2024 Event Info
Orange County
Children's Book Festival
Sunday,
September 22, 2024
10:00 am – 4:00 pm
FREE ADMISSION AND PARKING
Come join the fun at Orange Coast College!
- Buy books from a variety of authors and illustrators and get them autographed.
- Meet popular sci-fi characters and take a photo with them.
- Check out booksellers and literacy-related exhibitors.
- Be entertained by one of our four stages.
- Enjoy tasty options from the food trucks.
2024 Special Guest Authors
Gene Luen Yang
Cartoonist & Teacher
American Born Chinese | Lunar New Year Love Story | The Books of Clash Volume 1 & 2 | Avatar
Jasmine Warga
#1 New York Times-Bestselling
Middle Grade Author
A Strange Thing Happened in Cherry Hall | A Rover's Story
Cynthia Kadohata
Newbery Medal-Winning Author
The Thing About Luck | Kira-Kira
Austin Highsmith Garces
Author, Actress & Producer
The Miracle Tree
StoryTeller
See KidTime StoryTime with StoryTeller on the Main Stage at 1:30 pm
KidTime StoryTime is YouTube's most-watched reading channel for kids! 
StoryTeller and her puppet family celebrate literacy by reading children's books with zany humor, spontaneous singing, high energy, and love.
StoryTeller is a published children's book author, a three-time Emmy Award winner, and now a YouTube sensation whose mission is to inspire kids to read with joy, become wonderful humans, and work hard to achieve their dreams.
2024 Participants
Stages & Activities
Main Entertainment Stage
| TIME | PRESENTATION |
|---|---|
| 10:15 am | OCC Welcome |
| 10:20 am | OCC Dance Team Performance |
| 10:40 am | Georgeanne Irvine - Amazing Omeo |
| 11:00 am | Austin Highsmith Garces - The Miracle Tree |
| 11:25 am | Arts & Learning Conservatory: Jungle Book Songs |
| 11:45 am | Gene Yang Interview |
| 12:10 pm | Tecnica Arte y Folklore |
| 12:20 pm | Jasmine Warga - A Rover's Story |
| 12:40 pm | Cynthia Kadohata - Kira-Kira |
| 1:10 pm | Harry Shum Jr & Shelby Rabara |
| 1:30 pm | KidTime StoryTime with StoryTeller |
| 1:55 pm | Dr. Zoolittle |
Orange Stage
| TIME | PRESENTATION |
|---|---|
| 10:15 am | Erik Martin - The Case of the Zombie Ninjas: Dotty Morgan Supernatural Sleuth Book Two |
| 10:35 am | Special Guest Author |
| 10:55 am | Janie Emaus - Latkas for Santa Claus |
| 11:15 am | Pey Carter - Bendy Bones and Stretchy Skin: An Ehlers-Danlos Book |
| 11:45 am | BREAK - Visit the Main Stage for Gene Yang Interview |
| 12:05 pm | April Wu - Seedlingo |
| 12:25 pm | Sandra L Rostirolla - Making Friends With Monsters |
| 12:45 pm | Cindy Chupack - We Waited for You |
| 1:05 pm | Aimee Lim - The Spindle of Fate |
| 1:25 pm | Dara Henry - Hanukkah Pajamakkahs |
| 1:45 pm | Rey Terciero & Monica M. Magaña - Doña Quixote: Flight of the Witch |
| 2:15 pm | Gene Yang - Lunar New Year Love Story |
| 2:35 pm | Taylor Harper - Shavasana Sun |
Blue Stage
| TIME | PRESENTATION |
|---|---|
| 10:15 am | Christina Wu - AhMa Loves You! |
| 10:35 am | Cindy Montenegro - My Mind is a Mountain |
| 10:55 am | Judy Li - Baby Snack Time |
| 11:15 am | Dr. K - Teddy in Trouble |
| 11:45 am | BREAK- Visit the Main Stage for Gene Yang Interview |
| 12:05 pm | Craig Smith - Craig and his Magical Basketball |
| 12:25 pm | Derrick Washington - Son, You Matter & A Special Little Girl |
| 12:45 pm | Rachel Montez Minor - See You on the Other Side |
| 1:05 pm | Linda Liu – Sour Apple |
| 1:25 pm | April Showers - Afro Unicorn |
