Festival of reading

“So please, oh please, we beg, we pray,

Go throw your TV set away,

And in its place you can install,

A lovely bookshelf on the wall.”

— Roald Dahl’s Oompa–Loompas

In “Charlie and the Chocolate Factory”

Thousands of young readers will descend on Orange Coast College this Sunday for the Fifth Annual Orange County Children’s Book Festival.

The event includes readings and signings with top authors and illustrators, exhibits, several stages of live entertainment and a popular wild animal arena.

A variety of literacy advocacy groups will be on hand; kids also will have the chance to ride a free train through the campus and meet their favorite costumed book characters, like Norky the Peneagle, the “official mailbird” of the North Pole.

Norky will entertain from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., while his creator, Steve Allgeier, will sign his new book, “Christmas with Norky: The Adventure Begins…”

Actor and author Jamie Lee Curtis will make a 1 p.m. appearance on the Main Entertainment Stage, where she will read from and sign her new book, “Big Words for Little People.”

Boy and Girl scouts will be collecting new or nearly new young adult and children’s books for needy areas.

Over in the Kids’ Craft Corner, artists will teach how to make a stamped and colored bookmark.

Kids from Middle College High School will demonstrate their robotics projects, and storytellers will perform throughout the day.

Over on the Live Animal Stage, Wilma the Giant Snake and friends will make appearances; the Grandparents Rock Illustrator Stage will feature award-winning writer/illustrators like Barney Saltzberg, and illustrators from shows like “SpongeBob Square Pants” and Jim Henson’s Muppets.

IF YOU GO

WHAT: Fifth Annual Orange County Children’s Book Festival

WHEN: 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Sunday

WHERE: Orange Coast College, 2701 Fairview Road, Costa Mesa

COST: Free admission and parking

INFORMATION: kidsbookfestival.com

CANDICE BAKER may be reached at (949) 494-5480 or at candice.baker@latimes.com.