Upcoming Events

National Poetry Series winner Keith S. Wilson, Games for Children, will be in conversation with the judge who selected his manuscript, Rosalie Moffett, Making a Living. Together they will read poems from their newest books and discuss the lifespan of a poetry collection from manuscript-in-progress to published book. They will also reveal what it’s really like to win – and judge – book prizes while balancing writing, careers, and the rest of life. Moderated by MBF’s Emerging Writer Fellow in Poetry Simone Zapata.…

Maris Kreizman once believed that if she just worked hard and played by the rules, she was guaranteed a safe and comfortable life. In her debut collection I Want to Burn This Place Down: Essays, Kreizman, now in her forties, takes readers on an intimate journey that revisits some of her most profound revelations, demonstrating that it’s never too late to become radicalized. In conversation with author Jami Attenberg. SPONSORED BY   Buy I Want to Burn This Place Down: Essays – Kreizman…

In How to Be Unmothered: A Trinidadian Memoir, Camille U. Adams maps the fault lines between mother and child against the backdrop of Trinidad’s colonial violence and her family’s legacy of abandonment. Tormented by her mother’s presence and haunted by her absence, Adams presents an account of survival and self-determination, reimagining the meaning of escape, its cost, and what comes after. In Silence and Resistance: Memoir of a Girlhood in Haiti, Monique Clesca recounts surviving Haiti’s 2010 earthquake while confronting a past marked by state terror,…

Lacey N. Dunham’s The Belles: A Novel is set in 1951 at the secluded Bellerton College, where outsider Deena joins an elite circle of girls anointed “The Belles.” Bound by secrets, cruel pranks, and dangerous games, the group hides a sinister history. And as Deena’s past threatens to expose her, she must risk everything – including her life – to belong. Daniel G. Miller’s The Orphanage by the Lake follows Hazel: 30 years old, single,…

Commemorating the 80th anniversary of the liberation of Auschwitz-Birkenau, Leslie Gelrubin Benitah‘s documentary The Last Ones of Auschwitz collects the stories of the last remaining Holocaust survivors, with a focus on those who endured the horrors there. Filmed around the globe over the course of seven years, the project documents more than 200 testimonies and includes more than 30 from Auschwitz survivors and Miami-based Holocaust survivors David Schaecter, Saul Blau, Hedy Fladell, and Irene Zisblatt. In Melting Point: Family,…

Learn how Jax Freeman juggles the spirit summoner tournament with secret side quests from the elders in Jax Freeman and the Tournament of Spirits by Kwame Mbalia. Shannon Messenger returns with the next installment in the Keeper of the Lost Cities series, Unraveled (Book 9.5), to face mysteries that will change the course of destiny. Dragons clash across planets with motives as unknowable as the night sky in Scott Reintgen’s The Rise of Neptune,…

In Quan Barry’s The Unveiling, Black film scout Striker photographs locations for a big-budget film, only to become stranded with wealthy tourists after a kayaking disaster. Amid desolate Antarctic islands, geothermal vents, and vicious wildlife, survival forces the revelation of the group’s secrets, prejudices, and inner demons, including truths from Striker’s past that could irrevocably shatter her world. Stephen Graham Jones’ The Buffalo Hunter Hunter follows a vampire haunting the Blackfeet reservation in search of justice.…

Kemy J is a motivational music artist on a mission to make the world a more healing place through music. Described as a “joy booster” for his happy, high-energy vibes, this Haitian American native South Floridian brings a rich history of experiences to his music, reflecting a blend of cultures and genres. His “Feel-Good Fiestas” offer a unique gift of connection, fun, and inspiration that leaves audiences feeling uplifted and energized.…

With a button maker and a wide selection of art supplies, anyone can design wearable art that reflects their creativity. Participants will create their own unique buttons featuring positive messages and playful designs, from bold doodles to uplifting affirmations – each a personal statement piece to share with the world!  …

