10 May 2026 Youth Advocate Resource Network presents second annual Children’s Book Festival

Posted at 8:09 PMh in News by

Writers and readers came together on April 18 at the University of Central Arkansas’s Brewer-Hegerman Conference Center to talk about one of their favorite things — books. 

Back row, A’miracle Cullins (from left) and Alexavier “AJ” Pickens. Front Row, Emiliano Herrera (from left), Nevaeh Harper and Ja’Zeyon Harper.

Youth Advocate Resource Network presented the second annual Arkansas Authors’ Children’s Book Festival. Writers had the opportunity to talk to readers about their inspiration for stories and what motivates them to put words on paper.

Celebrities at the event included Craig O’Neill, Spiderman and Clifford the Big Red Dog. The event also included educational sessions, art demonstrations and other child-focused entertainment. Libraries from Conway and Little Rock were on hand to register readers for library cards and the Imagination Library. This was the second year for the event, which is sponsored by the University of Arkansas, Brown Chair in English Literacy, Community Literacies Collaboratory and the Arkansas Arts Council.