Fourth Annual Family Literacy Festival

Kristi Yamaguchi’s Always Dream, San José Public Library Foundation, and Children’s Discovery Museum to Host Fourth Annual Family Literacy Festival

Family-friendly festival brings families together for a day of reading, hands-on activities, art, and entertainment on September 5

Families will come together to celebrate the joy and importance of reading at the fourth annual Kristi Yamaguchi’s Family Literacy Festival on September 5, 2026, hosted by Olympic Gold Medalist Kristi Yamaguchi’s Always Dream, San José Public Library Foundation, and Children’s Discovery Museum of San Jose.

The all-day festival will feature celebrity and author story readings, hands-on literacy activities, art projects, and family-friendly entertainment. The festival will take place from 9:30 am to 4:30 pm at Children’s Discovery Museum, located in downtown San Jose.

 

This year’s featured guest is Mychal Threets, also known as “Mychal the Librarian,” an award-winning librarian, author, mental health advocate, and passionate champion of reading and libraries. Known for his motivational social media videos celebrating literacy and libraries, Threets is also the host of the revived children’s program Reading Rainbow and PBS’s resident librarian.

 

Special guests MISTER G and Rebbie Rye will also join the festival, adding to a day designed to inspire children and families through the power of stories, creativity, music and play. There will also be appearances by local mascot icons Sharkie, Q, Potter the Otter, and Children’s Discovery Museum’s latest addition Roofus the Duck.

 

The festival is the brainchild of Olympic Gold Medalist, mother, and children’s book author Kristi Yamaguchi, who founded Always Dream to help increase family engagement with literacy among under-resourced communities.

 

“Seeing families come together each year to celebrate stories and the joy of reading is incredibly special. We know some of the most meaningful moments in a child’s literacy journey happen when families read and explore together. Family Literacy Festival is an opportunity to make those moments fun and accessible, and I’m grateful to celebrate alongside our community and our wonderful partners,” said Yamaguchi.

 

Families attending the festival will be able to enjoy all that Children’s Discovery Museum has to offer, along with special festival programming. Activities include celebrity and author story readings, hands-on art activities, a free book giveaway, a first-ever local author book fair, and family-friendly entertainment.

 

“We at the Children's Discovery Museum are passionate about storytime because it is about so much more than learning to read. When we read together, we build connections through conversation, laughter, and discovery,” said Linda Tsai, President & CEO of Children’s Discovery Museum of San Jose. “Research shows that shared reading supports children’s language, literacy, and social-emotional development while strengthening caregiver-child relationships. Through our storytimes every day at the Museum and special events like Family Literacy Festival, we create experiences for families to connect and spark the curiosity that inspires a lifelong love of learning.”

 

The festival is a literacy collaboration between Kristi Yamaguchi’s Always Dream, San José Public Library Foundation, and Children’s Discovery Museum of San Jose, organizations united by a commitment to promoting the importance of reading and supporting families.

 

“Reading opens doors for children and families, creating opportunities for learning, connection, and lifelong growth,” said Dawn Coppin, CEO, San José Public Library Foundation. “San José Public Library Foundation is proud to continue this collaboration and bring the community together for a day that celebrates literacy in such a joyful and engaging way.”

 

Kristi Yamaguchi’s Family Literacy Festival will be held September 5 from 9:30 am to 4:30 pm at Children’s Discovery Museum of San Jose, 180 Woz Way, San Jose, CA 95110. Tickets are available in advance online. Families are encouraged to reserve their tickets in advance.

 

About Always Dream

Founded by Olympic champion Kristi Yamaguchi, Always Dream ensures children from under-resourced communities have access to high-quality books in the home environment and family engagement support. Through its Always Reading program, the organization provides each student a tablet, digital library access, and 1:1 coaching for families to foster reading habits that last a lifetime.

 

About Children’s Discovery Museum of San Jose

Kids lead the way at Children’s Discovery Museum of San Jose, exploring and discovering through open-ended, play-based learning. More than 150 hands-on indoor and outdoor exhibits and programs in the sciences, humanities, the arts, nature, and health spark curiosity and ignite family fun, while helping children build life skills in creative and critical thinking, problem solving, and confidence.

 

About San José Public Library Foundation

San José Public Library Foundation supports educational programs and resources through the public library, schools, and community-based organizations to create an educated, equitable, empowered, and engaged community where everyone has equitable access to lifelong learning to reach their full potential in school, career, and life.