Many thanks to the Dallas Museum of Art for doing such a fantastic job putting together last Saturday's FREE BooksmART festival which featured authors and illustrators of wonderful books for children and young adults. It was great to see so many families enjoying the event, but it certainly was hard to choose which session to attend!

We were able to hear presentations by Clete Barrett Smith, author of 2013 Texas Bluebonnet Award nominee _Aliens on Vacation_, storyteller Tim Tingle from the Choctaw Nation, who told the wonderful story from which his previous Texas Bluebonnet Award nominee was created, _Crossing Bok Chitto_, with drum accompaniment, a delightful brother / sister duo, Matthew and Jennifer Holm, creators of the "Babymouse" series, and this year's Newbery Award winner for _Dead End in Norvelt_ Jack Gantos. It was tremendous: an absolutely amazing afternoon! Watch for the dates of next year's festival - your family will NOT want to miss it!

In the photos: Matthew and Jennifer Holm show participants how to draw "Babymouse" and Jack Gantos gives a lively interpretation of his drawing of his childhood neighborhood.

Thanks again to the Dallas Museum of Art and to these awesome authors and illustrators for coming to Dallas!