Here's a fun way to get kids to love reading. Read more on Canandaigua Children's Book Fest
HOPEWELL — A squirrel, a frog, a raccoon?
It is not your imagination. At the Canandaigua Children’s Book Fest, some animals may magically spring to life from the pages of children’s books in an effort to help encourage reading fun for youngsters and their families.
To participate, head to Finger Lakes Community College, 3325 Marvin Sands Drive, for the free event, scheduled from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 2.
“The Book Fest is a wonderful way for children ages 3 to 8 years and their families to meet local authors, hear them read from their books, and be creative through craft projects based on the authors' books,” said Mary Ferris, Wood Library’s children’s librarian and president of the Community Reading Partnership, the organization sponsoring the Book Fest with FLCC.
Vivian Vande Velde, one of 12 children’s book authors and illustrators who are participating, agrees.
“It is a unique opportunity to visit with authors and illustrators, to learn how some books were made, to meet other book lovers, and to do some pretty incredible crafts,” Vande Velde said.
Recently, Ferris sat with Vande Velde to hear her read from one of her many books, "Squirrel in the Museum." The main character is Twitch, a squirrel who tags along on a school field trip with amusing and chaotic results.
Squirrels are “so obviously smart, and curious and persistent, and they clearly see the world as revolving around them,” said Vande Velde when asked about Twitch's behavior.
Vande Velde, who took part in CRP’s previous two Book Fests, shared her writing strategies with Ferris in a 20-minute video that will be shown the rest of this school week to Canandaigua Elementary School students. Ferris also demonstrated a crafty way to make a duck, inspired by a character in another of Vande Velde’s books. The video can also be viewed on the Community Reading Partnership’s Facebook page and website as well as Vande Velde’s website.
Author Marsha Hayles will participate in the Canandaigua Children’s Book Fest for the first time.
Hayles attributes her love for reading and writing to wonderful teachers who encouraged her along the way. Her featured book, "He Saves the Day," was written for youngsters 4 to 8 years old, and is about a young boy's adventures in his backyard, pool, and sandbox. His imagination transforms his play area into a race course, a jungle, a ship, and a castle where he is the brave hero who always saves the day — that is, until he needs a little help from another hero, his mom.
School Library Journal described the book as a “colorful tale about the power of imagination.” Hayles said she was inspired to write this fun, rhyming piece after watching her own son at play in their backyard. She will be reading from the book at the Book Fest and sharing how a picture book gets made.
Other Book Fest authors and illustrators and their featured books include Laurie Gifford Adams, "Finding Atticus"; Susan Beckhorn, "Moose Power"; Judy Bradbury, "Cayuga Island Kids"; Kevin Coolidge, "Ninja Raccoons" book series; Margo Fass, "Froggy Family’s First Frolic"; Nancy Lane, "KoKo Cat," "Inside and Out" and "Call the Horse Lucky"; David Smith, "Animal Quest" series; Debbi Socha, "How Much Longer?"; Sally Valentine, "Theft at George Eastman House" and "What Stinks? An Adventure in Highland Park"; and Elaine Verstraete, "Helen Keller."
Parents are encouraged to take photos of their children with the costumed characters that will be on hand. Each animal is linked to a book written by a Book Fest author or illustrator. Also, inspired by the featured books, craft stations will be available where each child can make their own fire-breathing dragon or leaping frog, build a wagon or ship, learn to write in Braille, write and illustrate a book, and create other cool things to take home.
Books can be purchased directly from some of the individual authors and illustrators. Plus, Sulfur Books will have a pop-up bookstore.
“There will be a variety of books for children of all ages,” said Sarah Butler, who manages the independent book store at 18 East Main St. in Clifton Springs. “These include wonderfully illustrated picture books, books for kids at various stages as they are learning to read, and exciting chapter books for middle readers— along with some books by authors at the event.”
Children who attend must be accompanied by an adult, and to ensure a healthy and safe environment, anyone over 2 years of age needs to wear a mask indoors.
Festival admission and parking are free, thanks to sponsors including the Pi State Educational Foundation of Delta Kappa Gamma, Ontario County Arts Council, Canandaigua School District, Finger Lakes Community College, Kiwanis Club of Canandaigua, Wegmans, Aldi, CDGA Coffee Co., Xpress Yourself Screen-printing, Wood Library, Literacy Volunteers of Ontario Yates, and Sulfur Books.
The Community Reading Partnership, an all-volunteer nonprofit organization, was formed as an outgrowth of a literacy improvement initiative in the Canandaigua City School District in 1998. For more information, visit https://communityreadingpartnership.org/.
'Book Talk for Kids'
Following the Canandaigua Children’s Book Fest, author Kevin Coolidge will be presenting a free “Book Talk for Kids” at 3 p.m. Oct. 2 at the Ontario County Historical Society, 55 N. Main St., Canandaigua.
Youngsters will find out that President Calvin Coolidge had a pet raccoon named Rebecca at the White House. First lady Grace Coolidge even had a treehouse built for her. The talk is presented in connection with the current OCHS exhibit, "Our Family Companions: The History of Pets In Ontario County." For information, call 585-394-4975.