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Henderson Reads Book Festival
Join us for the 5th annual Henderson Reads Book Festival! This exciting event will take place on Saturday, April 25, 2026, from 10am to 4pm on Water Street Plaza. Fifteen talented authors and illustrators of picture book, middle-grade and young adult genres will be on hand to present their work and share their creative processes.
What to Expect
Live Readings
Author Talks
Book Signings
Activities
And MUCH More!
The festival will feature three rotating stages, each dedicated to a specific category, where authors will have a designated time to speak, followed by a book signing session, allowing attendees to interact with their favorite writers. With so many authors in one place, it is a perfect opportunity to discover new books and hear firsthand from the creators behind the stories.
In addition to the author presentations, the festival will host a variety of family-friendly activities and entertainment. Enjoy face painting, get your picture taken at the photo booth or take part in a Where’s Waldo scavenger hunt. The event will also feature books for sale by the authors and local vendors.
Children under 16 must be accompanied by parent or guardian.
Schedule is subject to change with or without notice. Management reserves all rights.
Meet the Authors
Picture Book Authors
| Meet the Author | Bio | More Details | Books |
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Antwan Eady is the author of the award-winning picture book "Nigel and the Moon", illustrated by Gracey Zhang, and "The Last Stand", illustrated by Jarrett and Jerome Pumphrey, which received seven starred reviews and earned spots on multiple Best Books of the Year lists. His works have been recognized with the Charlotte Huck Award for Outstanding Fiction for Children, the Southern Book Prize for Children and the Ezra Jack Keats Author Honor. Hailing from South Carolina's Low Country, Antwan draws inspiration from his deep connection to family, community and the land. He enjoys sharing his stories with readers at home and abroad by visiting schools, libraries and colleges. A graduate of Clemson University, he now lives in Savannah, Georgia. |
Category: Picture Book
Website: antwaneady.com
Presentation: 1pm–1:45pm | Tent 1
Book Signing: 2pm–3pm | Tent 4 |
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Charlotte Gunnufson loves writing stories for kids! Her books include "Hard Hat Hank and the Sky-High Solution", "Dream Submarine" and "Eight, Nine, Tengineers." "School Spirits" will arrive this summer, 2026. A former teacher, Charlotte frequently visits schools and libraries to entertain, encourage curiosity and get kids excited about science, nature and reading! She lives in Cedar Rapids, Iowa, where she writes, hikes, plays word games and plants trees.
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Category: Picture Book
Website: booksbycharlotte.com
Presentation: 11am–11:45am | Tent 1
Book Signing: Noon–1pm | Tent 4 |
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Greg Foley didn’t know what he wanted to be when he grew up. So he never really grew up. Just like his character Dex Dingo, he has always wanted to be the World’s Best Greatest Ever at something. So he tries his best at being lots of different things, like author, illustrator, designer, director, cartoonist, New Yorker cover artist, teacher, inventor and dad. Along the way, Greg has received numerous honors, including the Charlotte Zolotow Award, Art Directors Club Gold and Silver Awards, a Grammy nomination, as well as a Guinness World Record and his work has been exhibited at places like the MoMA, Centre Pompidou, New York Public Library, Yale’s Beinecke Library and many more. Greg lives in Austin, Texas, with his family. |
Category: Picture Book
Website: gregfoley.co
Presentation: Noon–12:45pm | Tent 1
Book Signing: 1pm–2pm | Tent 4 |
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Dr. Rekha S. Rajan is the USA TODAY bestselling author of over 30 books for children and adults. The "Disaster Squad" chapter books are on numerous state awards and reading lists. Her audio narration and musical instrumentation for the "This is Music" board book series were named best children’s recordings from ALA/ALSC 2023 and are part of the Storypod listening library collection. Her picture book "That Swingin' Sound" is a Junior Library Guild Gold Selection and her book "Amazing Landmarks" was a finalist for the 2024 Rhode Island Children’s book award. Her parenting book, "The Read Aloud Factor" received starred reviews from Booklist and Library Journal and includes MRI data on how reading aloud supports brain health. Additional books include "Can You Dance Like a Peacock," her "This is Dance" series, and the forthcoming picture books "Go, Go, Go" and "The Numbers Race." Rekha is a classically trained opera singer and lives in Chicago.
