Catch up on all the latest Buckeye Book Fair news in this edition of the Buckeye Bookmark, from highlights of Patrick Ryan’s inspiring talk, to Early Bird Registration for Buckeye Book Camp, and key dates for submitting to the 2026 Buckeye Book Fair on Saturday, November 7th. It’s a quick read packed with opportunities to get involved and stay connected to Ohio’s vibrant literary community.
Category Archives: authors
December Buckeye Bookmark
Books have a special way of bringing us together. They let us listen more closely, understand more deeply, and imagine a world that is kinder, broader, and more just. This season, we’re reminded how powerful it is to gather around stories and to honor the authors and illustrators who create them.
November Buckeye Bookmark
Welcome to this edition of the Buckeye Bookmark, our cheerful roundup of everything readers love about the Fair. Inside, you’ll find our Holiday Giving Guide featuring the top selling authors and books of the season, perfect for gifting or enjoying yourself. We’re also thrilled to share the winners of this year’s Young Authors Awards, a reminder of how bright Ohio’s future storytellers truly are. And because your experience matters, we invite you to tell us what you thought of the Fair. We would love to hear all about it and continue building a celebration that inspires readers year after year.
The Buckeye Book Fair is NOW
Today, we are proud to welcome Patrick Ryan to the Buckeye Book Fair in Wooster, Ohio. Seeing him here meeting readers, signing books, and sharing insights about Buckeye feels like a full-circle moment. Who knew that a headline on a dreary March morning would lead to one of the most talked-about author appearances of our year?
Here’s the Children’s Read Aloud Schedule
Families will find plenty of fun at this year’s Buckeye Book Fair! Throughout the day, beloved children’s authors and illustrators will host special read-alouds and creative activities in our Family Fun Areas. The schedule is filled with talent, beginning with Marcy Campbell at 10:15 a.m., followed by Lindsay Ward, Conrad Storad, Lindsay Bonilla, Jashar Awan, and Katie Mazeika before noon.
Buckeye Book Fair is This Saturday!
At the Buckeye Book Fair, Chima finds that same sense of magic that drew her to books as a child. “What I love about Buckeye Book Fair is that entire families come to shop for books,” she says. “I enjoy talking to people and figuring out which of my books—or someone else’s—to recommend. I love the young readers who go to every table and talk to authors and look at books so that they can make an informed choice. It’s always like coming home.”
October Buckeye Bookmark
The October Buckeye Bookmark Newsletter invites readers to celebrate nearly four decades of stories at the Buckeye Book Fair in Wooster on November 1, featuring highlights like Patrick Ryan’s Buckeye and its moving tale of small-town secrets. Leading up to the Fair, the community will gather on October 30th for Brave and Bold with Shannon Hale, honoring the 2025 Young Authors Excellence Award winners with an evening of storytelling, inspiration, and book signing. Guests can choose from several ticket options, and to make the celebration even more special, fans can collect Buckeye Book Flair, blue sashes and patches, including the inaugural 2025 edition and limited vintage designs, to show off their Book Fair pride.
Exploring Imagination, Curiosity, and Connection: Three Remarkable Children’s Books That Inspire Young Readers
That storytelling magic shines in his latest project, The Mouse Buffet, a deliciously funny Christmas adventure written by Ross Ferreri. In this festive tale, four daring mice sneak out on Christmas Eve in search of a feast, from cookies and tarts to a gingerbread house too good to resist. Tim’s vibrant illustrations capture the sparkle, suspense, and cozy mischief of the season, making the book an instant holiday classic. With the rhythm of a timeless poem and the heart of a bedtime favorite, The Mouse Buffet celebrates friendship, teamwork, and a quick wit while wrapping it all up in Tim Bowers’s signature warmth and humor.
Glenn Somodi: Blending Technology, Imagination, and the Human Spirit
Somodi calls his stories Kidult Fiction… tales created with both kids and adults in mind. Ideas often come to him as he’s falling asleep. “It’s my form of counting sheep,” he says. The ideas stay in his head until they’re fully formed, then find their way onto paper, often paving the way for sequels.
Science Fiction Fans: Andrei and the Hellcats by Marie Vibbert
In this interstellar romp, Andrei—a charming, sex-positive robot with a flair for fashion and an earnest heart—finds his orderly life thrown into chaos when his sister is kidnapped by a tyrannical queen. To rescue her, he joins forces with the ragtag Hellcats: a gang of outlaws who specialize in chaos, courage, and camaraderie. Together, they dodge royal forces, crash through space stations, incite rebellion, and challenge systems of power and greed—all with quick wit, fast-paced action, and a sharp eye for injustice. Vibbert’s prose sparkles with energy and heart, and her world-building is both richly imaginative and deeply grounded in themes of equality, autonomy, and chosen family.