Family Reading Partnership: Kids' Book Fest

Mother Goose recites some rhymes for children at the Fest.

Kids' Book Fest goers listen to 'How Woodchuck's Garden Grew' by Lynne Cherry

Children listen to a story in the storybook setting created by the Ithaca Children's Garden.

Big Anthony, a character from Strega Nona, acts out the book at the Kids' Book Fest

Bookmaking is always an important part of the Kids' Book Fest

Kids' Book Fest

A partnership project of:
Family Reading Partnership
Over 30 Area Businesses and Organizations
Time Warner Cable

Overview

The purpose of the Kids' Book Fest is to establish a community-wide celebration that brings parents and children together around excitement for children's books. The festival includes art, entertainment, and activities all based on books. Local authors are showcased. Community organizations are invited to host a story-related book station. Read-aloud environments based on books are set up for children to visit, and book characters walk around the Fest promoting specific books. Food and books are available for festival-goers to purchase.

Features

Each year a theme is chosen and a specific author and book are featured based on the theme. Festival activities are planned to bring the chosen book to life for children. The featured book is offered to schools at a very reduced price, labeled with a bookplate promoting reading, and accompanied by a letter from the author to children.

Objectives

Come together as a community to celebrate children's literature.
Heighten interest in books.
Promote family reading.
Encourage teachers to use books interactively in the classroom.
Involve community organizations in our efforts.
Involve community members in our efforts.
Involve families that have not yet connected with the pleasure of books.
Showcase local authors.
Gain visibility for our issues, efforts, and our organization.
Further establish the reputation of the Family Reading Partnership as a "make things happen organization."
Create a showpiece event with which the community identifies FRP.
Create new ways to get books into the hands, homes and hearts of children.
Continue to build partnership opportunities with schools.
Have components of the event circulate in the community during the year.
Collect used books for the Bright Red Bookshelf.

Kids’ Book Fest 2006 "Wild About Books" was a great success!

View photos of activities, animals, local authors, dramatic play, school displays, and community organizations.

Kids' Book Fest 2007 "At Home with Books" was great!

See photos of the 2007 Kids' Book Fest