The Rutherford Arts Alliance is excited to announce a new literary festival just for kids! The first annual Southern Kid Literary Festival (SoKidLit) is planned for Saturday, May 14, 2022. The festival connects young readers with professional authors and empowers children to see themselves as writers.

SoKidLit is a free one-day event for children in grades 3 through 5. The festival will be hosted on the campus of MTSU, welcoming children and their families, educators, and community members from across Middle Tennessee and beyond.

Irene Latham will be appearing at SoKidLit. Photo courtesy the author.

Irene Latham will be the inaugural festival’s headliner. Latham is the author of many books for children, including novels, poetry, and picture books. Her publications include The Cat Man of Aleppo, a Caldecott Honor book, and most recently D-39: A Robodog’s Journey. Latham will speak to participants about three traits all writers, humans and heroes need. She will also be available to sign books.

Young readers will also connect with a dozen local published authors, who will be announced in late March. All authors will read and sign books, share their writing experience and techniques, and participate in an onsite bookstore and book signing experience. Students will have the opportunity to participate in a “writer’s studio” and to share their writing with a supportive community audience on a writer’s stage.

Inspired by the Southeastern Young Adult Book Festival (SEYA), SoKidLit is a collaboration of the Rutherford Arts Alliance and its literary arts interest group, Rutherford Lit, with the MTSU College of Education and a team of volunteers, including area educators, writers, and reading enthusiasts. The festival is supported by he Friends of Linebaugh Library, the Literacy Association of Tennessee, Ingram Spark, Read To Succeed, and other friends in the community.

To learn more and register, see rutherfordartsalliance.org/so-kid-lit.