The 2021 Los Angeles Times Festival of Books will bring various virtual events starting from April 17 through 23, 2021, among which the online children’s reading session, “CHILDREN’S STAGE,” is launched ahead of the festival. Being the only author/illustrator from Taiwan among the 22 children’s books authors/illustrators in “CHILDREN’S STAGE,” Bei Lynn gives a very vivid and lively story-reading about Bibbit the little frog and its happily-jumping daily life, and how Leilong, the large brontosaurus, goes to the library. The event will remain available on the website after the Los Angeles Times Festival of Books ends. All are welcome to watch “CHILDREN’S STAGE” at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bvtAUC2JzqM&list=PLdgePvblfv96FqcDUgEtT39tcEUxnQDsk&index=17&t=407s.
Bibbit Jumps, written and illustrated by Bei Lynn, depicts the story of Bibbit, a little frog who is a jumping expert, but forgets how to swim. He can jump very high and far and enjoys life in many different ways. He is also brave to be himself. Leilong the Library Bus, written by Julia Liu and illustrated by Bei Lynn, tells the funny challenges Leilong the brontosaurus faces when his large body makes it difficult to enter the library. However, is Leilong too big for the library, or is the library too small? The question spurs the audience’s reflection.
Bei Lynn is an award-winning Taiwanese illustrator who has written and illustrated more than 20 picture books, stories, magazines, and comics. Her pictures demonstrate distinctive style and child-like innocence, and her story often combines fantasy with life. Her works have been published in many countries, including Japan, South Korea, Thailand, Slovakia, France, the United Kingdom, the United States, and New Zealand. Her works in translation include Granny’s Favorite Toy in Japanese and Korean, Have-to Hattie And (Her) Notebook in Korean, The Universe Lost a Baby Tooth in Korean, Gus, the Dinosaur Bus in French, Korean, Slovak, Thai, and English, Bibbit Jumps in English and Leilong the Library Bus in English (available in August this year), French, Korean, and Thai. Her works have been recognized by various awards, such as Japan's Sankei Children's Book Award, Hsin-Yi Children Literature Award, and Best Children’s Books of the Year of the China Times Open Book Award.
Founded in 1996, the Los Angeles Times Festival of Books has become the largest book festival in the United States. It annually takes place in April at the University of Southern California’s campus, drawing approximately an audience of 150,000, including writers, poets, artists, filmmakers, and musicians. This year due to the pandemic, it will be held in an online format with panels and readings by authors, in addition to book exhibitions. For more information, please visit https://events.latimes.com/festivalofbooks/.