Friday, October 18

The VCBF Bookshop will be located in Dorrill Lee Grand, and book signings will occur during the lunch break from 12:15pm-1:00pm

Hip Hop and Shakespeare

In this innovative Shakespeare class, VCBF Rapper-in-Residence Malik- 16 explorse the timeless narratives and profound themes of William Shakespeare through the lens of hip hop culture. Kids will engage in comparative analysis by listening to hip hop lyrics and examining how they echo Shakespearean themes. For instance, they might compare the ambition in Shakespeare’s "Macbeth" with the lyrical themes of ambition in modern rap.

Session 1 (9:45-10:30am)

Barely Floating

Session 2 (10:45-11:30am)

Who Am I?

Baseball is Elena Rueda’s entire She may be the only girl on her team, but she’s the best player and everyone knows it. Except . . . Elena has stopped having fun, and it’s time to quit. Who she is without a bat in her hand. How will Elena find out who she is—and teach her to love to play again?

VMFA Artmobile

Barely Floating

When champion swimmer Natalia de la Cruz Rivera y Santiago, sees The L.A. Mermaids perform, synchronized swimming steals her heart. Unfortunately, not only does Nat have to deal with parents who disapprove of a sport that seems to focus on looks, but the worry that she's thin enough to compete. This session will have some synchronized activities!

Join Daniel Nayeri in his sprawling, evocative, and groundbreaking autobiographical novel told in the unforgettable and hilarious voice of a young Iranian refugee. It is a powerfully layered novel that poses the questions: Who owns the truth? Who speaks it? Who believes it?

How Can I Help?

Stone-in-the-Glen is a once-lovely town that has fallen on hard times. The beautiful Library burned down; the dazzling, dragon-slaying Mayor offers more speeches than action, and the fourteen clever Orphans at the Orphan House still struggle to get enough to eat. Only the Ogress can help, but how much will it cost her? Join the incredible Kelly Barnhill to find out.

Wishes Gone Awry

Everyone at scholarship kid Cade Webster's prep school is afraid of him: he's from a bad neighborhood, he is too big, too ambitious, and too Black. But one night an impulsive wish changes everything. At first, it seems like Cade's wish has granted him newfound freedom, but Cade realizes that something terrible is happening. As he grapples with the ramifications of his wish, Cade must confront the darkness within himself and find a way to undo the damage of a wish gone awry.

Hip Hop and Shakespeare

In this innovative Shakespeare class, VCBF Rapper-in-Residence Malik- 16 explorse the timeless narratives and profound themes of William Shakespeare through the lens of hip hop culture. Kids will engage in comparative analysis by listening to hip hop lyrics and examining how they echo Shakespearean themes. For instance, they might compare the ambition in Shakespeare’s "Macbeth" with the lyrical themes of ambition in modern rap.

How Can I Help?

Stone-in-the-Glen is a once-lovely town that has fallen on hard times. The beautiful Library burned down; the dazzling, dragon-slaying Mayor offers more speeches than action, and the fourteen clever Orphans at the Orphan House still struggle to get enough to eat. Only the Ogress can help, but how much will it cost her? Join the incredible Kelly Barnhill to find out.

Wishes Gone Awry

Everyone at scholarship kid Cade Webster's prep school is afraid of him: he's from a bad neighborhood, he is too big, too ambitious, and too Black. But one night an impulsive wish changes everything. At first, it seems like Cade's wish has granted him newfound freedom, but Cade realizes that something terrible is happening. As he grapples with the ramifications of his wish, Cade must confront the darkness within himself and find a way to undo the damage of a wish gone awry.

Había una vez . . .
Petra Peña wants to be a storyteller like her abuelita. But Earth has been destroyed, and only a few scientists and their children have been chosen to journey to a new planet, Petra wakes and is the only person who remembers Earth. Petra alone now carries the stories of our past, and with them, any hope for our future. Can she make them live again?

Flamer

Join Mike for an insightful presentation on Flamer, a groundbreaking graphic novel that tackles themes of identity, self-discovery, and LGBTQ+ experiences with honesty and sensitivity.

