Celebrate Children's Book Week, May 12-18

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SLJ Staff -- School Library Journal, 5/7/2008 2:00:00 PM

Schools, libraries, and bookstores are getting ready to celebrate Children’s Book Week, from May 12-18, with parties, storytelling, author/illustrator visits, and other book-related events.

The annual affair, sponsored by Children’s Book Council (CBC), is the longest running literacy event in the county and was recently moved from November.

This year, Mary GrandPré, known for her illustrations of the U.S. Harry Potter books, designed the collectible Children’s Book Week poster, a whimsical depiction of a child’s bedroom lined with books.

If you’re planning to join the festivities, make sure to download some Children’s Book Week bookmarks, created by comic artist Gene Yang. Both the poster and bookmark items are available for free. 

This year, the CBC will kick off celebrations in New York, home to the children’s book trade organization.

Here’s a list of events for those who plan to be in town:

Saturday, May 10:  Kick-Off Event, Bryant Park Reading Room, 12:00-5:00 p.m.

Authors, illustrators, and children’s book characters will read and sign books. The Bryant Park Reading Room will be dedicated to Children’s Book Week all week, showcasing 1,000 children’s books from CBC member publishers.

Monday, May 12: Commerce Bank Breakfast, 317 Madison Avenue at 42nd Street, 8:30-10:00 a.m.

The Children’s Choice Book Awards finalists will be presented with certificates and author and historian Leonard Marcus will speak about the history of children’s books.

Tuesday, May 13: Children’s Choice Book Awards Gala, TimesCenter, 6:00-9:30 p.m.

The gala, hosted by Jon Scieszka , the National Ambassador for Young People’s Literature and spokesperson for Children’s Book Week, will reveal the winners of the first national Children’s Choice Book Awards. NBC Today’s Al Roker will also receive the Impact Award.

Thursday, May 15: NBA Store on Fifth Avenue, NYC, 5:00-6:00 p.m.

Walter Dean Myers and Bob Krech, with Erin Thorn and Lisa Willis of the New York Liberty, will read to kids.

Saturday, May 17: The Little Big Read, Grand Central Terminal, 12:00-3:00 p.m.

Jon Scieszka will host a read-along and mystery scavenger hunt for kids in honor of the Children's Book Week version of The Big Read.

Sunday, May 18: Closing Event at the Bryant Park Reading Room, 12:00-3:00 pm

Writopia Lab’s writers (ages 9-17) will read from their own award-winning short stories, memoirs, poetry, and scripts.