One Book Two Book celebrates children’s literature in the City of Literature

Dozens of literature-related children’s activities will highlight the second annual One Book Two Book festival, Jan. 11-13, 2013, in and around Iowa City. Dubbed “A Celebration of Children’s Literature in the City of Literature,” the festival is organized by the Iowa City UNESCO City of Literature with support from presenting sponsor the Pearson Foundation.

One Book Two Book will begin on Friday, Jan. 11, with the “Once Upon a Time…” dinner at 6 p.m., created to celebrate stories written and performed by children from each elementary school in the Iowa City school district, as well as Regina and Willowwind. The students wrote their pieces based on the prompt, “Once Upon a Time I Had the Most Amazing Dream.” After the dinner, a keynote presentation will be made by best-selling author Nancy Krulik, who created the popular “Katie Kazoo Switcheroo” and “George Brown Class Clown” series. In addition, the Iowa Children’s Museum will provide activities for young attendees, while children’s book characters will make an appearance.

On Saturday, Jan. 12, the festival continues from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. with an all-day Children’s Book Fair at the Sheraton Iowa City Hotel and author readings at the Iowa City Public Library. All events are free and open to the public. At the Sheraton, children can meet and greet book characters like Curious George, Clifford the Big Red Dog, Llama Llama, Pete the Cat and more. Iowa Public Television’s Dan Wardell will appear at 9:30 a.m., while balloon animals, face painting, skits and mask-making demonstrations will be held.

At the library, Krulik will be joined on the schedule by several area authors and illustrators who will read from and present their work and sign books. Others appearing are Jennifer Black Reinhardt, Rebecca Janni, Maribeth Boelts, Wendy Delsol, Anne Ylvisaker, Sarah Prineas, Sharelle Byars Moranville, Eileen Boggess and Jeanette Hopkins.

Also on Saturday, a Junior High Writing Jam will be held at Capanna/The Wedge on the downtown pedestrian mall. Participating Junior High students also responded to the prompt “Once Upon a Time I Had the Most Amazing Dream.” That event is free and open to the public. The Writing Jam is presented in conjunction with the Iowa Youth Writing Program, and is sponsored by ACT.

The book characters also will make appearances throughout the day Friday and Saturday at the Iowa City Downtown District’s ice skating rink on Iowa Avenue.

A full schedule of Saturday’s events can be downloaded at

The festival concludes on Sunday with a new event, “Off the Page: Children’s Favorite Storybook Professions Come to Life.” The event will be held concurrently at the Iowa City, Coralville and North Liberty public libraries from 1 to 3 p.m., and will feature community members and leaders for a special interactive story time. Children can find out what it’s like to put out fires, fly a plane, race to a crime scene, bake a delicious cake and more, all from people in the community who do these things for a living. The event is free, but tickets are required. Attendees must pick up tickets during the Saturday festival events at the Sheraton in downtown Iowa City. For more information, visit http://www.onebooktwobook.org/sunday.

For more information on the Iowa City UNESCO City of Literature’s One Book Two Book festival, presented by the Pearson Foundation, please visit www.onebooktwobook.org or contact the City of Literature office at info@cityofliteratureusa.org or 319-887-6100.