival.

Harry Bliss

Author and illustrator Harry Bliss appears at the 2011 National Book Festival.

Eric Wright

Graphic novelist Eric Wight appears at the 2011 National Book Festival.

Richard Thompson

Cartoonist Richard Thompson appears at the 2011 National Book Festival.

Kazu Kibuishi

Kazu Kibuishi appears at the 2011 National Book Festival.

Jon J Muth

Poster artist Jon J Muth appears at the 2011 National Book Festival.

Allen Say

Allen Say appears at the 2011 National Book Festival.

2009

Mo Willems

Children’s author and illustrator Mo Willems appears at the [2009] National Book Festival.

2008

Neil Gaiman

Young adult novelist Neil Gaiman appears at the [2008] National Book Festival.

2006

Mo Willems

Author Mo Willems speaks at the 2006 National Book Festival.

2005

Harry Bliss

Illustrator Harry Bliss at the 2005 National Book Festival

Neil Gaiman

Author Neil Gaiman at the 2005 National Book Festival.

Also, Neil himself reflects on his experience at the NBF.

2004

Neil Gaiman

David Macaulay

David Macaulay speaks at the 2004 National Book Festival.

2002

Brian Selznick

Allen Say

And in 2000 (before the National Book Festival existed):

Jenette Kahn

 

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