Sussex County Libraries to host fourth Children’s Book Festival in Milton on May 2

MILTON, DE (Thursday, April 23, 2026) - Sussex County Libraries will bring children's authors and their biggest fans - the younger set, as well as parents and grandparents alike - for a day of reading fun and adventure during the fourth Children's Book Festival in early May.

This year's event will take place from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Saturday, May 2, at the Milton Public Library, 121 Union St., in Milton. Admission is free and attendees will receive a Festival Guide and tote bag upon entry (while supplies last).

Seventeen authors of children's board, picture, and chapter books will be on hand, including Nancy Viau, Kathy MacMillan, Jonathan Roth, and Delaware native author and illustrator Jay Cooper. In addition to the authors, a host of activities are scheduled in nearby Milton Park, including face painting and a petting zoo provided by The Little Farm, as well as pony rides, available for a small fee, along with food trucks for patrons to purchase snacks. Browseabout Books also will be on site so families can purchase copies of their favorite titles.

Children and teens will explore, discover, and create through hands-on games, activities, and learning stations. Along with everyone's favorite librarians from across Sussex County, partners from the Milton Arts Guild, Milton Theatre, and Milton Lions Club of Delaware will help host activities. There will be displays for Dolly Parton's Imagination Library, Read Aloud Delaware, Literacy Delaware, Kindergarten Readiness Teams, and many more.

Parking for the event will be at H.O. Brittingham Elementary School, with free shuttle service running every 15 minutes to and from the venues throughout the event.

The Sussex County Libraries Children's Book Festival is made possible, in part, with support from the Town of Milton, the Milton Community Foundation, and the Friends groups of Sussex County Libraries. For more information, visit https://www.facebook.com/sussexcbf/.

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