National Book Festival

As First Lady of the United States, Laura Bush worked with Librarian of Congress James H. Billington to create the National Book Festival.

[2] At a news conference announcing the inaugural event, Billington said: "We must all try, in every way we can, to send the message that reading is critical to our lives and to the life of our nation.

[3] The event featured more than 60 award-winning authors, illustrators and storytellers from across the country,[4] including Stephen Ambrose, Natalie Babbitt, Robin Cook, Billy Collins, Sue Grafton, Larry L. King, David Levering Lewis, David McCullough, Walter Mosley, Katherine Patterson, Richard Peck, Gary Soto, and Scott Turow.

[5] Additional activities included book-signings, musical performances, storytelling, panel discussions, demonstrations of illustration and new technologies.

[7] The 2002 Festival featured more than 70 authors, illustrators and storytellers from across the country and hosted more than 45,000 visitors on the West Lawn of the U.S. Capitol and the National Mall.

[10] Participating authors included: Tiki Barber, Mary Brigid Barrett, Jan Brett, Geraldine Brooks, Sandra Brown, Dan Chiasson, Eleanor Clift, Philippa Gregory, Steven Kellogg, Katherine Paterson, Salman Rushdie, Bob Schieffer, Jon Scieszka, Alexander McCall Smith, R. L. Stine, and Gordon S.

This can make it more expensive for events to take place.... We worked closely with the library to allow the festival to continue at a reasonable cost.

"[13] The move indoors allowed the Festival to expand into night-time events, cookbook demonstrations, and screenings of film adaptations of books.