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Category: Picture Book
Website: rekhasrajan.com/books
Presentation: 10am–10:45am | Tent 1
Book Signing: 11am–Noon | Tent 4 |
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Vern Kousky is an award-winning author and illustrator of a number of picture books for children, including “Harold Loves His Woolly Hat,” which was an Indie Next List Pick and the recipient of a starred review from School library Journal; the sequel, “Harold Hates To Hibernate;” and “The Blue Songbird,” which was one of The Marginalian’s Seven Loveliest Children’s Books of 2017. He currently resides outside of Philadelphia, where he spends his days wandering in the woods, tending to his plants and trying his best to befriend the neighborhood squirrels. |
Category: Picture Book
Website: vernkousky.com
Presentation: 2pm–2:45pm | Tent 1
Book Signing: 3pm–4pm | Tent 4 |
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Middle Grade Authors
| Meet the Author | Bio | More Details | Books |
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Daka Hermon was born in Tennessee and spent her childhood huddled under a blanket with a flashlight, reading and writing fairy-tale and fantasy stories. She graduated from Agnes Scott College with a Bachelor’s Degree in English Literature/Creative Writing. She loves sweet tea, chocolate, cupcakes and collecting superhero toys and paraphernalia. She is currently a staff writer on Marvel’s Spidey and His Amazing friends on Disney Junior. |
Category: Middle School
Website: dakahermon.com
Presentation: 11am–11:45am | Tent 2
Book Signing: Noon–1pm | Tent 5 |
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Kate O'Shaughnessy is a book nerd, animal lover, former chef and an outdoor enthusiast. When she’s not writing, you can find Kate in her garden, eating good food, hiking with her dog and chronically mispronouncing words she’s read but never heard said aloud. She lives in California with her family.
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Category: Middle School
Website: kloshaughnessy.com
Presentation: Noon–12:45pm | Tent 2
Book Signing: 1pm–2pm | Tent 5 |
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Kwame Mbalia is a husband, father, writer, a New York Times bestselling author, a publisher and a former pharmaceutical metrologist (in that order). He is the author of the bestselling "Tristan Strong" series, the first of which was awarded a Coretta Scott King Author Honor. Kwame is the co-author of "Last Gate of The Emperor" with Prince Joel Makonnen, from Scholastic Books, and the editor of the #1 New York Times bestselling anthology "Black Boy Joy," published by Delacorte Press. |
Category: Middle School
Website: kwamembalia.com
Presentation: 2pm–2:45pm | Tent 2
Book Signing: 3pm–4pm | Tent 5 |
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Matt Landis teaches 8th-grade social studies full-time, where he tries to slay boredom wherever it lurks (which is potentially a lot of places, as this is social studies we’re talking about). It’s the greatest job ever because middle school kids are hilarious and awkward, capable of great kindness and depth,as well as shocking ambivalence and cruelty. In other words, perfect book material. So he started writing stories for and about his students, which is the second greatest job ever.
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Category: Middle School
Website: matthew-landis.com
Presentation: 10am–10:45am | Tent 2
Book Signing: 11am–Noon | Tent 5 |
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Rob Buyea did not like reading or writing as a kid, but loved both when he was a teacher, which ultimately put him on the path to becoming the author of many books. He is best known for his "Mr. Terupt" series, which has won numerous awards and has been translated into more than a dozen languages. He is also the author of the award-winning "Perfect Score" series and three stand-alone novels, "What Comes Next," "The Daredevils" and "Carter Avery’s Tricky Fourth-Grade Year." Rob’s books continue to reach classrooms near and far and have given him the opportunity to visit with students all over the world—something he loves to do. |
Category: Middle School
Website: robbuyea.com
Presentation: 1pm–1:45pm | Tent 2
Book Signing: 2pm–3pm | Tent 5 |
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Young Adult Authors
| Meet the Author | Bio | More Details | Books |
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Jeffery Boston Weatherford is an author, rapper and award-winning children’s book illustrator. His latest book, "Rap It Up!" was inspired by his signature workshops, merging writing and technology. "KIN: Rooted in Hope" won a Coretta Scott King Honor and the Boston Globe/Horn Book Award for Poetry. His debut book, "You Can Fly: The Tuskegee Airmen," was named an ALSC Notable Book and a best book of the year by the National Council for the Social Studies and Kirkus Reviews. Jeffery has had solo art exhibitions in Maryland, Georgia, North Carolina and Florida. Formerly a National Book Foundation teaching artist, he holds an M.F.A. from Howard University, where he was a Romare Bearden Scholar. |
Category: Young Adult
Website: cbweatherford.com
Presentation: Noon–12:45pm | Tent 3
Book Signing: 1pm–2pm | Tent 6 |
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Sarah Darer Littman is the critically acclaimed author of 19 middle-grade and young-adult novels, including "Backlash" (Winner of the Iowa Teen Book Award and the Grand Canyon Reader Award) and "Confessions of a Closet Catholic," winner of the Sydney Taylor Book Award. As well as writing novels, Sarah teaches in the MFA program at Western CT State University and at the Yale Writers’ Workshop. She is also an award-winning columnist. Sarah lives in Connecticut, in a house that never seems to have enough bookshelves.
