Beautiful Blackbird Children’s Book Festival
About
Beautiful Blackbird Children’s Book Festival at the Children’s Museum & Theatre of Maine
Sunday, September 28, 2025
The Children's Museum & Theatre of Maine is proud to partner with Indigo Arts Alliance (IAA), along with other statewide partners, for the annual Beautiful Blackbird Children's Book Festival—a celebration of children’s book authors and illustrators of the African Diaspora. On Sunday, September 28, CMTM will present an in-person schedule of literary and art activities for the whole family, including art-making workshops and read-alouds. The Beautiful Blackbird Children’s Book Festival at CMTM is also an official Dollar Day$ event. Admission to the Museum & Theatre will be $1* for every visitor.
Dollar Day$ admission applies to all visitors. Members are free.
A child must accompany adult visitors. Visitation is expected to be high. Reservations are recommended.
Dollar Day$ is part of CMTM’s ongoing work and commitment, through the generosity of funding partners, to eliminate barriers families might face in taking full advantage of the facility. Every child belongs at the Children’s Museum & Theatre of Maine.
Festival Tickets
Featured books at CMTM
Schedule + Programming
This year’s programming celebrates Black stories, voices, and artistry through interactive theatre, imaginitive creations, and book-inspired activities. Highlights include special guest artists Ebenezer Akakpo (MakerSpace) and Veeva Banga (Maddy’s Theatre), along with an immersive experience of Welcome to The Night Market, inspired by Seina Wedlick’s enchanting book The Night Market. Children and caregivers will delight in playful learning inspired by beloved works of Ashley Bryan, Denise Rosario Adusei, and more, bringing stories to life through art, imagination, and community.
Official schedule coming soon!
Learn More
Marcia Minter, Co-founder and Executive Director of Indigo Arts Alliance stands in front of the Artist Gallery in the Beautiful Blackbird Exhibit at CMTM. Learn more about CMTM’s Beautiful Blackbird exhibit at https://www.kitetails.org/beautiful-blackbird.
History: Beautiful Blackbird Children’s Book Festival
The Beautiful Blackbird Children's Book Festival was founded in 2020 by Indigo Arts Alliance in partnership with I’m Your Neighbor Books and Diverse BookFinder and is produced with the 2023 partners: The Children’s Museum & Theatre of Maine, Center for Maine Contemporary Art, the Farnsworth Art Museum, and LA Arts.
This year's festival continues to honor the legacy of Black children’s book creator and artist Ashley Bryan and will feature a 3,000 book giveaway and live events in Portland, Lewiston, and Rockland. Each featured book and event will provide an opportunity for young readers of color to see themselves reflected in literature created with them in mind and to interact with the authors and illustrators as role models and storytellers.
Learn more at https://beautifulblackbird.com
Learn more about the Beautiful Blackbird Exhibit at the Children’s Museum & Theatre of Maine.
