Are you ready for the annual invasion of authors, readers and books at Mount Vernon Place? Friday, Saturday and Sunday will feature all kinds of excitement, including Buzz Aldrin, Gwen Ifill, Lois Lowry, Ralph Nader, James McBride and The Electric Company?

How about some music with your food, courtesy of Johnny Mo, the Musical Chef?

And of course, there will be many, many books on sale for all to provide a good home.

That's not enough? Well, you drive a hard bargain, but how about some puppies?

That's right. Saturday at 2 p.m., the Central Library is hosting its latest children's event, PAWS to Read. The program encourages literacy by having children read aloud to certified Pets on Wheels pups.

"When it comes to reading, practice is a critical piece of the puzzle because practice improves fluency," said Ellen Riordan, Pratt's Children’s Services Coordinator, in a press release. "Reading to a dog is a fun way to practice. They never correct your pronunciation."

"We are very excited about this," added Roswell Encina, director of communications at the library. "We're probably going to have three dogs here." And Encina was kind enough to provide a few shots from a previous event.

If you can't made it to the festival, it doesn't mean you've missed out on man's best friend. The dogs return once a month at both the Central Library and the Southeast Anchor Library, beginning Saturday and Nov. 4th, respectively.

(Photo courtesy of Roswell Encina)