Philadelphia Book Festival

This year the Philadelphia Book Festival will feature a day long celebration of children's and young adult literature on Saturday April 16th at The Free Library. http://libwww.freelibrary.org/bookfestival/ This link has all of the information about the week long festival and the details about Saturday's events.

The following is a list from The Free Library web site, of just a few of the events happening during the morning of April 16. There are numerous author readings for children of all ages http://libwww.freelibrary.org/images/author/bookfestival2011/Collier_Bryan.jpg performances for the whole family.
Bryan Collier | Dave the Potter: Artist, Poet, Slave
Saturday, April 16, 2011 at 10:00AM
Story Hour Room

Bryan Collier—the award-winning illustrator of more than 10 children’s picture books—combines collage with watercolor techniques to “stunningly beautiful” effect, writes one reviewer for the Chicago Sun-Times. His first book, Uptown, garnered him both the Coretta Scott King Illustrator Award and the Ezra Jack Keats Award, and he went on to illustrate the Caldecott Honor books Rosa and Martin’s Big Words, and the Coretta Scott King Honor books Freedom River and Visiting Langston. He most recently won the Coretta Scott King Illustrator Award for Dave the Potter, the story of a slave living in 1800s South Carolina who was a little-known—and exceptionally talented—artist and poet.

(There is a really good interview about Bryan Collier on the following website. You can also watch a video interview with Bryan Collier as he discusses how he went about illustrating his books. http://www.readingrockets.org/books/interviews/collier ).

Supported by the Margaret S. Halloran Family Literacy Programming Series
Zine Scene Workshop with Katie Haegele Photo Zine Scene Workshop with Katie Haegele
Saturday, April 16, 2011 at 10:00AM
Teen Zone: Room 108

Writer and zinester Katie Haegele will teach workshop participants to make their own handmade magazine, also known as a zine. Find out about the history of underground publishing and look at examples of different kinds of zines—from black-and-white photocopied manifestos to letterpress-printed, hand-bound mini books. Then make two of your own small zines—one that folds into a booklet with information and resources for zinesters and one of your own design, using a typewriter, clip art, stencils, stamps, and illustrations from old books and magazines.

Materials will be provided. Suggested for ages 10 and up; children under the age of 13 must be accompanied by an adult. Group size will be limited to 15 people on a first come, first served basis.
Philly Squeeze Photo Philly Squeeze
Saturday, April 16, 2011 at 10:00AM
PIFA Franco-Fun Stage

Philly Squeeze, an all-ages accordion ensemble, meets weekly to play accordion arrangements from a wide variety of “party in a box” music across all genres. To celebrate the French theme of the 2011 Philadelphia International Festival of the Arts, Philly Squeeze will play classic French pieces, mostly "musette" style, sprinkled with some Parisian Swing Jazz a la Django Reinhardt, some modern pieces by the French composer Yann Tiersen, and some earlier Celtic-inspired pieces from the Cape Breton region of France.

Presented in collaboration with the Philadelphia International Festival of the Arts
Teddy Bear Picnic Photo Teddy Bear Picnic
Saturday, April 16, 2011 at 10:15AM
Shakespeare Park Stage

Join Corduroy and the Berenstain Bears Parents for songs, stories, and a snack in the park!

Storybook friends will be on-site from 10:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. Saturday, April 16, to meet fans and pose for photos!
Sonia Lynn Sadler | Seeds of Change Photo Sonia Lynn Sadler | Seeds of Change
Saturday, April 16, 2011 at 11:00AM
Story Hour Room

Sonia Lynn Sadler is the winner of the 2011 John Steptoe New Talent Award, given by the Coretta Scott King selection committee to promising new authors and illustrators. A former fashion designer, Sadler’s artwork has appeared in the Washington Post and Essence, and she is the illustrator two previous children’s books, The Goat Goes to Town and Ma Dear’s Old Green House. Written by Jen Cullerton Johnston, Seeds of Change is the picture book biography of Wangari Maathi, a Kenyan environmentalist and political activist who won the Nobel Peace Prize in 2004. “Sadler's beautiful scratchboard illustrations incise white contoured line into saturated landscapes of lush green leaf patterns, brilliant-hued textiles and undulating, stylized hills” writes a reviewer for Kirkus, calling the book “vibrant and accomplished.”

