EpicFest
Book lovers of all ages are invited to EpicFest 2025.
EpicFest is an extraordinary, free literary festival that joyfully connects children and families with books and the people who write them through activities that encourage a love of reading and learning. In its 9th year, EpicFest has become a wonderful family tradition.
Nationally-recognized children’s and young adult authors and illustrators will spend two days in Charlotte to share their latest books, experiences and passion for libraries with kids of all ages.
Authors and illustrators will visit select Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools on November 7 to speak with students, and will headline a daylong literary festival at ImaginOn on November 8.
Meet the Authors
Justin Colón
Justin Colón is a NY-based actor and author. His debut picture book, The Quacken, was named a Kid's Indie Next List book and is now a 2025-2026 nominee for awards across state and international lists in British Colombia, Canada, Florida, Kentucky, Oklahoma, Tennessee, and Utah. His other books include Impossible Possums, Impossible Possum for Mayor, The Zombees, and Vampurr (2026).
His featured EpicFest book is Impossible Possums.
Ben Gundersheimer (MISTER G)
Ben Gundersheimer, M.Ed (known onstage at MISTER G) is a Latin GRAMMY Award-winning artist, author, and educator. Hailed as “a bilingual rock star” by The Washington Post and “irresistible” by People magazine, Ben was originally dubbed MISTER G by his elementary school students while pursuing a Master of Education degree. He’s released fourteen albums of original music, which have been awarded the Latin Grammy Award and five Parents’ Choice Gold Awards. Ben tours internationally at major venues including Lollapalooza, Austin City Limits and the Smithsonian National Museum of Natural History.
His featured EpicFest book is Baby Ballena.
Charlotte Gunnufson
Charlotte Gunnufson loves writing stories for kids! A former teacher, her aim is to entertain and get kids excited about science, nature and books! She's the author of Hard Hat Hank and the Sky-High Solution, Dream Submarine and Halloween Hustle. Eight, Nine, Tengineers and School Spirits arrive in 2026. Hard Hat Hank was named one of 2025’s Great Reads from Great Places by the Library of Congress Center for the Book Iowa affiliate. When she’s not writing, Charlotte volunteers, visits schools and plants trees and pollinator gardens.
Her featured EpicFest book is Hard Hat Hank and the Sky-High Solution.
Lucy Knisley
Lucy Knisley is a bestselling comic artist and author with over a dozen titles ranging in readership from infant to adult. She specializes in books about food, found-family, and felines. She lives in Evanston, IL with her partner and kid.
Her featured EpicFest book is Sugar Shack.
Kwame Mbalia
Kwame Mbalia is a husband, father, writer, a New York Times bestselling author, a publisher, and a former pharmaceutical metrologist (in that order). He is the author of the bestselling Tristan Strong series, the first of which was awarded a Coretta Scott King Author Honor. Kwame is the co-author of Last Gate of The Emperor with Prince Joel Makonnen, from Scholastic Books, and the editor of the #1 New York Times bestselling anthology Black Boy Joy, published by Delacorte Press.
His featured EpicFest book is Jax Freeman and the Tournament of Spirits.
Vanessa Brantley-Newton
Vanessa Brantley-Newton is the author-illustrator of several critically-acclaimed picture books, and she is an award-winning and New York Times bestselling illustrator. She attended both SVA and FIT of New York, where she studied fashion and children’s illustration. An artist swathed in retro chic, she loves all things vintage – especially books and clothes from the 40s through the 60’s – and it shines through in her designs, which run the gamut of fun and whimsical to stylish and sophisticated. She loves to add unique touches to her work, including mixed media accents, collage, and hand lettering.
Her featured EpicFest book is Queen of Kindergarten.
Kirk Reedstrom
Kirk Reedstrom has spent most of his adult life surrounded by books. He currently works at a public library and used to be a bookseller at Blue Willow Bookshop, an independent bookstore in Houston, TX. He has led children's art workshops at the Kimball Art Museum, the R.W. Norton Art Gallery, and interned with William Joyce at Moonbot Studios. Kirk mixes his past experience with traditional and digital mediums to develop fun-filled characters with a lot of heart and a little bit of mayhem. Kirk enjoys creating books that make people laugh.
His featured EpicFest book is Moose's Bad Hair Day!
James Riley
James Riley is the New York Times bestselling author of the STORY THIEVES, HALF UPON A TIME, ONCE UPON ANOTHER TIME, REVENGE OF MAGIC, and DRAGON’S APPRENTICE series. He’s never apprenticed with a dragon . . . yet. He’s pretty sure there’s still time, though, especially if he could do it as an online video apprenticeship sort of thing. Does that exist? If not, it should: Learn Magic over Zoom (and Try Not to Burn Down Your House)!
His featured EpicFest book is The Dragon's Apprentice.
Plan your visit
What: EpicFest
When: Saturday, November 8, 2025 from 10 a.m.-3 p.m.,
Where: ImaginOn: The Joe & Joan Martin Center, 300 E. Seventh Street, Charlotte
Want more? Check out Verse & Vino - Charlotte Mecklenburg Library Foundation’s signature fundraising event on November 6, 2025.
EpicFest Schedule
10a.m.-3p.m.:
- TBA
EpicFest 2025 Author Schedule
- TBA
Become an EpicFest volunteer
EpicFest is epic because of the amazing volunteers who make it happen. Email Chauna Wall to be a part of the magic.
EpicFest is presented by Charlotte Mecklenburg Library with generous support from our sponsors and additional support from:
