Book Festival in the News

(Hudson, NY) One of New York’s largest children’s book festivals returns to the Hudson area this spring for the 15th time! The volunteer-run nonprofit Hudson Children’s Book Festival, Inc. (HCBF) will hold the annual event at Columbia-Greene Community College (CGCC) on Saturday, May 2, 2026 from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m.

More than 75 authors and illustrators will be on hand to meet and greet children of all ages, offering selections from board books and picture books, to middle grade and young adult readers. Every child will receive a coupon for a free book on the day. Hudson bookseller Spotty Dog Books and Ale will manage book sales again.

Attendees can access free transportation from bus stops at the Hudson Area Library and at other points around the City of Hudson. A special stop has been added this year at the Olana State Historic Site. (Bus route map can be found here.) Approximately 2000 attendees are expected.

HCBF President Jen Nixon says, “We are delighted to welcome so many notable authors and illustrators for the 15th time! They bring more than their craft; they bring their hearts to the children of our region! We love having families return year after year and seeing the children light up as they meet their favorite author or storybook character! It’s more than a book festival – it’s a community day where nonprofits and our sponsors can interact with our attendees in a fun and warm atmosphere. Our volunteers are amazing and, once again, we thank our sponsors and Columbia-Greene Community College for helping make the day possible!”

Hudson Teachers Association President Laura Bender adds, “The Hudson Children’s Book Festival is a cherished community event that gives our students the chance to engage with their favorite authors and illustrators and experience the joy of books firsthand. The Hudson Teachers’ Association is proud to continue its partnership in supporting this festival and helping promote literacy and a lifelong love of reading for all children in Hudson.”

AUTHORS AND ILLUSTRATORS:
The festival is an opportunity to meet some of the nationally recognized authors and Illustrators who have received distinction or awards in 2025-2026 from the American Library Association, School Library Journal, American Booksellers Association, Golden Kite Awards, the New York Times, and others. They include Joyce Wan, Artie Bennett, Keith Henry Brown, Nancy Castaldo, Sylvia Chen, Carrie Finison, Josh Funk, Megan Litwin, and Kerry McQuaide. Illustrator Isabel Roxas designed this year’s exquisite festival poster. A full list of participants can be found here.

FREE BOOKS FOR EVERY CHILD
Every child (birth to 18) who attends the festival will receive a coupon for a free book of their choosing, which can be signed by the author or illustrator on the day. Once again, the Hudson Literacy Fund, has stepped up to help supply the free books along with contributions from our sponsors, including The Ackerman Foundation, the MC Smith Elementary School PTO, the Hudson Teachers Association, the Hudson River Bank and Trust, Highmark Northeastern New York, and Sunmark Community Charitable Foundation. (See a full list of sponsors here.)

Author/Illustrator of the Bad Kitty books, Nick Bruel is delighted to return to Hudson: “I’ve watched the Hudson Children’s Book Festival flourish and grow for over a decade now. From the very beginning, Hudson has fostered a unique enthusiasm among its thousands of attendees by GIVING books away to every child who walks through the doors. This is extraordinary and why the HCBF will always have a special place in my heart.”

Hudson Literacy Fund President William S. Blowers says, “The Hudson Children’s Book Festival is such a wonderful extension of the work of the Hudson Literacy Fund — together, we instill a love of learning in the area’s children by introducing them to stories that spark imagination, authors who inspire curiosity, and experiences that stay with them for a lifetime.”

“MORE THAN A BOOK FESTIVAL – IT’S A COMMUNITY DAY”

• In addition to the year-round planning, the Board of Trustees will be joined by a crew of more than 40 unpaid students, teachers, librarians, and other volunteers, to make the event possible.
• The Community Room will host more than 30 nonprofit groups and sponsors offering information tables, activities, and free giveaways. (See the full list of Community Room participants here.)
• Lunch and snacks will be available all day for purchase from local food vendors including This and That Food Truck, Aloha Tacos, Cirrus 9 Candy, and Lemonheads lemonade.
• Beloved storybook characters will be on hand to delight children and pose for pictures.

BUS STOPS AND LOOPS
Hudson-based Pulcher Transportation again will provide the free bus rides from locations throughout the City of Hudson to the college, making the event accessible to city residents and visitors. A special stop this year will be at the Olana State Historic Site, during the 200th anniversary of the birth of America’s greatest landscape artist, Frederic Church. Families will be able to attend both venues via the continuous shuttle loop during festival hours from 9:30 to 2:30. (Map)

ON FRIDAY: AUTHOR SCHOOL VISITS
In addition to the festival day event, HCBF will facilitate author visits at multiple locations, including Sam Wedelich (pre-K-1), Nick Bruel (grades 2-3), and Isabel Roxas (grades 4-5), who will visit MC Smith Elementary School in Hudson. Torrey Maldonado will hold a schoolwide assembly for grades 6-8 at Hudson Junior High. Dan Saks & Gabrielle Balkan will visit children at The Greater Hudson Promise Neighborhood day program and the after-school program on Friday, May 1.

The HCBF looks forward to partnering with other local school districts in the future. Schools interested in hosting an author or illustrator should visit the HCBF website here.

MORE ABOUT HUDSON CHILDREN’S BOOK FESTIVAL (HCBF)
The Hudson Children’s Book Festival, Inc. is more than just one day! The HCBF is focused on expanding the love of reading and bringing well-respected authors and illustrators to Columbia and Greene Counties by:

Hosting and managing the annual volunteer-run free Hudson Children’s Book Festival, inviting every child and family who would like to attend
Offering a free book of their choosing on the day to any child who attends the Festival
Making free books available at other community events throughout the year
Creating opportunities for children and families to engage with authors and illustrators through school visits and other community events

Hudson Children’s Book Festival, Inc., established in 2009 in the historic City of Hudson, NY, by educators Lisa Dolan and Maria Suttmeier, strives to create, nurture and sustain a culture of literacy in partnership with our community and schools in Hudson and the surrounding areas. The mission is to foster a love of reading by connecting children with world-class authors and illustrators at the annual free festival and special school and community events. Since 2024, Hudson Children’s Book Festival is a 501(c)(3) charity overseen by a volunteer board comprised of dedicated teachers, authors and community members committed to expanding literacy in the region. Find us at: hudsonchildrensbookfestival.org and follow us on Facebook and Instagram.