CELINA, OH (WLIO) - Hundreds of kids and their family members gathered in Celina on Saturday to pick up some new books and celebrate their love of reading.
The Grand Lake Area Literature Festival had books for readers young and old, with nearly two dozen authors there to sell, sign, and talk about their work. There were also crafts for the kids, and panels and workshops led by authors and illustrators for both kids and adults to learn more about what it takes to get a story published, or even just write and draw for fun.
"I love the kids. Many of the kids are readers, but the ones that really light up are the ones that they want to tell me, 'I'm an author too.' They want to tell me that they've written a story, how many pages it is, what the story's about. They know the plot, they know their main character, and those are the kids that are so excited to talk to authors usually," said Michelle Houts, a longtime Celina resident who is the author of 13 published books.
"Writing can be a lifelong hobby, maybe a lucrative business, not always though. But it can be a way to capture the past before it slips away and a gift of sharing yourself with family, and friends and anyone," added Cathy Leining, who taught two workshops at the festival, one for kids and one for adults looking to learn how to write and illustrate stories.
Each school in Auglaize and Mercer County was invited to choose students to receive "Most Improved Reader" awards, and the winners were given vouchers for a free book and autograph from any author at the festival.
"I like to read for 40 minutes every day, and I read chapter books. And I like Diary of the Wimpy Kid. You just learn about stuff, or it's just like a quiet, peaceful moment," said Clara Randall, a Wapakoneta Elementary 4th grader who won the award.
The authors also took time to read their books on stage for the kids throughout the day.
