I Am Books, a diminutive independent bookstore with an Italian focus in Boston’s North End, has organized a two-day festival taking place for the first time Nov. 2 and 3 in Cambridge. IDEA Boston is a celebration of Italian books, authors, and culture, and the festival will include a number of panel discussions, a film screening, music, workshops, and a variety of presentations. Panel topics include “Why Study the Italian Classics,” “Getting Italian Americans into Print,” “Italian Jewish Writers: Emancipation, Persecution, Memory,” and “The Elena Ferrante Phenomenon,” with Michael Reynolds, editor-in-chief of Europa Editions, Ferrante’s English-language publisher.

Other highlights include the Caldecott-winning illustrator Tomie dePaola, local writer and actress Marianne Leone, and Mary Ann Esposito, creator and host of the longest running cooking show on television, “Ciao Italia with Mary Ann Esposito.’’ The festival takes place in the Dante Alighieri building, 41 Hampshire St. For a complete schedule and ticket pricing, visit www.ideaboston.com.