When Abe leaves Miami and returns to his former reservation, he undergoes a reluctant healing with his eccentric uncle, sparking a journey that explores family, intimacy, and the enduring power of culture. His story is told by Aaron John Curtis in Old School Indian: A Novel, a coming-of-middle-age novel about a Kanien’kehá:ka man confronting a rare disease, a faltering marriage, and the pull of home. Rob Franklin’s debut Great Black Hope: A Novel tells the story of an upwardly mobile and downwardly spiraling Black man caught between worlds of race and class,…

How do we hold onto the stories, places, and people that shape us? In this hands-on workshop, participants will explore the idea of storing memories through the creation of a personal memory box. Each will receive a small wooden box to transform into a container of remembrance and imagination. Using a variety of materials – markers, collage, and natural elements – you’ll design the outside of the box as a reflection of your identity, while the inside becomes a private space to hold keepsakes,…

THE BASS MUSEUM OF ART STATION Step into the world of AI! Inspired by Lawrence Lek: NOX Pavilion on view at The Bass Museum of Art, this hands-on activity invites kids and families to design their very own AI companion using recycled materials, shiny surfaces, and even working LED lights! What is your AI’s name? What kind of personality does it have? What does your AI do? What feelings does it have? What story does it tell? Come imagine, build, and take home your one-of-a-kind tech robot inspired by a creation that blends science and creativity!…

En Como si nada pasara y otros cuentos Jaime Cabrera González reúne personajes que se rebelan ante un mundo rígido y monótono. Alejandra Ferrazza presenta Asepsia y otras obsesiones, una colección de relatos que transitan lo siniestro con destellos de humor. Los ojos de mi padre, de Isabel Ibáñez de la Calle, es una novela que profundiza en la transformación de las masculinidades en el siglo XXI. En Overworked, Naida Saavedra nos muestra el universo de una mujer inmersa en la búsqueda de un lugar propio que lucha frente la comercialización de la academia.…

Cuban-born writer and journalist Alberto Müller notes in Why Fidel Abandoned Che? that when Che Guevara was captured and executed in Bolivia, his final guerrilla adventure after previous failures in Argentina and Congo, he died bootless, hungry, without his asthma medications, and having lost most of his men, all pointing to his total abandonment by Fidel Castro and his regime. Moderated by Alberto Ibargüen, former president and CEO of the John S. and James L. Knight Foundation.…

Embrace your inner flower child and learn about nature as you dig deeper into the world of plants and pollinators! Learn about the colors and scents that make our world beautiful in this interactive demonstration about how flowers make friends with pollinators, and the delicious fruit that comes from their friendship.…

Each fall, Miami Book Fair invites the authors and translators of 50 National Book Award longlisted titles to gather in Miami following the National Book Awards Ceremony in New York. Join the honorees in translated literature – including Jazmina Barrera, The Queen of Swords, Gabriela Cabezón Cámara, We Are Green and Trembling, and Hamid Ismailov, We Computers: A Ghazal Novel – as they read from and discuss their books and answer your questions about writing,…

A cardboard box is not just a cardboard box. Imagination rules as ordinary cardboard boxes are transformed into the extraordinary in this theater adaptation.…

Aria Aber’s Good Girl: A Novel is a story of art, family, love, and survival. In Berlin’s underground of raves, art, and drugs, teenage Nila – born to Afghan parents and raised in graffiti-stained public housing – searches for her voice. Drawn into the orbit of Marlowe, a fading American writer, she tastes freedom but risks losing herself. As racial tensions rise, Nila must decide who she wants to be. In Darrow Farr’s The Bombshell: A Novel,…

In Tessa Bailey’s Pitcher Perfect: A Novel, a playboy hockey rookie meets his match in a disciplined softball pitcher immune to his charms. NHL newcomer Robbie lives for flings, until Skylar, a badass Division 1 pitcher, shuts him down. When he agrees to be her fake boyfriend to win another man’s attention, sparks fly – and their pretend romance starts to feel dangerously real.  In Sara Cate’s The Good Girl Effect, Jack St Claire, grieving single father,…

