Welcoming Authors with Art: Altrusa at the Tucson Festival of Books
Each year, the Tucson Festival of Books brings together readers, writers, illustrators, and educators in a two-day celebration of storytelling and creativity. For Altrusa Tucson, the festival is more than just a weekend event—it’s a chance to engage students across the city and welcome visiting authors and illustrators with heartfelt, handmade posters that line the halls of the University of Arizona’s Education Building.
This year, bulletin boards on the third and fourth floors were decorated with student artwork from schools throughout Tucson, organized and supported by Altrusa members. In addition to coordinating the poster displays, Altrusans also prepared welcome gift bags for festival authors—a thoughtful tradition that’s continued for several years.
Altrusans preparing author gift bags
Altrusans filled welcome bags for the authors’ hotel rooms, complete with snacks, the festival program insert, and other thoughtful items. This quiet behind-the-scenes tradition is a way Altrusa members help authors feel at home during the festival weekend.
Posters by 5th graders at Mission Manor
Fifth-grade students at Mission Manor Elementary created vibrant posters inspired by books from featured authors. Gail Dent visited their class beforehand to explain the purpose of the poster display and share books by the presenting authors and illustrators.
Posters by Holaway Elementary students
Holaway’s art teacher, Amy Rudd, has led this project with her students for over seven years. Once again, they honored children’s book authors with beautiful posters—many of them researched and created in preparation for author sessions at the festival.
Tully Elementary bulletin board
Tully Elementary is one of Altrusa’s long-standing school partners. This year, members helped organize and update the school’s library and coordinated the creation of author-themed posters for the festival displays.
At Tully Elementary, Altrusans, Marcia Lucas, Elaine Wilder, Bonnie McPherson, Elda Lopez, Gail Dent, Gwen Gallegos, and Ann Banwell read books by different authors presenting at the Tucson Festival of Books to first graders.
3rd floor of the Education Building
A view of one of the bulletin board-lined hallways on the third floor, where attendees and authors alike were greeted by rows of colorful, imaginative posters from young readers.
This hallway featured artwork from Steve Daru Boys & Girls Club, Davidson Elementary, and Bonillas Elementary, showcasing a wide range of creative interpretations of books by festival presenters.
Bonillas Elementary bulletin board
Third and first graders from Bonillas created posters that were displayed on the fourth floor, just outside the classrooms hosting art workshops. This bulletin board greeted both instructors and festival guests throughout the weekend.
Magee Middle School
Students from Ana Sander’s class at Magee Middle School painted portraits of festival authors, including one of Nick Bruel. Author John Schu was so moved by being featured that he autographed books for the two students who painted his new release.
Bonillas students
Elaine Aldrete, one of Altrusa’s newest members, helped install posters created by first graders from Georgina Carrillo-Gaxiola’s class at Bonillas Elementary, adding another welcoming touch to the halls.
Bruce character portraits by Bonillas and White Elementary
First graders in Jennifer Flores’s library class created charming portraits of Ryan Higgins’s beloved character, Bruce the bear. With so many contributions, they shared bulletin board space with second graders from White Elementary.
Bonillas posters
To brighten the display even more, Gail Dent added colorful book jackets she’s collected over the years, enhancing the fourth-floor hallway’s festive and literary atmosphere.
This incredible collaboration between Altrusa, Tucson educators, and hundreds of young artists made the Tucson Festival of Books not only a celebration of writing but also a showcase of local creativity and community spirit.
📚 A heartfelt thank-you to all the teachers, students, and Altrusa members who made this effort possible. You helped welcome authors and festivalgoers with color, imagination, and the joy of reading.