GARDINER - Oinks, snorts and baas. Has downtown Gardiner gone to the animals?

No, it's gone to the books - children's books, that is. Saturday, September 15, the third annual Reading Rumpus: A Maine Children's Book Festival will be held in the downtown.

The oinks and snorts will come from this year's grand marshal, Daisy the Pig. The baas will be contributed by three live baby goats in Johnson Hall Park during the day.

Daisy, along with her "dad," Farmer Minor, will lead a 10 a.m. costume parade for which children can dress up as their favorite children's book character and walk down Water Street. Daisy, who winters in Bristol, Conn., and summers on Chebeague Island, is a potbellied pig with a purpose - to get kids reading.

She has toured the country twice, been invited to the U.S. Capitol and has been featured in Weekly Reader and Time for Kids. Daisy has a gigantic collection of pig books.

During a "Pig Out on Reading" presentation, Farmer Minor will share Daisy's fun and funny story. Children will have a chance to have their photos taken with Daisy.

Besides Daisy and Farmer Minor, eight Maine authors and illustrators will give presentations throughout the day. Stephen Costanza of Belfast will show how he creates illustrations for his books in a session titled "From Doodle Man to Noodle Man." Jane Cowen-Fletcher of South Berwick will lead a hands-on session on how to create "magical elves," based on her latest book, "Nell's Elf." Katie Clark of Brunswick will use her books "Grandma Drove the Garbage Truck" and "Seagull Sam" for an interactive Garbage & Seagulls Scavenger Hunt.

Other participating authors and illustrators are Dean Bennett, Lisa Jahn-Clough, Lynn Plourde, Laura Rankin and Lea Wait.

There will be three presentations at 11 a.m., 1 and 2 p.m. in Johnson Hall, at Gardiner Congregational Church and at Gardiner City Hall. Getting to sessions will be easy this year with the addition of a book trolley. Details on the presentations, times, and locations can be found at www.readingrumpus.org, or by calling Linda Matychowiak at 582-3100.

Books by each of the featured authors and illustrators will be available for sale by Apple Valley Books of Winthrop. A couple of autographing sessions are also scheduled during the day.

Additional activities include face-painting, lunchtime music with Matt Loosigian and a book hunt in the downtown area when children can win free books.

The festival will culminate with a 3:30 performance by the Open Book Players at Johnson Hall. The Players will give readers theater performances of books by all the featured authors and illustrators. Admission to Open Book performances is $5 per person. Reservations are recommended and may be made by calling 582-7144.

All other events are free. The festival will be on rain or shine.