Saturday, April 10th from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m.!
Join ReadThis and The Center for Fiction
at 17 East 47th Street in Manhattan
for a full day of events celebrating reading!
Your kid can help other kids, and have a great time doing it at this festival book-drive for kids in need. Hear stories from TAD HILLS of “Duck and Goose” fame, make art with RUTH ROOT, attend a children’s writing workshop with SAM SWOPE, among more than a dozen children’s activities throughout the day.
Just bring two or more gently used or new books (pre-K through grade 12) to donate to 11 schools and youth organizations that ReadThis and the Center for Fiction will be helping that day.
All programs begin promptly so come early so you can drop off books ahead of time. Here’s a sampling of the events that are happening:
11:00 a.m. – Doors Open
Children’s Book Reading with VERONICA CHAMBERS and MIRIAM COHEN
Chambers, author of, Double Dutch: A Celebration of Jump Rope, Rhyme and Sisterhood, among other titles, reads from her picture book,Celia Cruz, Queen of Salsa, about the rise of the salsa star from the streets of Havana.
Cohen, an avid champion of the rights of children, will read from a few of her picture books that showcase young people whose positive spirits turn adversity into something constructive. Collaborating with illustrator Lillian Hoban, Cohen has penned the “First-Grade Friends” picture-book series, among dozens of other titles.
Children’s Writing Workshop with SAM SWOPE (ages 7-13)
The author of The Araboolies of Liberty Street and I Am Pencil takes children through the story-writing paces. This is a hands-on, pencils-up, 45-minute session which will take your child a little further toward becoming a writer.
Screening of the short children’s film, LOST AND FOUND
“Nothing short of stunning” – The Times in London calls this film adaptation of Oliver Jeffers’ children’s story of the same name. Narrated by Jim Broadbent, the animated film trails the tested friendship of a boy and the loyal penguin that appeared one day on his doorstep.
Children’s Book Reading with TAD HILLS and FRAN MANUSHKIN
Tad Hills, the author and illustrator of the popular Duck and Goose series, and Fran Manushkin, the author of 17 books for children, including Baby, Come Out! and the Katie Woo series, read from their work and answer questions from curious little readers.
Children’s Book Reading with BOB MORRIS and ELISE BROACH
You may know Morris best from his long-running New York Times etiquette column or his hilarious memoir about overseeing his geriatric father’s dating life, Assisted Loving, but he is also the ukulele-playing author of the children’s book, Crispin the Terrible. He plays and reads for kids, along with Elise Broach, the author of the popular book Wet Dog, as well as Time magazine’s #1 children’s book of 2007,When Dinosaurs Came With Everything.
Children’s Book Reading With BRIAN FLOCA: To the Moon!
Michael Collins, the Command Module Pilot for Apollo 11 has said of Floca’s book, “Reading Moonshot gave me the feeling I was back up in space.” And now, without suffering the ill effects of zero gravity, your little ones can get the feeling too. Floca reads from his books and answers every out-of-this-world question for your kids.
Make Your Own Book With RUTH ROOT, REBECCA ODES, CHRIS DOYLE, CHRIS GENTILE, and (Parsons Illustration Adjunct) JEFF QUINN
Sure, your kid has done craft projects, but how many times have they worked side by side with an artist whose work has been projected on the whole side of a building at Columbus Circle? Distinguished artists Root, Odes, Doyle and Quinn provide hands-on guidance for your young artist to create a book or bookmark.
This children’s programming is only part of the days’ events. Visit www.booksfornyckids.org to see the full program including ELIZABETH GILBERT, SAM LIPSYTE, KURT ANDERSEN, RICK MOODY, JAMAICA KINCAID and many many more.
Hope to see you there.