ABOVE THE FRAY: Author/Illustrator Peter Brown’s design for this year’s Princeton Children Book Festival poster shows how reading can lift you out of life’s “storms.”

“This year we are bigger and better!” exclaimed Princeton Children’s Book Festival coordinator Allison Santos of the Saturday, September 8 event. A resounding success for the last six years, this year’s even greater event will take place from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. at the Princeton Public Library and the Albert E. Hinds Memorial Plaza, rain or shine.

“We have 74 authors and illustrators from all over the country participating; last year we had 60,” reported Ms. Santos, a Youth Services librarian who has coordinated the free event each year. Participants include Caldecott and Newbery Medal winners, as well as “new and up and coming talent who are poised to take the kids’ book world by storm.”

“At this point, the Princeton Children’s Book Festival has arrived on the ‘literary’ map as a place where publishers, authors and illustrators want to be to showcase their works and connect with their fans,” she added. “The book festival is recognized as one of the most respected and noted children’s literature events in the country.”

Authors and illustrators at the festival come from all over the country with a large representation from New Jersey and New York, Ms. Santos noted. “Brooklyn plays a large part. Apparently major talent resides there.” From the several dozen authors and illustrators who are participating, 28 have been selected as “presenters.” They have 10 minutes each (a schedule of appearances can be found on the library’s website) to talk.

“The presentations are always difficult,” said Ms. Santos of making the selection. “Everyone wants to present and they should, but time is so limited. We use a random name drawing for the time slots, entering everyone’s name who wants to present, then letting it select 28. I wish I had the time to allow everyone the opportunity to present. Each one is interesting and each person has something so important to say.”

Among the presenters is the creator of this year’s festival poster, author/illustrator Peter Brown (Children Make Terrible Pets). Mr. Brown, who has participated in the festival twice before and whose time slot this year is 1 to 1:10 p.m., was on the road in the South promoting his new book, Creepy Carrots, but took time out “at this hotel bar in Memphis,” to offer some insights (“sent telepathically from PB’s iBrain”) about his work.

“I was a bit of a reluctant reader growing up,” he reported. “I must have been 17 or 18 before I really fell in love with books and reading. I can’t help feeling like I missed out on some very important reading years, and so I try to make books that will help prevent future generations of reluctant readers.”

Mr. Brown reports that he reads “voraciously” nowadays, and firmly believes “that books are the answer to everything.” His poster, depicting a young reader perched high among some sunlit clouds above a stormy forest, speaks to his belief that “books can teach us how to prevent, or escape, or mitigate the ‘storms’ of life.”

Other authors and illustrators participating in this year’s event include Wendy Mass (A Mango-Shaped Space and 13 Gifts); Nick Bruel of Bad Kitty fame; Patrick McDonnell, cartoonist of Mutts and author of Me, Jane, a 2012 Caldecott Honor winner; Herman Parish (Amelia Bedelia); Alyssa Capucilli (Biscuit and the Katy Duck series); and Debbie Dadey (The Bailey School Kids).

Princeton Public Library Youth Services Staff who, along with Ms. Santos, make the festival possible include Lucia Acosta, Courtney Bayne, Beth Bouwman, Susan Conlon, Pamela Groves, Hanna Lee, Martha Perry-Liu, Aaron Pickett, Suzanne Savidge, and Ann Woodrow. Development Director Lindsey Forden and Public Information Director Tim Quinn are also instrumental in ensuring the day’s success.

As they did last year, jaZam’s of Palmer Square will coordinate the book sales for the event, donating 20 percent of their proceeds to the library.

“I am excited about all the talented individuals we have joining us,” said Ms. Santos. “I am also looking forward to planning next year’s event. I am already deep in the throes and can’t wait to see who our illustrator will be.”