Traverse City Children's Book Festival

Presented by Jenkins Group

Saturday, November 8, 2025 | 10 AM - 2 PM | City Opera House

 

The Traverse City Children’s Book Festival, presented by Jenkins Group, is a joyful celebration of children, families, community, and literacy. This annual event offers a wide variety of books for all ages, featuring works from Michigan and national publishers.

In addition to exploring great books, families can enjoy fun, kid-friendly activities and crafts hosted by local non-profits. Moonbeam Award medalists will also be on hand to showcase their award-winning books, making the festival a must-visit for book lovers of all ages.

Admission is free, and no tickets are required!

Everything You Need to Know

  • Date & Time

    Saturday, November 8, 2025 From 10 AM - 2 PM.

  • Location

    Located at City Opera House in downtown Traverse City at 106 East Front Street.

  • Parking

    Meter parking is available along the streets and Larry C. Hardy Parking Deck is located just two blocks away.

  • FREE Admission

    General attendance to the TCCBF is free! No tickets are required.

Schedule of Events

10:15 AM: Opening celebration featuring Traverse City Pit Spitters’ Monty

11:00 AM: Old Town Playhouse Young Company performs Holiday Cabaret excerpts

11:40 AM: Old Town Playhouse Young Company performs Holiday Cabaret excerpts

12:30 PM: Parallel 45 Interactive Storytelling – “This is Not a Box”

1:15 PM: Parallel 45 Interactive Storytelling – “This is Not a Box”

authors

A.Y. JOHLIN

Best Book by Youth Author (under 18) Silver Medalist, The Girl Who Wasn’t Chosen

CDBA PUBLISHING

Comic/Graphic Novel Bronze Medalist, KYNG SUPA NOVA'S ADVENTURES 'OPERATION COVID-19' WITH FAMILY, WE CAN CONQUER ALL by Constance Delores Burrell; illustrated by Ismail Yousaf and Khadija Maryam

DEBRA WESTGATE-SILVA

Fiction – Religion/Spirituality Bronze Medalist, Bethlehem Barn

FATIMA R. HENSON

Young Adult Fiction – Fantasy / Sci-Fi Gold Medalist, Love in the Age of Dragons

HEATHER BRADLEY

Animals/Pets Non-Fiction Silver Medalist, When We All Get Together

HEATHER MATEUS SAPPENFIELD

Pre-Teen Fiction – General and Pre-Teen Fiction – Mature Issues Silver Medalist, The River Between Hearts

HERMIONE LEE

Young Adult Fiction eBook Gold Medalist, Where the Magic Lies: Perils of Portia Saga #1

KAREN VEGA

Young Adult Fiction – General Bronze Medalist, The Girl with No Sol

MEET THE PLAYGROUND KIDS

Non-Fiction – Picture Book Gold Medalist, Be Nice. The End. Simple Lessons of the Playground Kids by Bryan Skavnak; illustrated by Wendy Kieffer Shragg

MGCW CORPORATION

Spanish Language Book Silver Medalist, El cabello de Gregorina by Milagros Wallace; illustrated by Alynor Díaz

Exhibitors

Our Mission

The mission of the TCCBF is to promote children’s literature and literacy by creating an event that brings together children’s book publishers and authors, non-profits, and the community as a whole. The Children’s Book Festival celebrates the importance of books not just in the lives of kids, but for everyone.

Proceeds from the Traverse City Children’s Book Festival are donated to local literacy charities.

Frequently Asked Questions

The TCCBF is a celebration of children, families, community, and literacy. The festival offers a sampling of the best children’s books from a variety of Michigan and national publishers who will be on hand with wonderful stories for the entire family! Local non-profits will be on hand with fun, kid-friendly activities and crafts.

City Opera House, located on 106 East Front Street, Traverse City, MI 49684

Whatever your downtown Traverse City destination, a parking space is conveniently available. Two and ten hour metered spaces along the streets and in designated lots make visiting the downtown and waterfront areas hassle-free. Don’t forget many of these meters offer 30 minutes FREE for quick trips!

If you don’t want to think about time on a meter, make the Larry C. Hardy Parking Deck your parking destination. This facility offers the most affordable parking rates in town. There is no fee on weekdays after 5pm and all day on the weekends. It is located two blocks east of the City Opera House on the south side of Front Street.

Hotel Indigo

263 W Grandview Parkway
Traverse City, MI 49684
Phone: (231) 932-0500


Standing among revamped lumberyards, sawmills and canneries, Hotel Indigo reflects the new life and vibrant spirit of our waterfront Warehouse District neighborhood.

The staff and management here look forward to welcoming you to their fresh, modern hotel located right across from Grand Traverse Bay. 

For other reliable recommendations for accommodations, visit the Traverse City Visitor’s Bureau.

The festival is attended primarily by parents and their children (especially Pre K – 3). Publishers, authors, librarians, book sellers and illustrators will also be in attendance.

Primarily the exhibitors are publishers and authors of children’s books (including Moonbeam award-winning authors), book sellers, literacy advocates and educational institutions.

Download our sponsorship sheet here and email info@moonbeamawards.com to secure your spot.

Yes. We will have authors present who will be selling and signing books their books.

The entire event is focused on children from a kid-friendly (and safe) play area, activity tables, and entertainment on the main stage! Parents will free to shop while their children have all kinds of fun activities to participate in nearby.

Authors chosen as exhibitors can contact Festival Director Amy Shamroe at info@moonbeamawards.com for more information if they would like to participate beyond selling books.

The City Opera House is the oldest of three historically intact Victorian Opera Houses in Michigan.

Over the last three decades, the primary objective of the City Opera House has been the restoration of this unique public environment. With its historic ambiance the theater offers to the northwest region of Michigan an exciting, one-of-a-kind venue for national, international, local and regional entertainment and arts opportunities, educational programming, and public and private celebrations.

Yes! The TCCBF and the City Opera House are ADA compliant.

 

Intersted in becoming a sponsor?

Sponsorships range from $250-$1,000. Our Sponsors allow us to put on a free, family-friendly event celebrating children’s literacy the whole community can enjoy. Your support is greatly appreciated. Download our PDF to view our sponsorship levels and contact Amy Shamroe at info@moonbeamawards.com to make the magic happen.