Last year I went to the Twin Cities Book Festival with some friends of mine. We browsed the many interesting exhibits, bought some books, and went out to lunch. I was particularly excited about this display of chapbooks. And I managed to catch Alison McGhee reading from one of her books in the Children’s Circle.
This year was a different experience. The Children’s Circle had expanded to the Children’s Pavilion, so I brought Ladybug for a morning full of bookish fun.
Highlights included the MacPhail Center for Music band (We got a free CD that Ladybug loves. We will definitely add their Free Family Events to
our family calendar.),
Marsha Wilson Chall reading from One Pup’s Up (We loved this book, and she was fabulous with the kids),
and reptiles (the Owatonna Reptile and Amphibian Discovery Zoo had a baby alligator, a boa constrictor, and other interesting animals for us to look at and touch.)
Proper Noun Blog 
The book festival was CRAZY. I was selling books on the lower level and came home completely exhausted. I’m glad you had a great time! Marsha Wilson Chall’s “Up North at the Cabin” is one of my faves.