Children’s Alley to offer storytelling & readings, arts & crafts, Street Fair weekend, Nov. 16-18; Book Fair runs Nov. 11-18!
Miami, Oct. 23, 2018 – Whether you are the parent of a child looking for a new favorite book or a teenager obsessed with the latest fantasy series, Miami Dade College’s (MDC) Miami Book Fair (MBF), the largest and most comprehensive community-rooted literary gathering in the country, has something to offer, and is committed to fostering literacy and learning, while nurturing the next generation of engaged world citizens.
U.S. Poet Laureate Juan Felipe Herrera will engage in a one-of-a-kind conversation for children with U.S. Supreme Court Justice Sonia Sotomayor about her life, her autobiography for middle-schoolers, The Beloved World of Sonia Sotomayor, and the picture-book version, Turning Pages: My Life Story, available in Spanish as Pasando Páginas.. These two inspirational powerhouses will talk about their journeys to become the first Latinos to hold their respective positions. It’s a conversation you cannot miss! Saturday, Nov. 17, 1 p.m., at MDC’s Chapman Conference Center (Bldg. 3, Second floor). Free tickets are required. This event is children-friendly.
Generation Genius gathers the Fair’s literacy and learning programs for children and teens, and presents them all under one banner. All year long, MBF’s Generation Genius programs such as Read to Learn Books for Free distribute thousands of children’s books around Miami-Dade County, and the Generation Genius Authors program at the MBF is no different.
MBF’s celebrated Generation Genius Authors program in Children’s Alley continues its promise to engage thousands of young minds with author presentations, live music, performances, and much more! Children of all ages can enjoy:
- Generation Genius Authors Field Trips will bring nearly 10,000 students from all over Miami-Dade County to the Fair to meet their favorite authors and receive free books!
- Tweens and Teens will find an author lineup of fantasy, adventure, and thriller books, as well as graphic novels, including: David Levithan (Someday); Janelle Milanes (Analee, In Real Life); Sara Farizan (Here to Stay); Jon McGoran (Spliced); John Hendrix (The Faithful Spy); Jennifer A. Nielsen (Resistance); Jenny Torres Sanchez (The Fall of Innocence); Natasha Ngan (Girls of Paper and Fire); Ibtihaj Muhammad (Proud); Soman Chainani (Quests for Glory); Dhonielle Clayton (The Belles); to name a few.
- Wembly Wordsmith returns to his Author Tent in Children’s Alley to present non-stop author readings with some of the best writers in children’s literature, including: Diane Landy (Adventures with Zap); Laura Lippman (Liza Jane and the Dragon); Eva Chen (Juno Valentine and the Magical Shoes); David Ezra Stein (Interrupting Chicken and the Elephant of Surprise); Susie Jaramillo (Canticos); Alex Beard (The Lying King), Zack Bush (Made for Me); Marianne Celano (Something Happened in Our Town: A Child’s Story about Racial Injustice); and much more.
At Children’s Alley, imagination takes center stage with seven Fun Rooms: Royal Caribbean’s Ocean of Adventures; Tot Time Play and Learn; Tinker, Make, Innovate!; The Rhythm Factory; Healthy Bodies, Happy Kids; The Paintbox; and One World Many Stories. At the Fun Rooms, children will explore digital worlds through virtual reality, sing-a-long, dance, play instruments, make healthy choices, enjoy interactive story readings and performances, explore diverse cultures, and much more. Every child that explores all the Fun Rooms in Children’s Alley will have the opportunity to take home a free book.
Ongoing roving and pop-up performances will be taking place throughout Children’s Alley. Cirko Teatro will present the hilarious local favorite El Show de Enriqueta y Agapito. AB Veritatem Theatre will treat fairgoers to classic children’s theatre pieces, and Teatro Doble will take everyone on a deep dive into the anatomy of some of the ocean’s most iconic sea creatures, to name a few.
Rainbow Circus’ diverse and talented troupe in The Greatest Showman-inspired performances with an aerialist/dancer as Anne Wheeler, a juggler as P.T. Barnum/Ringmaster, and Zuzka, a contortionist/singer. Only at Children’s Alley can fairgoers enjoy all these talented performers who have traveled around the world with Cirque de Soleil, Ringling Brothers, among others.
Fairgoers of all ages can enjoy PATH (Preserving, Archiving, & Teaching Hip Hop, Inc.) for a participatory and unique experience centered around the five main creative elements of Hip Hop – Bboy/Bgirl Dance, DJ, Graffiti Art, MC/Rap, and Knowledge.
For over three decades the Fair has been committed to fostering a love of reading in children. Children’s Alley will kick off on Friday, Nov. 16, at 9 a.m. and will continue through Sunday, Nov. 18. Children ages 0-12 receive free admission all weekend, and teens ages 13-18 get in for the discounted rate of $5.
Generation Genius Authors, Read to Learn Books for Free, and Children’s Alley are made possible by the generous support of Royal Caribbean, The Batchelor Foundation, Meredyth Anne Dasburg Foundation, Peacock Foundation, UHealth Jackson Children’s Care, The Children’s Trust, Publix Super Markets, Inc., Alvah H. & Wyline P. Chapman Foundation, Early Learning Coalition, Arts Works, National Endowment for the Arts, Florida Dairy Farmers, Wells Fargo, FPL, The Charles and Joan Hermanowski Family Foundation, The Cowles Charitable Trust, Parents Latina, Los Tweens & Teens, Miami Kids, and Just Ask Boo.
Visit MiamiBookFair.com for complete schedule and more information. #MiamiReads
About Miami Book Fair
Founded in 1984 by Miami Dade College and partners, Miami Book Fair engages the community through inclusive, accessible programs that promote reading and support writers year-round. The annual eight-day festival has grown into the largest and most comprehensive community-rooted literary gathering in the United States. The Fair features readings and discussions with the world’s most renowned authors, generating discourse on contemporary literature and current issues of international importance. The Fair also includes live music and interdisciplinary performances; interactive, educational activities for children; and more than 200 booksellers and publishers during the Street Fair. Events take place in English, Spanish, Haitian Creole and French. In addition to the annual festival, the Miami Book Fair responds to community needs with a year-round schedule of activities, including The Little Haiti Book Festival, highlighting Haiti’s literary acumen; creative writing and publishing workshops; author presentations; reading campaigns; and Read to Learn Books for Free, a partnership with The Children’s Trust that distributes more than 150,000 free books a year to children in Miami-Dade County.
Miami Book Fair is made possible through the generous support of the State of Florida and the National Endowment for the Arts; the City of Miami; Miami-Dade County Department of Cultural Affairs and the Cultural Affairs Council, the Miami-Dade County Mayor and Board of County Commissioners; Miami-Dade County Public Schools; the Greater Miami Convention and Visitors Bureau; the Miami Downtown Development Authority; and the Friends of the Fair; as well as many corporate partners. Miami Book Fair: Building community, one reader at a time.
Miami Book Fair media contacts: Lisa Palley, 305-642-3132 lpalley@bellsouth.net or Deyanira Navarrette, 305-495-7168, deyanavarrette@gmail.com