What made this event so great? Amazing speakers, friendly helpful staff and volunteers, great food, and of course, great books ALL OVER!
Since I was volunteering in the afternoon, I arrived early to have time to hear a program or two and check out all the community and author/illustrator booths.
I talked with authors and illustrators in the Hall of Exhibiting Children's Authors and met some wonderful people. I spread the word about SCBWI to those who hadn't heard of the organization before and handed out a few brochures.
The opportunity to meet so many other authors and illustrators and really have a chance to talk with them one-on-one is a big advantage of this festival. Smaller then the National Book Festival in DC and the Baltimore Book Festival (both in September,) the Gaithersburg Festival has a great community feel and everyone is willing to talk without feeling rushed or bustled. The pavilions are nicely sized so everyone gets a seat, but even at the packed programs you feel engaged with the speakers. Oh, and though I stayed in the children's area they have areas and presenters for adult genres as well. I meant to stop by and hear the Mommy Bloggers, but I got caught up chatting with a few children's authors.
Speaking of speakers: I was able to see Mary Quattlebaum and her husband dressed as pirates as they shared her newest books Pirate vs. Pirate, The Hungry Ghost of Rue Orleans, and Jo MacDonald Had a Garden. Who doesn't love a pirate presentation? We all definitely did and the kids anxiously awaited to see what her most precious treasure was in her treasure box. In a pirate author's treasure box you will find jewels and gold of course, but you will also find a hungry ghost trying to eat vegetables from Jo MacDonald's garden. But the most precious treasure of a pirate author is her PIRATE PEN!
Up next was a power-duo, Jon Scieszka and Mac Barnett. Both authors have an astonishing list of accomplishments pertaining to writing and spreading a love of literature. 
Mac then provided the audience with a detailed version of how a book is made, but that will be a separate post later this week. Good stuff there, I sure learned a lot. (Yes, that was a hint of sarcasm.) Here it is!
Then I was off to volunteer at the Story Time tent where local volunteers (teachers, media specialists, and community members) would sit for a bit and read picture books to groups of kids. There were two little girls that would have stayed all afternoon and listen to stories. We had a little break between readers and they looked so disappointed I read them a few of the books I picked up in the morning until the next reader arrived. I love that! It's always nice to find kids excited about books! Getting a small crowd to sit down was always easier after the reader had started, but the biggest crowd was there to hear RGIII's parents read a few of his childhood favorites.
Though the weather wasn't ideal, it wasn't sun-burning and hot or heavily raining, so I can't complain! I had a great time volunteering and I'm looking forward to next year!
Just a little heads up, I checked the list of already confirmed presenters for the National Book Festival and award winning illustrator JON KLASSEN is on the list!
