Uptown Kid Lit—Word Up’s mini book festival for kids—is back in 2024 to celebrate music!
Stop by Pat’s Lawn at Inwood Hill Park to meet beloved local authors & musicians with new books, as they lead story times and activities, workshops, and more, all with a musical twist. Along with new books, Word Up will be giving away FREE books and school supplies.
Featured authors & artists:
Adria Quiñones (Mi Tierra)
Angie Cruz (Angélica y la güira)
Chris Raschka (Nothing: John Cage and 4’33”)
Crudo Creates
Demetrius Daniel
Hilda Eunice Burgos (Bodega Cats: Picture Purrfect)
Inju Keum
Jackie Azúa Kramer (I Am Salsa, ¡Boogie En El Bronx!)
Janelle Harper (My Block Looks Like)
Jazz WaHi
Jyoti Rajan Gopal (One Sweet Song)
Leadlights Ensemble with Rachael Harrington
Luz Maria Mack (¡Pequeña María descubre su baile! / Little María discovers her dance!)
Megan Madison & Katie Madison (Our Skin: A First Conversation About Race)
Pablo KALAKA (Son de estos mares)
Stacy Davidowitz (Cut Loose!, Camp Rolling Hill series)
Word Up first launched Uptown Kid Lit in 2019 as a one-day festival for the Uptown community. After two years of virtual/hybrid programming in 2020 and 2021, UKL returned in person in 2022 with a focus on comics as part of the three-day Uptown Comics Fest. Each year has gathered a unique and vibrant group of authors, illustrators, educators, publishers, editors, craftspeople, artists, and community organizations—all to support and celebrate our neighborhood’s youngest readers and families. We hope you’ll join us in 2024 for our fourth year of Uptown Kid Lit at Inwood Hill Park!
Spanish interpretation will be provided at the main stage presentations.
Though we receive grant funding for this free event, it is a big endeavor, and grant funding only covers some of our costs. Please consider donating so that we can continue creating accessible programming by, with, and for our neighbors.
Uptown Kid Lit 2024 is made possible in part with funds from UMEZ Arts Engagement, a regrant program supported by the Upper Manhattan Empowerment Zone (UMEZ), and administered by LMCC. Uptown Kid Lit is also supported, in part, by public funds from the New York City Department of Cultural Affairs in partnership with the City Council, and by NewYork-Presbyterian Hospital. Word Up Community Bookshop’s programs are made possible by the New York State Council on the Arts with the support of the Office of the Governor and the New York State Legislature.
