During the Children’s Book Fair, visitors can discover new and used children’s books, meet authors, listen to stories, and get creative themselves. Admission to the fair is free, and it takes place from 10:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.
Picture books, exciting adventures, books for beginning readers, young adult fiction, books on special topics, and classics of children’s literature: you can find it all at the Children’s Book Fair. An important part of the fair is the personal connection between readers and authors. Several children’s book authors will be there in person to talk about their books, answer questions, and, of course, sign copies.
In addition, children can join in on free, creative drop-in activities. For example, you can play the kalimba (thumb piano), make a mobile out of old book pages, and color book coloring pages (or take them home). The first 50 young visitors will also receive a goodie bag. More information: https://bestelbijdeauteur.nl/blogs-voor-lezers/kinderboekenmarkt-gouda/
“Reading becomes even more fun for children when they’ve met the author in person. That can sometimes leave a lasting impression, especially when the author writes a personal dedication in your book,” says organizer Loes Vork of Bestelbijdeauteur.nl. “That’s why we want to not only help children discover a wide variety of books, but also introduce them to the people who conceived, wrote, and illustrated those stories.”
Among others, Mariëlle Poland, Annette van Luyk, Mariëlle Trenning, Esther van der Ham, Noortje de Kok, Mandy Janssen, Ellen Jansen, and Dirk Muntendam will be presenting their children's books at the fair.
The books vary widely in terms of target age and subject matter. For example, there are the magical adventures of Tukkie, the time-travel stories of Melle and his time-travel glasses, the AVI picture books about Owl and Mouse, and short animal stories in rhyme. There are also books that help children and parents talk about topics such as high sensitivity, loss, and grief.
Petra Anders from Boekenmand will be bringing secondhand children’s books, including works by well-known authors such as Tonke Dragt, Thea Beckman, and Roald Dahl. Yvonne van der Laan from Uitgeverij Gedichtenlaantje will be presenting music books for children and bringing kalimbas and mini-kalimbas that visitors can try out for themselves.
Hanny Schoonderwoerd’s publishing house, Klare Taal, will be showcasing a variety of children’s books, including *Jasper Goes on a Trip*, *Koos the Cuddly Toy*, *Shaytje and the Magical Forest*, and the books in the *I, Henk-Pieter-Jan-Frederik* series.
Bestelbijdeauteur.nl is also setting up a special display table featuring unique children’s and young adult books by independent authors. Visitors can browse at their leisure through titles for a wide range of ages: from picture books to books for teens and young adults.
The Gouda Children’s Book Fair aims not only to get children excited about reading, but also to show just how many special books are published outside the familiar selection offered by large bookstores and publishers. “There are so many fun, beautiful, and surprising books being created that don’t always find their way into stores on their own. It’s precisely those books that we want to literally put on the table here,” says Loes Vork.
Saturday, October 17, 2026
10:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m.
Agnieten Chapel, Nieuwe Markt 100, Gouda
Free admission
Information
St. Agatha Chapel Nieuwe Markt 100, Gouda
End: 17:00p.m.
