FAB Long Beach returns SATURDAY 5/4/24!
CELEBRATING AANHPI STORYTELLING
Join us for the return of FAB (Festival of AAPI Books) Long Beach, featuring children's, young adult, and adult authors, vendors, arts and crafts, and more, from across the Asian diaspora.
Saturday, May 4, 2024 from 10AM to 5:30PM
Michelle Obama Neighborhood Library,
5870 Atlantic Avenue, Long Beach CA 90805
Co-hosted by Bel Canto Books and Long Beach Public Library,
with generous support from the Friends of Long Beach Public Library , the Office of Councilwoman Megan Kerr, and our amazing team of volunteers.
Join our volunteer team here.
Free to attend; RSVP encouraged.
FAB Long Beach celebrates the vibrant storytelling, culture, and history of Asian Americans, Pacific Islanders, and Native Hawaiians, with a focus on local authors, artists, vendors, and community partners.
Follow us on Instagram for the latest news and updates!
Please use the hashtag #fablongbeach and tag us @fablongbeach
with any festival photos/video.
FESTIVAL SCHEDULE + INFO
FEATURED AUTHORS
Rachell Abalos • Gina Apostol • Kaylin Melia George • Lee Herrick • Brandon Hoàng • Pete Hsu • Carolyn Huynh • Linda Kao • Sarah Kuhn • Michelle Lee • Jenny Liao • Virginia Loh-Hagan • Makiia Lucier • Kunthon Meas • Rooja Mohassessy • Viet Thanh Nguyen • Shadab Zeest Hashmi
FESTIVAL SCHEDULE
10:00AM - 10:30AM
FESTIVAL OPENING
10:30AM - 11:30AM
CHILDREN’S BOOK READINGS (TWEEN SPACE):
- Rachell Abalos, Our Nipa Hut
- Kaylin Melia George, Aloha Everything
ADULT AUTHORS PANEL #1 (COMMUNITY ROOM):
- Pete Hsu, If I Were the Ocean, I'd Carry You Home
- Rooja Mohassessy, When Your Sky Runs into Mine
- Shadab Zeest Hashmi, Comb
11:30AM - 12:30PM
MORNING AUTHOR BOOK SIGNING (COMMUNITY ROOM)
12:30PM - 1:30PM
CHILDREN’S BOOK READINGS (TWEEN SPACE):
- Virginia Loh-Hagan, A IS FOR ASIAN AMERICAN
- Michelle Lee, MY LOST FREEDOM
TEEN ART WORKSHOP WITH SUSIE YI (TEEN SPACE)
- Recall your favorite memory, a funny moment, or even last weekend's mundane Saturday morning. Now, let's make that into a simple graphic novel spread! Come learn how to break down a big event into smaller pieces, storyboard using different paneling techniques, and tell a story in graphic novel format. You'll leave with a graphic novel spread of your own making.
ADULT AUTHORS PANEL #2 (COMMUNITY ROOM):
- Lee Herrick, Scar and Flower
- Carolyn Huynh, The Fortunes of Jaded Women
- Kunthon Meas, Sunsets and Regrets
1:30PM - 2:30PM
CHILDREN’S BOOK READINGS (TWEEN SPACE):
- Jenny Liao, EVERYONE LOVES LUNCH BUT ZIA
YOUNG ADULT PANEL (COMMUNITY ROOM):
- Sarah Kuhn, From Little Tokyo with Love
- Makiia Lucier, Dragonfruit
- Linda Kao, A Crooked Mark
- Brandon Hoàng, Gloria Buenrostro Is Not My Girlfriend
PUBLISHING ROUND TABLE (TEEN SPACE):
- Agatha Isabel, entrepreneur and author of HOUSEPLANT HOOKUPS
- Christina Newhard, author and publisher of Sari-Sari Storybooks
- Jhoanna Belfer, founder and owner of Bel Canto Books
- Meg J. Mateo, writer and editorial director at Penguin Random House
2:30PM - 3:30PM
AFTERNOON AUTHORS BOOK SIGNING (COMMUNITY ROOM)
3:30PM -4:30PM
VIET THANH NGUYEN IN CONVERSATION WITH GINA APOSTOL (COMMUNITY ROOM)
Seating is first come, first served. Please contact FABLongBeach@gmail.com for accessibility accommodation.
4:30PM - 5:30PM
VIET AND GINA BOOK SIGNING (COMMUNITY ROOM)
5:30PM
FESTIVAL CLOSING
POPUP VENDORS / TABLERS
- Bel Canto Books
- Bitty Bao
- Books & Boba
- KUBO LB / Flipp Family
- Gemmae Bake Shop
- Gloo Books
- Heritage Press
- KUBO Organizing Project
- Plants, Progress, People
- Tayo Na Library
- Tuttle Publishing
- We Are Sun Raised
Plus BOOK SIGNINGS, WORKSHOPS, KIDS’ CRAFT CORNER, FOOD TRUCKS and MORE!
Free to attend. Free parking - 5870 Atlantic Avenue, Long Beach CA 90805. For more info, visit our festival website here.
about fab long beach
Celebrating AANHPI Heritage Month through Storytelling
The Festival of AAPI Books (FAB) Long Beach is a free AANHPI-focused literary festival and community celebration co-founded by Bel Canto Books and the Long Beach Public Library in 2022. The event showcases renowned local adult, teen and children’s authors from across the Asian diaspora with interactive author talks, book readings, and signings. The day also includes children’s activities, cultural performances, and AAPI small business pop-ups. FAB Long Beach draws over 400 attendees from Southern California and beyond.
FAB Long Beach relies on an amazing team of community volunteers to plan and execute the festival, along with leadership and support from Long Beach Public Library and Bel Canto Books, among other local organizations.
FAB in the News
City of Long Beach: Celebrate Asian American and Pacific Islander Heritage Month at Long Beach Public Library
Press Telegram: Long Beach Library to host 2nd annual Filipino-American literary festival
Volunteers at the 2023 Festival of AAPI Books LB
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