OC Children's Book Festival Celebrates Diverse Stories and Languages

The 21st OC Children's Book Festival celebrated diverse authors, cultural stories, and fun activities, engaging children with literature and creativity.

on Sep 24, 2024

The 21st annual OC Children's Book Festival took place on Sunday at Orange Coast College. The festival featured a wide array of authors, illustrators, performers, food trucks, and fun activities for children including painting, ring toss, and others

One of the highlights of the festival was a Spanglish book titled ‘Twas the Night Before Navidad, a twist on the classic ‘Twas the Night Before Christmas. Author Vianey Favela Marquez shared her motivation behind the book, stating that it reflects her desire to preserve and pass down her Latina heritage, particularly the tradition of celebrating Christmas Eve, to her children and future generations. For Marquez, Spanglish books like this hold a special place, providing kids the chance to see their own culture represented in today’s stories.

Janet Zappala, author of Guapo’s Giant Heart and Guapo’s Great Rescue, wrote the books based on a real-life story of a calf and a pig named Mabel at a rescue shelter in Palm Springs. Zappala shared about how the animals' friendship demonstrated the power of embracing differences, a message she hopes resonates with children. Her books have won awards like the Moonbeam Children’s Award and the 2024 Family Choice Award.

Kanika Kadakia, creator of the Teddy in Trouble series, shared how her unborn son inspired her stories. During her pregnancy, she imagined the adventures her son would have and used her educational background to create a reader’s guide for parents, breaking down questions to ask during storytelling.

The festival provided a platform for diverse voices and stories, offering children the opportunity to engage with literature in multiple languages and cultural backgrounds.