Rabbit hOle Hosts First Annual Lucky Rabbit Literature Festival!
Hundreds of readers – including students, families, educators and book lovers of all stripes – gathered for The Rabbit hOle’s inaugural Lucky Rabbit Literature Festival on October 2-3, 2026.
The 2026 guest roster of children's book creators and industry leaders included 2026 Caldecott-winning illustrator Cátia Chien, Newbery and Eisner Award honoree Cece Bell, poet and author Matthew Burgess, acclaimed author-illustrator Nina Crews, bestselling author and illustrator Shawn Harris, Holiday House editorial director Taylor Norman, and nationally renowned cartoonist and picture book creator Mark Alan Stamaty.
Hosting an annual festival has always been part of the vision for the museum and has its origins in the DNA Children’s Literature Festival, which Rabbit hOle co-founders Deb Pettid and Pete Cowdin ran as part of the programming for their bookstore, The Reading Reptile.
“Across 18 festivals we witnessed over and over how meeting a children’s book creator can inspire young readers and re-energize educators to use literature-based curriculum,” said Cowdin.
The festival kicked off on October 2 with a Kids Day for students in grades 1-6. Classroom groups and families attended presentations and hands-on activities, like squish painting with Shawn Harris inspired by his new book Duel, and a poetry workshop with Matthew Burgess.
Alongside Harris, Taylor Norman illuminated how as an editor she helps bring beautiful picture books into existence.
In an interview about the festival with Publisher’s Weekly Norman said, “It’s important that kids understand how seriously we take the art we make for them, so they grow up and feel that this world of art- and book-making is accessible and welcoming to every one of them, no matter their skill or interest.”
That same day, The Rabbit hOle also hosted two adult workshops focused on writing and illustrating picture books (with Taylor, Mathew Burgess and Cátia Chien) and creating graphic novels (with Cece Bell and Mark Alan Stamaty.)
“This fulfills part of our mission and vision to bring all ages together in the same space,” said Cowdin. “Having everyone in the same space at the same time reaffirms the power and the importance of children’s literature as a culture for both children and adults.”
The festival’s Adult Conference Day on Saturday, October 3 gave attendees a chance to hear from each presenter and was hosted in the auditorium at The National WWI Museum and Memorial.
The presentations included a fascinating history of photography in children’s books with Nina Crews, a moving exploration of the book as an art object with Matthew Burgess, hilarious stories and surprisingly spot-on Elvis impersonation by Mark Alan Stamaty, and an emotional journey with Cece Bell, who went to extremes in creating Animal Albums from A to Z.
“I attended the Saturday afternoon sessions, and floated away feeling incredibly inspired by all of the speakers,” said writer and poet Barbara Varanka. “I have been dreaming of kicking off my own career as a children’s book writer, and now have so many ideas to help me get started.”
The festival is also an enriching opportunity for the presenters to learn about the creative process of their peers and colleagues.
"Deb and Pete’s talents and vision shine through in every display at The Rabbit hOle and the first Lucky Rabbit Literature Festival showed their talent in nurturing a warm and enthusiastic kid lit community in Kansas City," said guest presenter Nina Crews. "I really enjoyed chatting and mingling with the families, educators, Rabbit Hole staff and friends as well as with my fellow book creators."
Dates for the 2027 Lucky Rabbit Literature Festival will be announced in the coming months.
The Rabbit hOle hosted the Lucky Rabbit Book Festival in partnership with the Missouri Humanities and with support from the Missouri Humanities Trust Fund, The OxBow, Evergy, Central Bank of Kansas City, Capitol Federal Foundation, and Tnemec.