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Category: Young Adult
Website: sarahdarerlittman.com
Presentation: 10am–10:45am | Tent 3
Book Signing: 11am–Noon | Tent 6 |
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Samantha Van Leer is the co-author of the New York Times’ best-selling novels "Between the Lines" and "Off the Page", which she recently helped adapt into an off-Broadway musical that premiered in 2022. A graduate of Vassar College, she also holds a Master's in Education and was previously a fourth-grade teacher. She now writes full-time in San Antonio, Texas, with her husband, Frankie, their daughter, Stevie, and their chaotic puppy, Obi Juan Kenobi, who is most likely up to no good. Her newest work includes a middle-grade sci-fi series entitled "The Extraterrestrial Zoo." The first book in this series, "Finding the Lost One", is out now. |
Category: Young Adult
Website: samanthavanleer.com
Presentation: 1pm–1:45pm | Tent 3
Book Signing: 2pm–3pm | Tent 6 |
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Kim Johnson is a renowned author, speaker and consultant, continuing her mission to inspire and drive change in the world. She writes social thrillers ripped from the headlines, tackling some of society’s most compelling issues through fast-paced, character-driven stories. Her bestselling novel, "This Is My America", won numerous accolades in 2021, including the Pacific Northwest Book Award and the Malka Penn Human Rights Award for Children’s Literature. Her second novel, "Invisible Son", was the Amelia Elizabeth Walden Award Nominee (ALAN), a Black Caucus Young Adult Honor selection (ALA) and a finalist for the 2024 LA Times Book Prize. In 2025, "The Color of a Lie" took home the prestigious Scott O'Dell Award for Historical Fiction and winner of the Los Angeles Times Book Prize. She holds degrees from the University of Oregon, University of Maryland, College Park and an MFA from Oregon State University Cascades. She now lives in the Washington D.C area.
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Category: Young Adult
Website: kcjohnsonwrites.com
Presentation: 11am–11:45am | Tent 3
Book Signing: Noon–1pm | Tent 6 |
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Marc J Gregson is the New York Times bestselling author of the "Above the Black" trilogy. His work has been released in several languages across multiple continents, and his trilogy starter, "Sky’s End," is in development as a major motion picture. "Sky’s End" has received several starred reviews and has been selected for Best of Year lists from Kirkus and BookPage. Marc is also a middle school English teacher. He enjoys pizza, making unbearably bad bear puns for his aggrieved students and sleeping. On occasion, he reluctantly does yardwork where he lives in Salt Lake City, Utah with his wife and children. | Category: Young Adult
Website: marcjgregson.com
Presentation: 2pm–2:45pm | Tent 3
Book Signing: 3pm–4pm | Tent 6 |
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Picture Book
| Picture Book Author |
Festival Present. Time | Festival Present. Location | Book Signing Time | Book Signing Location |
|---|---|---|---|---|
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Rekha S. Rajan |
10am-10:45am |
Tent 1 | 11am-Noon | Tent 4 |
| Charlotte Gunnufson |
11am-11:45am | Tent 1 | Noon-1pm | Tent 4 |
| Greg Foley | Noon-12:45pm | Tent 1 | 1pm-2pm | Tent 4 |
| Antwan Eady | 1pm-1:45pm | Tent 1 | 2pm-3pm | Tent 4 |
| Vern Kousky | 2pm-2:45pm | Tent 1 | 3pm-4pm | Tent 4 |
Middle Grade
| Middle Grade Author |
Festival Present. Time | Festival Present. Location | Book Signing Time | Book Signing Location |
|---|---|---|---|---|
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Matt Landis |
10am-10:45am |
Tent 2 | 11am-Noon | Tent 5 |
| Daka Hermon | 11am-11:45am | Tent 2 | Noon-1pm | Tent 5 |
| Kate O'Shaughnessy | Noon-12:45pm | Tent 2 | 1pm-2pm | Tent 5 |
| Rob Buyea | 1pm-1:45pm | Tent 2 | 2pm-3pm | Tent 5 |
| Kwame Mbalia | 2pm-2:45pm | Tent 2 | 3pm-4pm | Tent 5 |
Young Adult
| Young Adult Author |
Festival Present. Time | Festival Present. Location | Book Signing Time | Book Signing Location |
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
Sarah Darer Littman |
10am-10:45am |
Tent 3 | 11am-Noon | Tent 6 |
| Kim Johnson | 11am-11:45am | Tent 3 | Noon-1pm | Tent 6 |
| Jeffery Boston Weatherford | Noon-12:45pm | Tent 3 | 1pm-2pm | Tent 6 |
| Samantha Van Leer | 1pm-1:45pm | Tent 3 | 2pm-3pm | Tent 6 |
