Los Angeles Times Festival of Books

USC student Alice Lee, with USC Readers PLUS, reads a book to youth who attend the Los Angeles Times Festival of Books at USC in Los Angeles on April 22, 2012.   (Genaro Molina / Los Angeles Times)

Author Lauren Myracle,shares her books during the 2012 Los Angeles Times Festival of Books at USC on April 22, 2012.   (Ringo H.W. Chiu / For The Times)

From left to right, authors Lisa Davis, Sarah Burns and Christopher Goffard share their books with moderator Donna Wares during the 2012 Los Angeles Times Festival of Books at USC on April 22, 2012.   (Ringo H.W. Chiu / For The Times)

Authors Ben Loory and Amelia Gray share their books during the 2012 Los Angeles Times Festival of Books at USC on April 22, 2012.   (Ringo H.W. Chiu / For The Times)

From left to right, authors Melissa de la Cruz, Seth Grahame-Smith, Deborah Harkness and Richard Kadrey share their books with moderator Paul Trembley during the 2012 Los Angeles Times Festival of Books at USC on April 22, 2012.   (Ringo H.W. Chiu / For The Times)

Actress Betty White, author of, “Betty and Friends: My Life at the Zoo,” makes an appearance on the Los Angeles Times Stage at the Los Angeles Times Festival of Books at USC in Los Angeles on April 22, 2012.   (Genaro Molina / Los Angeles Times)

Hundreds of visitors listen to children’s author Laura Numeroff, left, read from her book, “Jelly Beans and the Big Art Adventure,” on the Target Children’s Stage during the Los Angeles Times Festival of Books at USC in Los Angeles on April 22, 2012.   (Genaro Molina / Los Angeles Times)

Hundreds of visitors listen to children’s author Laura Numeroff, off camera, read from her book, “Jelly Beans and the Big Art Adventure,” on the Target Children’s Stage during the Los Angeles Times Festival of Books at USC in Los Angeles on April 22, 2012.   (Genaro Molina / Los Angeles Times)

Actress Florence Henderson signs copies of her latest book, “Life is Not a Stage,” co-authored with Joel Brokaw, during the Los Angeles Times Festival of Books at USC in Los Angeles on April 22, 2012.   (Genaro Molina / Los Angeles Times)

From left, Gil Garcetti, Connie Rice, Warren Olney and Jim Newton take part in the panel discussion “Los Angeles 20 Years After the Rodney King Verdict” in the Bovard Auditorium.   (Genaro Molina / Los Angeles Times)

Lilia Tomoff, 6, dances to the music of the USC Trojan Marching Band.   (Genaro Molina / Los Angeles Times)

Al Koch, 59, dressed as Chinook Shannon from L. Ron Hubbard’s 1937 book “Cattle King for a Day,” performs rope trips to bring attention to the Galaxy Press tent, background.   (Genaro Molina / Los Angeles Times)

From left, authors John Stephens, Alyson Noel and Cornelia Funke share their books.  (Ringo H.W. Chiu / For The Times)

Moderator Alissa Walker, left, talks with authors Erik Knutzen, Mark Frauenfelder and David Rees about their books.  (Ringo H.W. Chiu / For The Times)

Author David Rees shares his books.  (Ringo H.W. Chiu / For The Times)

Actress Molly Shannon reads her first book “Tilly the Trickster” at the Los Angeles Times Festival of Books at USC on Saturday, April 21, 2012.  (Christina House / For The Times)

Author Joseph Wambaugh, right, talks with author Lee Goldberg during the 2012 Los Angeles Times Festival of Books at USC’s Bing Theater on April 21, 2012.  (Stefano Paltera / For The Times)

Book lovers browse the selection during the Los Angeles Times Festival of Books at USC on Saturday, April 21, 2012.  (Christina House / For The Times)

Dave Ian of West Hollywood browses an aisle of books during the Los Angeles Times Festival of Books at USC on Saturday, April 21, 2012.  (Christina House / For The Times)

Isabella Reyes, 4, of Norwalk, flips through books during the Los Angeles Times Festival of Books at USC on Saturday, April 21, 2012.  (Christina House / For The Times)

Actress, producer, and author Marilu Henner listens to questions from the audience during the 2012 Los Angeles Times Festival of Books at the Bing Theater at USC.  (Stefano Paltera / For The Times)

Maria Hernandez and her daughter Sandy Gutierrez, 7, walk through USC’s campus during the Los Angeles Times Festival of Books at USC on Saturday.  (Christina House / For The Times)

Book lovers navigate USC’s campus during the Los Angeles Times Festival of Books at USC on Saturday, April 21, 2012.  (Christina House / For The Times)

Author Judy Blume, right, talks with Los Angeles Times writer Mary McNamara, left, during the 2012 Los Angeles Times Festival of Books at USC on April 21, 2012.  (Stefano Paltera / For The Times)

Chef Michael Voltaggio, center, on stage with Nancy Silverton, left, and Los Angeles Times Deputy Food Editor Betty Hallock, right, speaks about his book during the 2012 Los Angeles Times Festival of Books at USC.

Rodney King in conversation with Patt Morrison at the Los Angeles Times Festival of Books.  (Christina House / For The Times)

Audience members listen closely during a panel discussion between Patt Morrison and Rodney King at the Los Angeles Times Festival of Books at USC on Saturday, April 21, 2012.  (Christina House / For The Times)

Author Rodney King, center, poses for a photograph with Peter Riehl, of Long Beach, left, as King’s fiance, Cynthia Kelley, sits at his side during a book signing for fans at the Los Angeles Times Festival of Books at USC on Saturday, April 21, 2012.  (Christina House / For The Times)

Author Rodney King signs an autograph for a fan at the Los Angeles Times Festival of Books at USC on Saturday, April 21, 2012. King’s new book, “The Riot Within, My Journey from Rebellion to Redemption,” comes out Tuesday.  (Christina House / For The Times)

Actor John Cusack, left, speaks with author Mark Leyner.  (Stefano Paltera / For The Times)

The USC band and cheerleaders perform Saturday during opening ceremonies of the Los Angeles Times Festival of Books on the USC campus.  (Christina House / For The Times)

The USC band heralds the opening of the L.A. Times Festival of Books.  (Christina House / For The Times)

Student honorees are recognized for their efforts and creativity in helping to name the festival’s namesake “dinosaur.” The winner? Thesaurus, of course.  (Christina House / For The Times)

Book lovers applaud during opening ceremonies.  (Christina House / For The Times)

USC President C.L. Max Nikias welcomes festival attendees to campus.  (Christina House / For The Times)

Jose-Luis Oruzco performs on the Target Stage for a happy festival crowd.  (Stefano Paltera / For The Times)

Tori Spelling, author of “CelebraTori: Unleashing Your Inner Party Planner to Entertain Friends and Family,” right, is interviewed by Times staff writer Amy Kaufman.  (Stefano Paltera / For The Times)

Tori Spelling talks about her book, “CelebraTori: Unleashing Your Inner Party Planner to Entertain Friends and Family.”  (Stefano Paltera / For The Times)

Ricki Lake, author of “Never Say Never: Finding a Life That Fits,” speaks about her marriage at the L.A. Times Festival of Books.  (Stefano Paltera / For The Times)

Natalie McMullin, 6, right, and Rose Gomez, 7, get a hug from a costumed Scooby-Doo at the Los Angeles Times Festival of Books.  (Stefano Paltera / For The Times)

Members of Girl Scout Troup 5215 from Inglewood pose with Max the rabbit from the “Max & Ruby” animated series at the L.A. Times Festival of Books.  (Stefano Paltera / For The Times)