Supported by the Margaret S. Halloran Family Literacy Programming Series
Paint the Story with Madeline Photo Paint the Story with Madeline
Saturday, April 16, 2011 at 11:00AM
PIFA Franco-Fun Stage

Join Free Library of Philadelphia children’s librarian Elizabeth Corbett and storybook character Madeline for a chance to let your inner artist roam free! Listen as Ms. Corbett reads Madeline’s story aloud, and then create your own original painting based on the exciting tale. All materials will be provided, and Ms. Corbett will offer her expertise on what to include in the painting should a young illustrator need inspiration.

Presented in collaboration with the Philadelphia International Festival of the Arts
Mighty Writers Comics Workshop
Saturday, April 16, 2011 at 11:00AM
Teen Zone: Room 108

Join the ranks of the Mighty Comic Artists! Learn techniques for crafting a narrative, pacing, story-boarding, and page layout in a special comics workshop presented by Philadelphia's own Mighty Writers. Design your own comic individually or in small groups. For children ages 9-12. Space is limited to 15 – 20 comic artists on a first come, first seated basis.

Mighty Writers, a Philadelphia-based nonprofit, helps kids learn that writing with clarity leads to a lifetime of success. Their free writing programs help students (ages 7-17) develop reading and writing skills they need to advance through school and succeed afterward. They offer a daily Afterschool Program, long- and short-term Writing Workshops, a weekly Teen Writers Lounge, and an SAT Preparatory course. Visit them online at www.mightywriters.org.
Chris Van Allsburg | Queen of the Falls Photo Chris Van Allsburg | Queen of the Falls
Saturday, April 16, 2011 at 11:00AM
Festival Main Stage

The author and illustrator of the popular children’s picture books Jumanji and The Polar Express—both of which were adapted into successful major motion pictures—Chris Van Allsburg is the winner of two Caldecott Medals, the National Book Award, and the Regina Medal for lifetime achievement in children’s literature. A reviewer for the New York Times Book Review describes his work as featuring “a beautiful simplicity of design, balance, texture, and a subtle intelligence beyond the call of illustration.” Van Allsburg’s new book follows a retired 62-year-old charm school teacher as she endeavors to be the first person to go over Niagra Falls in a wooden barrel.
The Franklin Institute Traveling Science Show: Silly Science Photo The Franklin Institute Traveling Science Show: Silly Science
Saturday, April 16, 2011 at 11:15AM
Shakespeare Park Stage

The traveling scientists from The Franklin Institute proudly present Silly Science. These demonstrations are sure to bring a smile to your face as we explore the funny and often unpredictable side of science.

Presented by The Philadelphia Science Festival


The 39 Clues: Vespers Rising with co-authors Jude Watson, Peter Lerangis, and Gordon Korman Photo The 39 Clues: Vespers Rising with co-authors Jude Watson, Peter Lerangis, and Gordon Korman
Saturday, April 16, 2011 at 12:00PM
Teen Zone: Room 108

A no. 1 New York Times bestselling series with more than 8.5 million copies in print, The 39 Clues combines 10 books with collectible cards and online games to form a multimedia adventure in which readers can participate to win prizes. In the story, siblings Amy and Dan Cahill compete with other members of the Cahill family in a race to discover the 39 Clues that will lead to ultimate power. Vespers Rising begins a new second series of books that pits the Cahill family against the mysterious Vesper family, who seek to use the Clues for their own nefarious purposes.

Three authors of the 39 Clues series—Jude Watson, Peter Lerangis, and Gordon Korman—will appear at this event.