| 1:45 pm | Will Power - Nana's New Soul Food |
| 2:05 pm | Austin Highsmith Garces - The Miracle Tree |
| 2:25 pm | Katherine Trejo - Yefferson, Actually |
Green Stage
Hosted by Dr. Zoolittle and Sponsored by San Diego Zoo Wildlife Alliance
| TIME | PRESENTATION |
|---|---|
| 10:15 am | Josh Oaktree - Oaktree Comics |
| 10:35 am | Dr. Zoolittle |
| 10:55 am | Dr. Zoolittle |
| 11:15 am | Kevin P Conley Jr - Bark Ranger: Rocky in Yosemite National Park |
| 11:45 am | BREAK - Visit the Main Stage for Gene Yang Interview |
| 12:05 pm | Annie Higbee - The Hummingbird and The Narwhal |
| 12:25 pm | Patti Cushing - Beatrice Greene and the Case of the Floating Bees. An Environmental Mystery |
| 12:45 pm | Robby Diamond - Henry the Liger Finds a Home |
| 1:05 pm | Paolo Mazzucato - AJ and the Incredible Fish |
| 1:25 pm | Janet Zappala - Guapo's Great Rescue: Clay Finds a Forever Home |
| 1:45 pm | Christopher S. Torres - Salma and the Christmas Star, Santa Claus stole my Horses |
| 2:05 pm | Dianne Wright - Avoid Angry Alligators |
| 2:25 pm | Heidi Moreno - Luna Oscura |
Bookstore Author Signings
Meet these favorite authors and get your book signed!
Mysterious Galaxy Bookstore
| TIME | AUTHOR & BOOK |
|---|---|
| 12:25-1:10 pm | Gene Yang |
| 1:00-1:45 pm | Jasmine Warga - Rover's Story |
| 1:15-2:00 pm | Cynthia Kadohata - Kira-Kira |
| 1:20-1:50 pm | Cindy Chupack - We Waited for You |
| 1:55-2:25 pm | Aimee Lin - The Spindle of Fate |
| 2:00-2:30 pm | Dana Henry - Hanukkah Pajamakkahs |
| 2:20-2:50 pm | Rey Terciero & Monica M. Magaña - Doña Quixote series |
Maliks Books Store
| TIME | AUTHOR & BOOK |
|---|---|
| 10:00 - 4:00 pm | Erika J. Kendrick - Instafamous |
| 10:00 -12:00 pm | Cynthia Hammer - Iceburg; The Seven Rivers |
| 10:00- 12:00 pm | Zohreh Ghahremani - Memory Garden |
| 12:00 - 2:00 pm | Craig Smith – Coloring with Craig |
| 12:00 - 2:00 pm | Rachel Montez Minor - See You on the Other Side |
| 1:00 - 3:00 pm | Linda Liu - Sour Apple |
| 1:45 - 3:45 pm | April Showers - Afro Unicorn |
| 2:00 - 4:00 pm | Will Power - Nana's New Soul Food |
| 2:00 - 4:00 pm | Austin Highsmith Garces – The Miracle Tree |
Orange Coast College Planetarium
The Planetarium is committed to providing an innovative, immersive, and illuminating experience for Orange County and beyond.
Exhibits open during the Festival:
- Foucault Pendulum
- NOAA Science on a Sphere
- Science on a Sphere Explorer
- Space Rocks! Meteorites
- Magic Tree House: Space Mission:
on the hour, every hour — seating is limited.
S.T.E.A.M. Activity Area
Featuring Science, Technology, Engineering, the Arts, and Math focused books and demonstrations.

Map and Driving Directions
2701 Fairview Road,
Costa Mesa, California 92626
Join the crowds at the Main Quad directly in front of the College Center building to enjoy the Festival.
Directions from the 405 (San Diego) Freeway
Take the exit Fairview Road.
Proceed South on Fairview for about a mile.
Turn right (West) on Merrimac Way.
Park in lots C, D, or E.
Additional parking available at the OC Fairgrounds on Arlington Drive, Gate 4.
*click image to enlarge OCC MAP*
Check the website for the most updated information
2024 Sponsors
DISCLAIMER
Materials are the sole property of the author and illustrator. Permission has been granted to the Orange County Children's Book Festival.
Materials are protected by copyright laws. Permission to use must be obtained directly from the owner.