In Jason Mott’s People Like Us: A Novel, two Black writers are trying to find peace and belonging in a world scarred by gun violence. One is on a global book tour in the wake of a big prize win; the other is to give a speech at a school that has suffered a shooting. As their storylines merge, People Like Us turns wickedly funny and achingly sad. When Zelu, the lead character in Nnedi Okorafor’s Death of the Author: A Novel,…

The Books for Free crew is taking over the tent, reading and chilling throughout the day. So grab a beanbag and settle in for a storytime session with your new B4F BFFs! Grades K-3.   SPONSORED BY…

Lisa F. Rosenberg’s Fine, I’m a Terrible Person is a mother-daughter caper story starring overweight former beauty Aurora and her high-strung daughter, Leyla. Over the course of a weekend in LA, their two separate but intersecting quests will provoke hijinks, chaos, and yes, even some healing. In Margie Zable Fisher‘s The Cabernet Club: A Novel, 68-year-old Debbie finally decides to follow her longtime dream of retiring to Florida, but immediately hits a roadblock – helicopter daughter Lori,…

Haley Cohen Gilliland’s A Flower Traveled in My Blood: The Incredible True Story of the Grandmothers Who Fought to Find a Stolen Generation of Children tells the stunning tale of the kidnapping of hundreds of pregnant women by Argentina’s military junta in 1976. A group of fierce, grief-stricken grandmothers known as the “Abuelas de Plaza de Mayo” rose up against these crimes, defying terror to find their missing loved ones. In Miriam Lewin’s Iosi, the Remorseful Spy,…

Kids and tweens can step into the world of music with DJ Bear Who? as he introduces DJ-ing fundamentals in a fun, hands-on workshop! Participants will learn how to mix beats, scratch vinyl, and explore rhythm and sound layering. This workshop builds creativity and music appreciation while tying in literacy themes from The DJ Books series. Recommended for ages 9-14. This event is an INNOVATE! featured workshop. All featured workshops require a FREE ticket to attend due to limited seating. Tickets may be picked up at the Info Booth in Children’s Alley;…

In Delivering the Wow: Culture as Catalyst for Lasting Success, Royal Caribbean chairperson Richard Fain shows how the company built the world’s most innovative ships, delighted guests, and created one of the strongest service cultures in the travel industry. Drawing on vivid stories from 33 years at the helm, Fain explains how a remarkable culture was forged through alignment, intentionality, continuous improvement, and response. The secret to success that Laysha Ward reveals in Lead Like You Mean It: Lessons on Integrity and Purpose from the C-Suite sounds deceptively simple.…

Each fall, Miami Book Fair invites the authors and translators of 50 National Book Award longlisted titles to gather in Miami following the National Book Awards Ceremony in New York. Join the honorees in poetry – Gbenga Adesina, Gabrielle Calvocoressi, Cathy Linh Che, Tiana Clark, Rickey Laurentiis, Esther Lin, Natalie Shapero, Richard Siken, and Patricia Smith – as they read from and discuss their books and answer your questions about writing,…

In Last Chance Live! by Helena Haywoode Henry, a teenage girl on death row competes on a reality show and must decide what forgiveness, family, and freedom mean when the stakes are literally life or death. In The L.O.V.E. Club by Lio Min, three estranged teens must survive being pulled into a video game created by their missing friend, but can they stay the course when hard truths confront them alongside the game bosses? In the genre-bending novel-in-verse,…

This is a free event that requires a ticket for entry. In Summer of Our Discontent: The Age of Certainty and the Demise of Discourse, Thomas Chatterton Williams details the ideas and events that prompted the recent paradigm shift in social justice. From critical race theory ideology to the crises of COVID-19 and the murder of George Floyd, Williams documents how this transition has altered our world and culture. He’ll be in conversation with historian and Harvard professor Henry Louis Gates Jr.…

