100,000+ readers gathered in Washington, DC

Morgan Baden  //  Sep 11, 2015

100,000+ readers gathered in Washington, DC

The National Book Festival is one of the country's most exciting book events. Held in Washington, DC, over Labor Day Weekend, an estimated 100,000-150,000 readers and book lovers gathered to hear from the authors and illustrators they love.

This year's Scholastic area featured a green screen photo booth, where readers could get their photo taken and imposed on a cover of a Goosebumps book or Where's Walrus and Penguin by Stephen Savage! More than 350 people took photos and shared them on social media, including the author/illustrator of Where's Walrus and Penguin himself, Stephen Savage. (That's him in the photo!)

Attendees left their thoughts on how reading can open a world of possible by sticking them onto a mural that grew impressively large as the festival wore on. Plus, a read-aloud and activity area featured books and creative games for young children. Kids colored more than 500 Clifford pages!

Check out some photos from the even below, and in this roundup from Publishers Weekly!

National Book Festival 2015