The 18th Annual African American Children’s Book Fair, will be held on Saturday, February 6, 2009, 1:00-3:00PM, Community College of Philadelphia, 17th Spring Garden Street, Philadelphia, PA, in the Gymnasium. The event is free and opened to the public.
The Book Fair started out on a cold frosty day at John Wanamaker Department Store in Philadelphia, PA. Today it is one of the oldest and largest single day events for African American Children’s Books.
The success of the program is due to the fact that we offer the best and the brightest from the African American Children’s literary community. Participants are nationally known best selling authors/illustrators. Many have won the American Library Association Coretta Scott King award. Confirmed are E.B. Lewis, Carole Boston Weatherford, Tonya Bolden, Deborah Gregory, R. Gregory Christie, Sean Qualls, Eric Valesquez, Nicole Bailey Williams, Walter Dean Myers, Jerry Craft, London Ladd, Kelly Starling Lyons, Booker T. Mattison, Lynda Jones,Lorraine Dowdy Gordon, Mutiya Visions and Lori Nelson.
These authors/illustrators have written some of the best books of our generation. This book fair is an opportunity for them to promote their works to our children to enlighten, empower and enrich their lives. In addition to the authors and illustrators we have an area called Literary Row that distributes book related promotional materials, a parent’s resources section and an Educator’s Book-Give Away.
It is a true book fair and a wide selection will be available for purchase for children pre-school to young adult.
The NBC10 READING ROOM will be featured at the event. Children will get the opportunity to receive a brand new book (while supplies last) of one of the authors/illustrators participating in the event. Author/illustrators will make presentation from their books in the NBC10 Reading Circle host by Monqiue Braxton. For some children this will be their first opportunity to meet/greet an author and even own a book.
The Book Fair is also an opportunity to further our campaign to promote family reading and home libraries – our slogan is TAKE A BOOK HOME.
Games, prizes and promotional give-aways highlight the afternoon. THE EVENT IS FREE AND OPENED TO THE PUBLIC.
For more information about the book fair call (215) 878-BOOK or e-mail bookfair@TheAfrican AmericanChildrensBookFair.org
