Illinois Reads and Young Authors Book Festival
will be held on Saturday, April 25, 2026 at the
National Teachers Academy, 55 W Cermak Rd, Chicago, Illinois

The Illinois Reading Council is excited to share that we will be hosting a new version of the Illinois Statewide Young Authors Conference at the Illinois Reads and Young Authors Book Festival.  

 At the Illinois Reads and Young Authors Book Festival, the Illinois Reading Council will be celebrating the written work of students in kindergarten through twelfth grade along with the Illinois Reads Authors.  All students in kindergarten through twelfth grade, including those in special programs, are encouraged to participate.  Each spring, schools are encouraged to select their Young Authors who will attend and be celebrated at the Illinois Reads and Young Authors Book Festival.  

 The Illinois Reads and Young Authors Book Festival is a fun and free event for ALL families, students, and book lovers and ALL are invited to attend.  During the Book Festival, the Young Authors, chaperones, and other book festival participants will attend sessions led by Illinois Reads Authors from the 2026 Illinois Reads Book List.  In the afternoon, ONLY the Young Authors and their chaperones will be invited to attend the special Young Authors Celebration held in their honor. 

 At the Young Authors Celebration, the Young Authors will have lunch with one of the Illinois Reads Authors where they can share their book, receive their Illinois Reads Young Author Certificate, and their manuscript will be officially affixed with the seal as an honored Illinois Reads Young Author.  Please note that all schools must provide chaperones who will accompany their Young Authors attending the Illinois Reads and Young Authors Book Festival.  If any other students are only attending the Book Festival, please bring additional chaperones to accompany them.

Registration and guidelines to participate in the Young Authors Celebration will be available by January 5, 2026.  Please note that space will be limited, so plan to register early!