My Drumbeats is a spiritual, reflective memoir from artist, designer, and yogi Anick Vorbe. Sharing a story of loss and grief that led to a self-healing journey through the teachings of ayahuasca, she ultimately reveals an inspiring tale of redemption and purpose. With her work, she found her true self at last and put to rest the childhood ghosts that had never left her. Vorbe will be in conversation with documentarian and filmmaker Naiti Gamez.…

Not Yet Published is a powerhouse rock band born out of Young Musicians Unite (YMU), the largest provider of free music education for youth in Miami. Featuring some of the most promising young talents in the city, the band brings fresh energy and creativity to the world of classic rock, blending timeless influences with a modern edge. Fronted by two charismatic lead vocalists, Not Yet Published stands out for its dynamic harmonies, expressive performances, and electrifying stage presence. Each member contributes a unique sound and personality,…

Con ¿Erótico o pornográfico? Ena Columbié nos invita a un viaje fascinante, íntimo e histórico, a través del erotismo en la literatura universal. Soudi Jiménez llega con Ecos migrantes, una colección de relatos periodísticos que retratan con rigor y sensibilidad las luchas y aportes de comunidades migrantes en Estados Unidos. En Hablando de Chago, Santiago Rodríguez presenta una compilación de sus críticas y ensayos sobre pintura, literatura y cine. En conversación con el crítico de cine y periodista Alejandro Ríos.…

Felting is an ancient non-woven process of creating fabric from animal fibers using agitation to interlock the fibers in an irreversible way. It’s a fun and easy process that uses a repetitive poking technique to “paint” with wool. Felting requires no prior experience, is super-easy to learn, and is infinitely adaptable in the creation of forms and designs. During this workshop we’ll needle felt paintings onto a backing fabric and learn how the same process can be used to create small sculptural forms.…

Dreamcatchers were first created by the Anishinaabe people – the largest Indigenous group north of Mexico – as protective charms that ward off negative energy and protect your sleep. And in this workshop you’ll create your own sustainable dreamcatchers using upcycled materials from old Eberjey collections! Learn about the story behind these meaningful symbols while crafting a piece that celebrates creativity, intention, and care for our planet.…

Miami’s own Mr. J Jams leads a high-energy, interactive performance that unites families, kids, and neighbors in song. With original jams about peace, love, and joy, this lively session invites everyone to sing, dance, and celebrate as one little world – together, with a distinctly SoFlo flavor!…

In Coral Gables: The First Hundred Years, Patrick Alexander chronicles George Merrick’s arrival in Florida in 1900. There, he turned a humble wooden shack into a beautiful garden city now known as Coral Gables, which became the most sought-after and expensive city in the United States – a story of how one man’s vision and determination created a tropical paradise. Craig Pittman’s Welcome to Florida: True Tales from America’s Most Interesting State is a love letter to and a hilarious deep dive into the nation’s fastest-growing state.…

Leire Bilbao (España) sobre lo poético como instrumento para tratar todo tipo de temas en la literatura infantil y juvenil.   EN COLABORACIÓN CON   Compra Aguas Madres – Bilbao…

No. 1 New York Times bestselling author E. Lockhart returns to the world of her TikTok sensation with We Fell Apart: A We Were Liars Novel with all her signature beachy gothic atmosphere, family intrigue, and high-stakes romance! The invitation arrives out of the blue. In it, Matilda discovers a father she’s never met. Kingsley Cello is a visionary, a reclusive artist. And when he asks her to spend the summer at his seaside home, Hidden Beach, Matilda expects to find a part of herself she’s never fully understood.…

In Watch Out for Falling Iguanas, young Leila sets off for school on a rare chilly day in Miami. Her walk is filled with curious encounters, like roaming peacocks and chickens crossing the road, but she can’t stop thinking about her grandmother’s warning to watch out for falling iguanas. And so begins an unexpected adventure to discover why those tropical creatures fall from trees during cold fronts. Grades K-3. SPONSORED BY Buy Watch Out for Falling Iguanas – Danticat…