Thank You to Our Publishing Contest Sponsor
I Write Short Stories by Kids for Kids Volume 15, is an Anthology featuring the works of 125 kid authors and illustrators.
See a list of all of the winners here.
15th Annual Book Signing & Literacy Festival
Schedule
Saturday, November 16, 2024
10 AM – 5 PM – Festival
FESTIVAL MAP
Times and locations are subject to change
Welcome to the 15th Annual Book Signing & Literacy Festival!
Join us for a fun-filled day as we celebrate our 2024 young published authors & illustrators, get books autographed by local children’s authors, and even enter the Fantasy Character Costume Contest at The Ballroom at Tanglewood. Meet our “i” The Guy mascot, discover new reads, and celebrate the love of literacy. Don’t miss out on this exciting in-person event where every child will leave with a free autograph children’s book, participate in literacy games, and enjoy the fantasy-themed festive atmosphere.
This event is FREE and open to the public; registration is required. Food and drink will be available for sale.
Volunteer and Sponsorship Opportunities
If you’re interested in volunteering or supporting an activity booth at the Literacy Festival, click below.
Festival Activities
The below activities take place during the festival hours of 10am – 5pm and are for all ages!
Scavenger Hunt
Kids who visit each of the designated scavenger hunt booths will receive a FREE Autographed Book!
Fantasy Character Costume Contest
Kids are encouraged to dress up in fantasy-themed character costumes for a chance to win prizes!
Presented by Neal Hamil Agency
Robot Mice
Young kids can learn the basics of coding and programming with our kit of Robot Mice They can learn to design a game as they place obstacles throughout the mat and try to lead the mouse safely to his cheese. Presented by Houston Public Library
Cubelets
Just like building blocks only smarter. Cubelets make the principles of programming easy to learn and practice. Inside of each block is a part of a program – as you build your robot you build the code that controls its behavior. It’s hands-on coding! Presented by Houston Public Library
Meet the Illustrator
Get a chance to meet “i” The Guy Illustrator, Ryan Shaw, and get a comic-style picture drawn. Take home a How-to-Create-Your-Own-Comic worksheet and bring out your inner artist.
Curiosity Cruiser
Curiosity Cruiser is a state-of-the-art mobile library fleet that provides Houston children access to books and exciting educational programs integrating reading with science, math, technology, writing, and the arts. Presented by Barbara Bush Houston Literacy Foundation
Photo Booth
Take a photo on the Hollywood-style red carpet with your friends and family. Presented by Custom Minds Photography
iWRITE Alumni Association and Youth Club
Create your own mini Zine activity with the iWRITE Youth Club members and create a friendship bracelet with the Alumni Association members. Learn more about each club and how to join.
Face Painting, Balloon Art, Fairy Hair, and More!
Featured iWRITE Kid Authors
Lifetime Achievement Award Recipient
Wm. Patrick Cook is the Recipient of iWRITE’s 2024 Lifetime Achievement Award. He is the first author to be published in iWRITE’s annual anthology every year from 3rd to 12th grade. In 2023, Wm. Patrick won a publishing contract through iWRITE Kids Publishing and will be debuting his new book, WP’s Life Depiction Through a Collection of Fiction, at the Literacy Festival. Be sure to check out his book release on the outdoor stage!
Nia Shetty is a very talented young author of poetry and won a publishing contract in 2023 from iWRITE Kids Publishing. She will be debuting her new book, ink and light, at the Literacy Festival. Be sure to check out her book release on the outdoor stage!
“I Am Texas”
Come See the Largest Published Book in the World
In 2022, one-thousand Kids, iWRITE, The Bryan Museum, and New York Times Best Sellers, Brad Meltzer and Christopher Eliopolus broke the Guinness World Record together for a book called, I Am Texas, which stands 7 feet tall and weighs 500 pounds!
Local Author Reading Corner & Book Signings
Enjoy the readings of local Houston-area children’s book authors | 10:30 AM – 2 PM
Special appearance and reading by Mother Goose!
Presented by ExxonMobil and SheSpace
Volunteer and Sponsorship Opportunities
If you’re interested in volunteering or supporting an activity booth at the Literacy Festival, click below.
Festival Day Information
The iWRITE Book Signing & Literacy Festival is a rain-or-shine event unless otherwise corresponded.
All 2024 Published Authors and Illustrators must check in at our tent.
Parking
On-site parking is available at The Ballroom at Tanglewood. Parking attendants will be directing traffic to ensure you park on the correct level of the parking garage. Parking is complimentary.
Accessible parking is available on the ground-level parking lot next to The Ballroom at Tanglewood. If you require special accomodations, please make the parking attendants aware when you arrive.
Festival Schedule
| 10 AM | Festival Opens | Outdoor Tent |
| 10:30 AM | Local Author Readings Begin | Outdoor Tent – Author Reading Booth |
| 11:30 AM | Wm. Patrick Cook Book Release | Outdoor Stage |
| 12 PM | Nia Shetty Book Release | Outdoor Stage |
| 12 PM | Fantasy Costume Contest Opens | Outdoor Table Sign-Up |
| 2 PM – 3 PM | Book Signing for Public | Indoor Ballroom |
| 3 PM | Editor’s Choice Readings | Outdoor Stage |
| 3:30 PM | Author Panel presented by H-E-B | Outdoor Stage |
| 4 PM | Costume Contest Winner Announced | Outdoor Stage |
| 4 PM | Author Readings | Outdoor Stage |
Thank You To Our Sponsors
Community Partners
Houston Public Library | Barbara Bush Houston Literacy Foundation | Ryan Shaw | Neal Hamil Agency | CKW Luxe Magazine
About iWRITE
Our mission at iWRITE is to build student confidence through writing. We know that through writing kids become more creative and confident which can lead to opportunities they may have not had before.
Every day, we see students struggle with writing confidence. In iWRITE’s home community of Houston and its online community across the U.S., these students are living in some of the country’s most underserved neighborhoods. In addition, they’re faced with a standardized education that offers limited opportunities for individual growth. Writing skills are critical for any student to conquer their frustrations and discover success in any subject.
Since 2009, iWRITE has developed curriculums that build student confidence and spark students’ imaginations. With creative writing/illustration workshops, “i” The Guy workbook program, and publishing opportunities, students move beyond the standardized classroom, learn to express their ideas, and discover their voices.