**This session contains mature themes.

Middle

Friday, October 18

Young Adult

Who Am I?

Baseball is Elena Rueda’s entire She may be the only girl on her team, but she’s the best player and everyone knows it. Except . . . Elena has stopped having fun, and it’s time to quit. Who she is without a bat in her hand. How will Elena find out who she is—and teach her to love to play again?

When champion swimmer Natalia de la Cruz Rivera y Santiago, sees The L.A. Mermaids perform, synchronized swimming steals her heart. Unfortunately, not only does Nat have to deal with parents who disapprove of a sport that seems to focus on looks, but the worry that she's thin enough to compete. This session will have some synchronized activities!

Everything Sad is Untrue: Who Owns the Truth?

A Born Storyteller


Friday, October 18

Do you love horror? The macabre? The creepy.? Learn from the best what makes a story scary, and how to incorporate it into your own writing in this incredible writing workshop that is sure to help you chill some spines.

Everything Sad is Untrue: Who Owns the Truth?

Join Daniel Nayeri in his sprawling, evocative, and groundbreaking autobiographical novel told in the unforgettable and hilarious voice of a young Iranian refugee. It is a powerfully layered novel that poses the questions: Who owns the truth? Who speaks it? Who believes it?

A Born Storyteller

Había una vez . . .
Petra Peña wants to be a storyteller like her abuelita. But Earth has been destroyed, and only a few scientists and their children have been chosen to journey to a new planet, Petra wakes and is the only person who remembers Earth. Petra alone now carries the stories of our past, and with them, any hope for our future. Can she make them live again?

Flamer

Join Mike for an insightful presentation on Flamer, a groundbreaking graphic novel that tackles themes of identity, self-discovery, and LGBTQ+ experiences with honesty and sensitivity.

**This session contains mature themes.

Hundred word horror stories

Flamer

Join Mike for an insightful presentation on Flamer, a groundbreaking graphic novel that tackles themes of identity, self-discovery, and LGBTQ+ experiences with honesty and sensitivity.

**This session contains mature themes.

VMFA Artmobile

VMFA on the Road is the museum’s 21st-century Artmobile, coming to you from the Virginia Museum of Fine Arts. Come explore this traveling exhibition during its special appearance at the VCBF!


Friday, October 18

Session 3 (1:00-1:45pm)

Mural Painting

Join muralist Monty Montgomery to complete the 2024 VCBF mural. Spend the afternoon painting a creation that will be a permanent installation.

The Newbery Comes to Farmville

Join THREE Newbery winners to ask them all the questions you've ever wanted to ask about being a writer, telling stories, becoming successful, and winning awards. A once-in-a-lifetime opportunity!

Books and Basketball

Sometimes the best ideas and the best talk come when we are playing a game. Sports are more than just a way to break the ice. They are a way to interact, to spur being social, to solve problems, to connect. Pablo Cartaya wants to connect with kids through sports, to talk about books, and life, and friends, and dreams. So come play basketball!

Magical Realism

VMFA Artmobile

VMFA on the Road is the museum’s 21st-century Artmobile, coming to you from the Virginia Museum of Fine Arts. Come explore this traveling exhibition during its special appearance at the VCBF!

Magical Realism

Participate in a storytelling exercise inspired by Little Badger’s narrative style. Create your own short stories or scenes that incorporate magical realism or cultural elements.

VMFA on the Road is the museum’s 21st-century Artmobile, coming to you from the Virginia Museum of Fine Arts. Come explore this traveling exhibition during its special appearance at the VCBF!

Participate in a storytelling exercise inspired by Little Badger’s narrative style. Create your own short stories or scenes that incorporate magical realism or cultural elements.

Storytelling through Hip Hop workshop

Hip hop can be a powerful medium for personal expression and narrative crafting. Through interactive sessions on storytelling, rapping, lyric writing, and creative performance, kids will learn how to use hip hop elements to tell their own stories and connect with others.

Ogress and Orphans Care Package