BookFest slated for Sept. 30

The Toms River Branch of the Ocean County Library, 101 Washington Street, Toms River, will host "2006 BookFest, The New Jersey Festival of Reading," from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Sept. 30.

Programs will include a featured author presentation, local writers, music, book signings, children's activities and writing workshops.

Featured author David Magee will discuss his new book, "MoonPie: Biography of an Out-of-This-World Snack."

Calvin Earl, singer, songwriter and storyteller, will discuss the creation and recording process used for his new project "Gratitude," an album of music and storytelling.

"BookFest was created to celebrate the joy of reading, connecting authors and their readers," said Carol Zsiga, principal librarian at the Toms River branch.

Local speakers will include Barbara Westergaard, Princeton, author of "New Jersey, a Guide to the State;" Steven Richman, Plainsboro, author of "The Bridges of New Jersey: Portraits of Garden State Crossings;" and Wil Mara, author of "Wave," a realistic disaster thriller set at the Jersey shore.

Christopher Klim, Titusville, author of the humorous satire "Jesus Lives in Trenton," and Lisa Martelli, Voorhes, author of the mystery novel "An Unlikely Suspect" will lead two writer's workshops.

Children's authors will include Mark Rogalski, author of "Tickets to Ride," a picture book; George Smith, Lakewood, author of "Spike, the Amazing Chicken" and "The Journey of the Little Red Boat;" and Lori Lee Corson-Tobia, Wall Town-ship, author of "Everyone is Different," the story of five animals on a small farm.

Danny and Kim Adlerman, Metuchen, will provide children's music. And Sparks, the Ocean County Library mascot, and his favorite storybook character friends will be available for pictures and autographs.

The library staff will also be on hand to answer question about the library's resources and to introduce new features provided by the electronic library. Details: www.oceancountylibrary.org or (732) 349-6200.