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KIDZcorner also will feature arts and crafts activities, a magic show by Bay Area magician Leo Luna and readings by storybook characters.

KIDZcorner events are free. Lunch and snacks for the children will be available for purchase. Sponsors are Congregation B'nai Shalom of Walnut Creek and Contra Costa Jewish Community Center Early Childhood Services.

In addition to the new KIDZcorner program, established authors and first-time writers will come together in the festival, presented by the Contra Costa Jewish Community Center and the Jewish Federation of the Greater East Bay. It will be held at the CCJCC, 2071 Tice Valley Blvd.

In the opening event, sponsored by Beth Chaim Congregation of Danville and the Women's Division of the Jewish Federation of the Greater East Bay, National Public Radio journalist Martin Goldsmith will speak at 7:30 p.m. Thursday, Nov. 9.

Goldsmith is the author of "The Inextinguishable Symphony: A True Story of Music and Love in Nazi Germany." The book is a nonfiction account of his relatives, who were members of the Kubu, a cultural arts organization that promoted performances by Jewish musicians and actors at the start of the Third Reich.

Michael Chabon, author of "Werewolves in Their Youth: Stories" and "Wonder Boys," appeared at San Francisco's fifth annual Books by the Bay in July. He will speak at 7:30 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 11. Cost is $10.

Making the trip to the East Bay from France are the Klarsfelds, a husband-and-wife duo of Nazi hunters. Known for their tracking of Nazi war criminals, they conducted research that resulted in the 1983 arrest of Klaus Barbie, the former head of the Gestapo in Lyons, France.

Serge Klarsfeld wrote "French Children of the Holocaust: A Memorial" and co-wrote "Witness: Images of Auschwitz."

The couple will speak at 7 p.m. Sunday, Nov. 12. Michael Krasny, KQED-Radio host, will act as interviewer and master of ceremonies. Admission is free.

At an event sponsored by Jewish Business Lunch, David Liss, author of "A Conspiracy of Paper," will read at noon Monday, Nov. 13. His book details the involvement of a Jewish ex-pugilist in the criminal underworld of 18th-century London. Cost including lunch is $18.

Fred Rosenbaum, author of "Visions of Reform: Congregation Emanu-El and the Jews of San Francisco 1849-1999," will speak at 10 a.m. Tuesday, Nov. 14. His book is a history of how a small synagogue became a major institution. Sponsors are Lehrhaus Judaica and Temple Isaiah of Lafayette. Cost is $5.

Lisa Schiffman, author of "Generation J," will speak at 7:30 p.m. on Wednesday, Nov. 15. Her book is an examination of a young woman's quest for religious identity. Sponsor is Congregation B'nai Tikvah of Walnut Creek. Cost is $7.

Schiffman's lecture will be proceeded by a Book Group meeting at 10 a.m., whose topic will be "Ten Tips for Starting and Running a Successful Book Group." Cost is free for those attending Schiffman's lecture, $3 for those who don't.

Ken Blady, author of "Jewish Communities in Exotic Places," will present his book at 10 a.m. Thursday, Nov. 16. His work explores the traditions of Jewish communities in isolated parts of Africa and Asia. Cost is $5.

Ayelet Waldman will discuss her first novel, "Nursery Crimes," during the festival's "Mystery Night," at 7:30 p.m. Thursday, Nov. 16. Sharon Kahn, author of "Never Nosh a Matzo Ball: A Ruby the Rabbi's Wife Mystery," in a discussion with San Francisco Chronicle book critic Donna Levin, will join her. Sponsor is Diablo Valley Hadassah. Cost is $7.

Adding flavor to the festival will be Jayne Cohen, author of "The Gefilte Variations," and Gil Marks, author of "The World of Jewish Desserts." Both will take part in two Friday cooking demonstrations. Cohen will appear Nov. 10 and Marks, Nov. 17. Cost including lunch is $15 each.

Rabbi Sherwin Wine, author of "Staying sane in a crazy world," will speak at 7:30 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 18. Sponsor is Society for Humanistic Judaism. Cost is $5.

During the 10-day festival, books by the presenting authors, as well as by many other writers, will be on sale.

Additional sponsors include the Berkeley Richmond Jewish Community Center and the Israel Center of Jewish Federation of the Greater East Bay.

For information, call CCJCC at (925) 938-7800, ext. 300.