Photos: Los Angeles Times Festival of Books: A look back

Abigail Van Buren (Dear Abby) was one of the most popular writers at the first Festival of Books, along with Amy Tan, Dean Koontz, Judith Krantz and Joseph Wambaugh.   (Con Keyes / Los Angeles Times)

Actor LeVar Burton, reading at the children’s stage in 2012, will receive the Innovator’s Prize in 2015 for his work with Reading Rainbow, the television show-turned-app-turned-website.   (Bret Hartman / For The Times)

A father and son read a new book at UCLA.   (Carolyn Cole / Los Angeles Times)

Jonathan Safran Foer, author of “Extremely Loud and Incredibly Close” and “Everything Is Illuminated,” signs books for fans in 2005.   (Stephen Osman / Los Angeles Times)

A view of Dickson Plaza at UCLA during the Festival of Books.   (Ken Hively / Los Angeles Times)

Judy Blume, author of many beloved books for kids including “Deenie,” “Blubber,” “Are You There God? It’s Me, Margaret,” “Tales of a Fourth-Grade Nothing” and “Otherwise Known as Sheila the Great.”   (Stefano Paltera / For The Times)

A boy reads a math book outside Royce Hall at UCLA.   (Wally Skalij / Los Angeles Times)

Patti Smith, musician and author of the award-winning memoir “Just Kids,” shared the stage with author Dave Eggers and the Los Angeles Times’ David L. Ulin.   (Anne Cusack / Los Angeles Times)

The Times’ David L. Ulin, left, with Dave Eggers, novelist and founder of McSweeney’s publishing company, on their panel with Patti Smith.   (Anne Cusack / Los Angeles Times)

A father shows his 20-month-old daughter a pop-up-book at the Festival of Books at UCLA.   (Kirk McKoy / Los Angeles Times)

Naomi Nakamura, 5, of Covina, with her mother Norma Nakamura in a children’s area. Norma told us she reads with her daughter every day.   (Beatrice de Gea / Los Angeles Times)

Science fiction author Ray Bradbury filled auditoriums when he appeared at the festival in 2002. He died in 2012.   (Gary Friedman / Los Angeles Times)

Poet Wanda Coleman discusses writing Los Angeles with Lewis MacAdams. Coleman died in 2013.   (Paul Morse / Los Angeles Times)

Author Gore Vidal spoke at the Festival of Books several times, including this 2007 appearance. He died in 2012.   (Charley Gallay / Getty Images)

Thousands gathered on the UCLA campus for the 2003 book festival.   (Luis Sinco / Los Angeles Times)

Comedian Sarah Silverman reads from her memoir, “The Bedwetter.”   (Jay L. Clendenin / Los Angeles Times)

Astronaut Buzz Aldrin speaks to an overflow crowd about his book “Magnificent Desolation.”   (Jay L. Clendenin / Los Angeles Times)

Actress Jada Pinkett Smith and author Sistah Souljah before their appearance at USC.   (Anne Cusack / Los Angeles Times)

MacArthur “Genius” fellow Jonathan Lethem, speaking at the 2011 festival, returns in 2015.   (Allen J. Schaben / Los Angeles Times)

A girl reads “The Nine Lives of Romeo Crumb - Life Three” by L. Rifkin at UCLA.   (Genaro Molina / Los Angeles Times)

From left, Los Angeles Times editor Davan Maharaj, religious scholar Reza Aslan and “Going Clear” author Lawrence Wright.   (Bret Hartman / For The Times)

Author Sandra Cisneros, known for her novel “The House on Mango Street,” backstage in 2014.   (Don Kelsen / Los Angeles Times)

B.J. Novak, actor and author of “One More Thing,” speaks during a panel at USC.   (Gary Friedman / Los Angeles Times)

Author Veronica Roth talks about her bestselling “Divergent” YA trilogy in the Bovard Auditorium at USC.   (Anne Cusack / Los Angeles Times)

Food critic Jonathan Gold leads a discussion among authors Gustavo Arellano, Aaron Bobrow-Strain and Jennifer 8. Lee. Gold returns again in 2015.   (Ringo H.W. Chiu / For The Times)

Actress Betty White talks about her book “Betty and Friends: My Life at the Zoo.”   (Genaro Molina / Los Angeles Times)

Tom Becket the St. Bernard waits in line with his owner to get a book signed.   (Genaro Molina / Los Angeles Times)

A group of teens contribute a book title to a giant poster asking “What are you reading?” at UCLA.   (Christina House / For the Times)

The USC Trojan Marching Band performs on stage at USC.

From left, former Los Angeles County Dist. Atty. Gil Garcetti, civil rights attorney Connie Rice, radio host Warren Olney and the L.A. Times’ Jim Newton discuss the 20th anniversary of the Rodney King verdict and the riots that followed.

Rodney King, the motorist whose videotaped beating by LAPD officers ignited tensions in Los Angeles, discusses his 2012 memoir with the Los Angeles Times’ Patt Morrison. King died later that year.

Performer Steve Allen, who hosted Jack Kerouac on his television show in 1959, appears at the festival in 1997. Allen died in 2000.

The first Festival of Books in 1996 brought out huge crowds to UCLA’s Dickson Plaza.

Innovators Award winner Margaret Atwood, author of “The Handmaid’s Tale” and other works, in conversation with radio host Michael Silverblatt.

Bestselling mystery writer Robert Crais, right, in conversation with the Los Angeles Times’ Kenneth Turan.

Television fitness guru Jillian Michaels, right, poses with a fan holding her book, “Unlimited.”

Actress Tori Spelling talks about her book “CelebraTori: Unleashing Your Inner Party Planner to Entertain Friends and Family.”

Novelists Dana Spiotta, center, Steve Erickson, right, and Hari Kunrzu discuss writing fiction.

Los Angeles Times columnist Meghan Daum speaks during the “Art of the Personal Story” panel in 2014.

Jared Diamond in conversation with the Los Angeles Times’ Patt Morrison.

Authors Ben Loory and Amelia Gray in 2012 discuss making unusual choices in fiction. Gray returns for 2015.

A father reads “Dear Mr. Leprechaun” to his 5-year-old daughter during the festival.

Moderator Susan Carpenter, left, with young-adult authors Maureen Johnson, Lauren Myracle, Maggie Stiefvater and Jacqueline Woodson.

A girl reads John Green’s book “An Abundance of Katherines” which he signed to her, “DFTBA” (Don’t Forget To Be Awesome).

Children splash in a fountain on USC’s campus during the 2013 Los Angeles Times Festival of Books.

Crowds enjoy the Los Angeles Times Festival of Books held for the first time at the USC campus in 2011.