logo_2013

By: Mary Fran Bontempo

Movies, television, theater, dance, museums, and of course, the internet.

Our entertainment options are limitless, lucky us. But sometimes, what fits the bill is as simple as a good book.

For its annual celebration for the bookworms among us, the Free Library of Philadelphia hosts the Philadelphia Book Festival beginning this Sunday, April 14th through the 20th.

Previously stationed only at the library’s main branch on the Parkway, this year, the event eliminates the street fair, but expands to reach all 54 library locations throughout the city. Offerings include presentations by well-known children’s, young adult and adult authors, bloggers, illustrators and even comedians who have ventured into the world of the written word.

TV pundit Rachael Maddow headlines the event–sorry, it’s sold out–but other highlights include children’s book author Lindsay Barrett George, featuring a children’s bookmaking event, the recently lauded Karen Quinones Miller discussing her autobiographical novel An Angry-Ass Black Woman, and Philly’s own Susan Morse, wife of actor David Morse, who offers her touching portrait of taking care of a parent in The Habit.

Sports enthusiasts will enjoy Rich Westcott and Philadelphia’s 50 Greatest Baseball Players and Tom Burgoyne, Philadelphia’s beloved Phillie Phanatic, who presents The Phillie Phanatic’s Best Friend.

The festival ends with the live performance Risk! a “laugh-out-loud smorgasbord of daring and ridiculous revelations” and stories, created and hosted by Kevin Allison of MTV’s The StateFlight of the Conchords and Reno 911!. The show has been presented as a live production in both L.A. and New York and as a podcast with over 6.5 million downloads. Tickets are available online at http://libwww.freelibrary.org/bookfestival/program.cfm?event=38050.

If a good book gets your juices flowing, make sure to take in some of the Philly Book Festival events. Yes, you’ll have to leave your comfy book-reading corner, but sharing a love of reading and all things books makes the written word come alive in wonderful ways.

Check out a full roster of events: http://libwww.freelibrary.org/bookfestival/program.cfm