Issue link: http://hvparent.uberflip.com/i/561941
16 Hudson Valley Parent ■ September 2015 By ELORA TOCCI B ook lovers of the Hudson Val- ley, rejoice! The Albert Wis- ner Public Library's biennial Warwick Children's Book Festival is back this month with a jam-packed schedule full of books, writers, mu- sic, friends, and fun. The daylong festival brings together published authors and the community to discover new books, share a love of the written word, swap reading and writing tips and tricks, and explore all the food, fun, and charm that the Village of Warwick has to offer. It's sure to be a day for the (history) books! Whether your kids are avid read- ers or just learning the alphabet, the festival is sure to remind the whole family what makes reading and shar- ing stories so special. This free, rain or shine event will run from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Saturday, Sept. 26. Help support children's literacy If you or your kids fall in love with any must-have books, the festival's got you covered: Warwick's staple bookstore Ye Olde Warwick Book Shoppe will have tons of great reads for sale, and a portion of the proceeds will help support the library. The festival began as a way for the community to come together to promote children's literacy, connect kids with the authors of books they love, celebrate the written word, and raise awareness about all the roles public libraries can play in kids' and families' lives. The very fi rst festival was held in Septembers of 2005 and was so pop- ular organizers knew it would have to become a tradition. It took a 6-year hiatus while the Albert Wisner Public Library relocated to a new building, but resumed in 2011 as a biennial affair. Last year, well over a thousand people came out for the day. "The festival is a gift to children," says Samantha Brown, a Warwick resident and mother. "I love seeing the children interact with authors, and how their faces light up when they choose a book and the author inscribes it for them." Kids get to meet their favorite writers The festival will feature meet and greets and book signings with 50 authors and illustrators of books for kids of all ages. For the littlest lovers of words, picture book author and illustrator Ame Dyckman will be on hand to chat about, among other things, the inspiration for the characters in her award-winning books. One of them, "Boy + Bot," stars a robot protagonist whose head was designed by a War- Ultimate book lover party! Your guide to the Warwick Children's Book Festival Students in Nicole Heller's Warwick Valley Middle School art classes created Plaster of Paris heads of characters from classic and contempo- rary children's books. The characters will be on display at the Albert Wisner Public Library at this year's festival. (Continued on Page 18)