Jude Watson is the author of the 2008 National Book Award-winner for Young People’s Literature, What I Saw and How I Lied, and more than fifty other novels, including titles in the Star Wars Jedi Apprentice, Last of the Jedi, and Jedi Quest series. Peter Lerangis is a prolific author of children’s and young adult novels, including Smiler’s Bones and the Watchers, Spy X, and Antarctica series, as well as a number of screenplay novelizations. Gordon Korman’s dozens of young adult novels include Zoobreak, Swindle, and Son of the Mob, as well as the On the Run series and the Island, Everest, Dive, and Kidnapped trilogies.
Storybook Parade Photo Storybook Parade
Saturday, April 16, 2011 at 12:15PM
Shakespeare Park Stage

This year's Storybook Parade--hosted by 6ABC's Tamala Edwards--will feature fan favorites Madeline, Toot and Puddle, Corduroy Bear, the Berenstain Bear Parents, Lilly, Curious George, and the Mouse from If You Give a Mouse a Cookie.

Storybook friends will be at the Festival from 10:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. Saturday, April 16, to meet fans and pose for photos!
ArtsPower National Touring Theater presents Harry the Dirty Dog Musical Photo ArtsPower National Touring Theater presents Harry the Dirty Dog Musical
Saturday, April 16, 2011 at 1:00PM
Festival Main Stage

For more than 25 years, ArtsPower has presented outstanding children’s theater designed to entertain, stimulate, and educate. Traveling across the country, they have reached an audience of nearly nine million people in 47 states with their musicals and dramas based on children’s books. Author Lois Lowry endorses, “I give ArtsPower my personal, individual standing ovation.” Their new musical, based on the classic book by Gene Zion, features an original Broadway-style score and follows the iconic little white dog with black spots as he gets dirtier and dirtier in his attempts to avoid taking a bath.

Supported by the Free Library of Philadelphia’s Sundays on Stage program
The Give & Take Jugglers Photo The Give & Take Jugglers
Saturday, April 16, 2011 at 1:00PM
Shakespeare Park Stage

Enjoy some good old-fashioned entertainment with the Give and Take Jugglers as they mix comedy with fantastic juggling routines and live calliope music for a performance that is reminiscent of vaudeville and circus acts. They have been entertaining the Philadelphia area for more than 30 years to high praise, with the Ephrata Performing Arts Center commending “their combination of clown-like antics mixed with a hip wit and knowledge of current events, the adults giggling along with their children.” Karen Heller, of the Philadelphia Inquirer writes, “These bosses with the hot tosses are full-time all-balls-in-the-air professional entertainers.”

In addition to this scheduled performance, the Give and Take Jugglers will be strolling the Festival Grounds from 11:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. amazing and entertaining visitors with their fun and funny feats.

Presented in collaboration with the Philadelphia International Festival of the Arts
French Comeback Photo
These are just a few of the events being held on Saturday April 16. You will be able to see the full day schedule on The Free Library Website.
I am looking forward to attending this festival and hope to see many of you there.

Literacy at San Francisco Friends School

San Francisco Friends School is a creative, vibrant community set in the Mission district of San Francisco. I spent a wonderful Monday on March 14, 2011, visiting this school and observing classes. The school was originally a Levi Strauss factory and has been transformed into a beautiful space for learning. The staff and students are committed to supporting the Mission neighborhood through community service and learning projects.

There were many connections in the philosophy of learning between our two schools. A strong emphasis on literacy and employing strategies as one reads and writes. I observed students making connections, looking for the big idea, exploring the elements of story structure and questioning. Poetry was being read and written in many of the classrooms. Artistic, musical and dramatic expression is often connected to literacy. Students in the Lower School are helped with their print and cursive skills using the same method that we use- Handwriting Without Tears and the spelling program is also the same- The Sitton Spelling and Word Skills program. Fourth grade students cement their knowledge of cursive by publishing all of their writing using cursive. This is an idea that will be interesting to explore at our school- thinking about when publication of student writing using cursive is most effective. The Quaker testament of Simplicity is discussed and written about in all of the classrooms. I had the opportunity to read student journals that reflected an individual interpretation of how Simplicity can affect their lives.

Last year some of the teachers and administrators from San Francisco Friends visited Abington Friends and observed in our classrooms. I was able to see some of our philosophy reflected in their school. I am looking forward to sharing my reflections with teachers here and continuing this tradition of sharing great ideas that make us all more thoughtful and effective teachers.