More than 80 Children’s Book Authors and Illustrators to Participate in the Second Annual Chappaqua Children’s Book Festival

More than 80 renowned children’s book authors and illustrators will be participating in the second annual Chappaqua Children’s Book Festival (CCBF), recently voted “Best Bookworm Event” by Westchester Magazine. The Festival will take place on Saturday, September 27, 2014 at Robert Bell Middle School in Chappaqua, N.Y. from 10am – 4pm. Books will be available for sale, local food vendors from around the region will offer great eats, and the 5th Annual Great Chappaqua Bake Sale will be selling baked treats and raffle tickets to benefit Share Our Strength’s No Kid Hungry campaign to end childhood hunger. Admission and parking are free, and the event is rain or shine.

“At our inaugural Festival last year, more than 4,000 visitors had the chance to talk to and have their books signed by their favorite children’s authors and illustrators,” said Dawn Greenberg, executive director of the Chappaqua Children’s Book Festival. “We hope even more visitors discover us this year. Reading is the number one predictor of a child’s success – our goal is to get Westchester reading, and to have fun doing it!”

This year’s authors and illustrators include many who participated last year, such as Alyssa Capucilli (Biscuit), Bruce Degen (Magic School Bus series illustrator), Dan Greenburg (The Zack Files) J.C. Greenburg (Andrew Lost series), Victoria Kann (Pinkalicious), Gail Carson Levine (Ella Enchanted), Wendell Minor (Galapagos George illustrator), Jerry Pinkney (The Tortoise and the Hare illustrator), Jean Van Leeuwen (Oliver and Amanda Pig series) and Bernard Most (How Big Were the Dinosaurs? ). New authors/illustrators this year include Christopher Healy (Hero’s Guide trilogy), Doreen Rappaport (Helen’s Big World), Steve Sheinkin (The Notorious Benedict Arnold), Carol Weston (Ava and Pip) and Jacqueline Weitzman (You Can’t Take a Balloon into the Metropolitan Museum), among others. A complete list of CCBF authors/illustrators can be found at http://www.ccbfestival.org/authors/.

In addition to book signings, author readings and illustrator demonstrations, families will have the chance to participate in activities including:

o GaGa, life-size games and airbrush tattoos courtesy of Kiwi Country Day Camp

o a collage activity with internationally-acclaimed mixed media collage artist Michael Albert, courtesy of the Chappaqua Learning Center

o science activities with science author Vicki Cobb

o music with children’s entertainer Miss Rhea

o sensory play with WeeZee – The Science of Play

o soap making with Kensico Soap Bar

o costumed character appearances sponsored by Breeze

o live llamas from Hudson Valley Llamas

Food available for purchase will include BBQ from Chappaqua’s Le Jardin du Roi, pizza, popcorn and hot dogs from Bellizzi in Mt. Kisco and wraps, sandwiches and salads from Village Social in Mt. Kisco.

CCBF is a not-for-profit volunteer organization dedicated to promoting literacy and community. Major sponsors of this year’s Festival include Kiwi Country Day Camp, Chappaqua Learning Center, Regeneron, Breeze Gifts, Cartwright and Daughters Tent and Party and Booktopia Fairs, with in-kind donations from DDR Public Relations and Inside Chappaqua .