| Marc J. Gregson | 2pm-2:45pm | Tent 3 | 3pm-4pm | Tent 6 |
Activities
| Featured Activities |
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Big Head Bob |
| NV Humanities |
| Wandering Book Artist |
| Where's Waldo |
Food Vendors
| Food Vendors |
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Dash's Loaded Soda Shop |
| El Fuego Picant |
| Las Vegas Kettle Corn |
Plaza Vendors & Booths
| Author Vendors |
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Angelo Gomez |
| Bill Franz |
| Lisa K Hallett Books |
| YOUth can do it! |
| Commercial Book Vendors |
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Archer and Jane |
| Householder Books |
| The Book Shelf |
| The Book & The Bean |
| Nonprofit booth |
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Coral Academy of Science Las Vegas |
| Community Resources & Partner Booths |
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Discovery Museum |
| Apple Core Reading |
| Henderson Education Initiatives |
| Henderson Libraries |
| Parks and Rec Make it Possible |
| Voter Registration |
Thank You to Our Sponsors!
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Upcoming Events on Water Street Plaza
UP in Concert
- Date: 09/25/2026 7:00 PM
- Location: Water Street Plaza
240 S. Water St.
Henderson, Nevada 89015
Experience the adventure of Disney and Pixar's "UP" like never before! Enjoy a free outdoor screening accompanied by a live performance of the movie’s score by the Henderson Symphony Orchestra. Bring your low-backed chairs, blankets and refreshments for a family-friendly, fun-filled evening.
Activities Start at 6pm
Movie Starts at 7pm
About Henderson Symphony Orchestra:
Led by Conductor and Artistic Advisor, Taras Krysa, the Henderson Symphony Orchestra is the Silver State's only community symphony orchestra that has been performing for 35 seasons, delivering on its mission to promote Classical Music appreciation and education to a varied and diverse audience, and to contribute to the cultural community of Southern Nevada.
Plaza Vendors
- Brownie Bar LV
- Dash's Loaded Soda Shop
- Hapahaoles Hawaiian Street Tacos
- Las Vegas Kettle Corn
- Love Me Foods
To learn more, visit their website.
Know Before You Go
Parking
For safety, Water Street will be closed to vehicles between Atlantic Ave. and Basic Rd.For a map and more details visit: Water Street Parking
The Water Street parking garage (235 S. Water St. with access off Texas Ave.) The Henderson City Hall parking garage (240. S. Water St. with access off Basic Road). There will be no shuttle service offered. If you choose to drive, please arrive early and plan accordingly. Ride share and carpooling is recommended. If you are a nearby resident, we encourage walking, biking, scootering, etc. to the event. Please refrain from using bicycles and scooters on festival grounds.
Plan Your Visit
Prohibited Items- Outside alcohol
- Coolers
- Drugs/drug paraphernalia
- Glass containers
- Umbrellas
- Pop-up tents
- Regular height chairs
- Inflatable mattresses or furniture
- Beanbag chairs
- Pets (with the exception of certified assistance animals)
- No smoking or vaping of any kind
- Firearms
- Weapons
- Fireworks
- Riding skateboards, scooters and bicycles in the event area
- Illegal vending / canvassing the area for advertising/petitioning
- Drones
- Items deemed disruptive
Miscellaneous
- UP in Concert is a completely outdoor event. Cancelations or schedule changes may occur in the event of inclement weather. Be prepared. Sunscreen, hats, sunglasses, comfortable walking shoes, etc. for warm weather. Jackets, hats, comfortable walking shoes, etc. for cold weather.
- Stay hydrated
- All bags are subject to search.
- Children under age 16 are required to be accompanied by a parent or guardian.
- For parents visiting with small children, it is recommended to take a photo of your child prior to/upon entering on your cell phone. In the unlikely and unfortunate event you are separated, the current photo will help our staff be able to easily identify your child when searching for them.
No Soliciting
Posted Message:
- For Logistical Purposes, Health Safety, and Flow of Traffic:
- No unauthorized soliciting or vending
- No signature collecting or survey taking
- No handing out leaflets, flyers, or general literature (Does not pertain to authorized Vendors/Sponsors/Artists)
- No sound amplifying devices or picket signs
- No disturbing event attendees
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