The 21st Annual Children’s BookFest is the perfect way to celebrate the start of Broward County Library's 2026 Summer Learning Program: Unearth a Story.
"Summer at Your Library" begins here with a free family festival full of art, music, dancing, and stories! The 21st Annual Children’s BookFest is the perfect way to celebrate the start of Broward County Library's 2026 Summer Learning Program. Our fun filled day will feature face painting, art workshops, music and dance presentations, and the kickoff to Summer Fun - Unearth a Story! Register for a 2026 summer reading challenge, enter to win great prizes, and pick up your free book (while supplies last).
Throughout the day: Register for a Summer Reading Challenge (Information Desk and Audiovisual Area), Face Painting (Teen Area), Pirate Fun with Travelers' Curse (READ Room/Children's Area), and Hands on STEAM Activities (The Hub). Visit our Community Partners and Sponsors (Lobby Area), meet Local Authors (Teen Area), and Paint the Fire Truck (Outside).
10:30AM Miss Tracy Sings (Multipurpose Room): Sing along with Miss Tracy, early childhood music specialist who will delight babies, toddlers, and preschoolers.
10:30AM Flowers Between the Pages! Pressed Flower Bookmark Workshop (2nd floor Meeting Room) presented by Pressedformemories: Create a one-of-a-kind keepsake using the timeless art of flower preservation.
11:30AM Salty Sue, The Pirate Lady (Multipurpose Room): A seriously silly pirate who brings music, magic, original tales of the sea and rich pirate lore from Florida History.
12:00PM Dances of India presented by Rhythms School of Dance (12:10PM Children's Area): A vibrant cultural performance showcasing the diverse traditional dance styles of India.
12:00PM Unearth Your Ancestors (2nd floor Computer Lab): Teens and Adults are invited to join Librarian Kristen to learn how to search for family roots and genealogy using the Ancestry Library Edition online database and other genealogy websites.
12:30PM Mama Mia Magic (Multipurpose Room): A magic show filled with amazing tricks, silly surprises, and lots of audience participation that keeps children laughing and amazed from start to finish.
1:00PM Nature’s Colors: Soft Pastel Drawing Workshop with Kamila Marrero (2nd floor Meeting Room): Explore nature through expressive soft pastel drawing, learning blending techniques, understanding value, and layering color in a hands-on creative session.
1:30PM Stilt Walkers (1:40PM Children's Room): Step into the enchanting world of stilt dancing, an art form from West Africa with the USVI Mocko Jumbie Stilt Dancers.
2:30PM The Mixed-Up Fairytale Show (Multipurpose Room): Join Page Turner Adventures in this comical quest to break a spell placed on Sleeping Beauty. Along the way, the kids must persuade Red Riding Hood to give up her cape, discover the secret under grandma’s bed, and retrieve a golden spoon from a REAL 10-foot-tall giant!
The 2026 Children's BookFest is presented through collaborations and partnerships with many community partners and is generously funded by The Broward Public Library Foundation, Panera Bread, The Friends of the West Regional Library, Children’s Services Council of Broward County, and The City of Plantation.
A Service of the Broward County Board of County Commissioners.
AGE GROUP: | Tweens | Toddlers | Teens | Preschool | New Adults | Kids | Families | Everyone | Babies/Infants | Adults |
EVENT TYPE: | Workshop | Summer Learning Program | Performances - Dance, Concerts & Theater | Fair/Festival | Creation Station | Books | Arts & Cultural |
TAGS: | Summer Learning Program |
| Mon, Apr 13 | 10:00AM to 8:00PM |
| Tue, Apr 14 | 10:00AM to 8:00PM |
| Wed, Apr 15 | 10:00AM to 8:00PM |
| Thu, Apr 16 | 10:00AM to 6:00PM |
| Fri, Apr 17 | 10:00AM to 6:00PM |
| Sat, Apr 18 | 10:00AM to 6:00PM |
| Sun, Apr 19 | 10:00AM to 6:00PM |
