Dog-earing a festival

“I cannot live without books,” Thomas Jefferson once famously wrote in a letter to John Adams.

Neither can two Newport Mesa women, who do it all but put aside their professional commitments to write books of their own — as well as touch the lives of the children who will flock to the Orange County Children’s Book Festival this weekend at Orange Coast College.

Pat Burns, the co-founder of the book festival, wants to teach busy grandparents how to engage with their grandchildren. Allyson Ames, co-founder of the staggeringly popular Wonderland Bakery, says she wants to help kids achieve their dreams and keep a little magic in their lives.

Now celebrating its sixth year, the festival is free to the public. Thousands of families come to meet authors and illustrators, attend book signings, watch live entertainment, visit a craft corner and wild animal arena, as well as take part in other fun activities.

A big draw this year is the voice talent behind the Wonder Pets animated series, as well as the illustrator of the Fancy Nancy book series, Robin Preiss-Glasser.

Live entertainment choices include Taiko drummers, Irish dancers and a flamenco group.

Several years ago, Burns said, event co-founder Barry Ackerman saw a need in the community for such an event. He sought her out to help him advance his plan.

She recalled sitting on a patio for three hours with Ackerman, hashing out a vision and the beginnings of a business plan.

“And then we put the plan to work,” she said.

Today, the festival is the largest of its kind, attracting tens of thousands of people, while keeping admission and parking free.

The staff is all-volunteer, Burns said.

“When you say this is a labor of love, it really is the truest meaning,” she said. “It’s a remarkable story. People felt the need for a free event that inspired love of books and of reading.”

Their vision is to be the best children’s book festival in the world.

“This year, we’re trying to also raise a little money by having a raffle,” Burns said. The prizes will range in value from $40 to $680; raffle tickets are $1 each.

Rocking advice

In addition to public speaking, consulting and being the co-founder of the book festival, Burns also wrote “Grandparents Rock: The Grandparenting Guide for the Rock-N-Roll Generation,” which helps Baby Boomers connect to their grandchildren — and reconnect to their youth.

Burns became a grandmother when she was 43, and tried to find books that taught how to have fun with one’s grandchildren while still managing a full-time career.

She was surprised to find there was nothing that worked for her, so she began writing down her own ideas.

When she decided to make a book of her findings, she interviewed Baby Boomers from across the country who were in the same boat: working full-time and striving to develop a meaningful relationship with their “grands.”

The book she created urges grandparents to “create the relationship, but don’t lose yourself,” she said.

Her own grandson, now a teenager, has volunteered with her in African orphanages, and traveled around the world with her.

“I just think it’s our place to help these children,” Burns said, to see the world beyond their own lives.

Sweet dreams

For Newport Beach-based Wonderland Bakery president and co-founder Allyson Ames, the festival will be a chance for her to share her own new book, “Wonderlicious — The Enchanting and Delicious Wonderland Bakery Adventure.”

The 23-year-old entrepreneur and her mother (and Wonderland co-founder) Sondra Ames have been hard at work on a media tour, store expansions and talks about a possible cooking show, but Allyson Ames is back in town this weekend to participate in the festival.

Allyson Ames said there is nowhere she would rather be than back home to introduce her book at the festival and celebrate the company’s fourth anniversary.

In her book, a character version of Allyson grows up loving baking, and opens her own bakery with the support of her family and friends. In parallel to real life, the mayor of the book’s fictional town places an order for a birthday cake for the city’s 100th birthday.

“It’s a Newport Beach story,” Sondra Ames said.

In reality, Wonderland Bakery created Newport Beach’s centennial cake; in the book, then-Mayor Don Webb is presented as a crocodile with a chocolate-chip bow-tie.

Webb approved of the likeness, Sondra Ames said.

Wonderland works with corporate clients and children alike, serving up edible art in the form of cookies, cupcakes, cakes, as well as sweet gifts. Wonderland also now sells their own apparel, toys and other merchandise. The company has exploded in popularity worldwide, and Ames has found herself at the top of a brand empire.

“It was always just a hobby, but it kind of turned into a passion,” Allyson Ames said. “I was really lucky that it turned from hobby to passion to career.”

When Whoopi Goldberg declared Wonderland’s gingerbread cookie as the best in America on “The View,” the deluge of orders began.

“We were not prepared for that, but it was a great Christmas present,” Allyson Ames said.

This weekend, a live Allyson character will meet children and read an excerpt from the book.

Wonderland also has created a plush, animated Gund bear that talks and reads through the story with the Allyson character.

“I think it will be nice to be able to touch a new group,” Allyson Ames said.

She will be introduced onstage by Mark Victor Hansen, the co-creator of the Chicken Soup for the Soul book series, who sees Ames as a potential role model for children. He featured her in his “The Richest Kids in America” book.

“He’s so in love with this project, and wants to encourage kids to dream big,” Sondra Ames said.

If You Go

What: Orange County Children’s Book Festival

When: 9:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Sunday

Where: Orange Coast College, 2701 Fairview Ave., Costa Mesa

Cost: Free

Information: (714) 838-4528 or kidsbookfestival.com