Austin is in for a treat Saturday, when two renowned children’s authors will be in town as part of the RE-fest event held at Riverland Community College.

RE-Fest is a collaborative effort of Austin Utilities, Owatonna Public Utilities, CERTs, Jay C. Hormel Nature Center, and Riverland Community College.

The celebration of green living and clean energy begins at 8:30 a.m. Saturday at RCC when the gates open and a solar breakfast is served.

Exhibits open at 9 a.m. with workshops scheduled throughout the day.

Former 1st District U.S. Congressman Tim Penny will deliver the festival’s key note address at 1 p.m.

Penny is now the executive director of the Southern Minnesota Initiative Foundation.

Throughout the day there will be music and in the afternoon.

Two authors, will be featured, one of whom is a frequent visitor to Austin and always attracts high praise.

Douglas Wood, has been called Minnesota’s “renaissance man.”

He’s an author, artist, musician, naturalist and wilderness guide.

As a writer of books for children and adults he has nearly two million copies in print, including the classics “Old Turtle” and “Grandad’s Prayers of the Earth.”

Among his many honors and awards have been the Christopher Medal, ABBY Award, International Reading Association Book of the Year, Minnesota Book Award, Midwest Publishers Association Book of the Year, Parent’s Choice Award, Barnes and Noble Star of the North, and Story Telling World Award.

The following is taken from a list of critics’ comments concerning Wood’s work:

“Wood conveys a sense of something larger in the world, and gives voice to the human longing to understand.” from Kirkus Reviews.

And, “…wilderness guide, environmental musician, acclaimed author–his love of the Earth pulses through all his work,” from the Kansas City Star.

Wood addresses “the questions of life that make children the ultimate philosophers” from The Five Owls.

As a musician, Wood writes music featuring vocals, six- and 12-string guitars, piano, fiddle, mandolin and banjo. He has five recordings currently available.

He is performing the final concert at RE-Fest at 6:30 p.m. Saturday.

Laura Goering and ‘Marcel’

The other visiting author is Laura Goering, a professor of Russian literature and language at Carleton College in Northfield.

Her first children’s book, Whistling Wings, is about a tundra swan named Marcel.

After hiding in the reeds while his family takes off on their northern migration, Marcel meets a variety of other animals that advise him how best to endure the winter weather.  Eventually, Marcel’s family, true to the strong family ties of real tundra swans, return for him when he joins them in their migration.

The book includes beautiful illustrations as well as a wealth of other educational extensions.

The book, like several others from Sylvan Dell Publishers, is available in Spanish or English text and can be accessed as what the publishers call “ebooks,” online versions of books which enable users to switch text and audio freely between English and Spanish.

“I loved the illustrations, its strong family theme, its accurate portrayal of all the animals’ living habits, and, of course, the book’s happy ending,” said a critic.

According to Goering, “Before I started writing seriously, I spent most of my free time playing competitive ultimate Frisbee. I even played in the 1992 World Championships in Utsunomiya, Japan.”

“Now that I’ve retired from Ultimate, I avoid the tedium of the treadmill by playing volleyball, tennis and squash,” she said of her pastime pursuits.

Goering and Wood will both be in Austin Saturday at RCC and will be available at the Austin Community for Environmental Sustainability (ACES) Green Living Book Fair during RE-Fest for book signings:  Goering’s signing will be from 11 a.m. to noon, and Wood’s will be from 3 to 4 p.m.

Their books will be available for purchase, as well as other books with conservation and outdoor themes.