Miami, Feb. 12, 2019 – Miami Dade College’s (MDC) renowned Miami Book Fair (MBF) in partnership with the Cuatrogatos Foundation and Conecta Miami Arts, presents “Picnic de Libros,” a literary picnic for kids of all ages. It will be an afternoon of fun under the sun for kids and their families to enjoy storytelling, theater plays, music, and free books. This great cultural and free initiative aims to encourage kids to enjoy reading and develop a passion for books and literature. The event will take place Saturday, March 2, from 2- 5 p.m., at MDC’s historic Koubek Center.
Activities start at 2 p.m., with the children’s play El camino del bosque, by Artefactus Cultural Project. Kids will then enjoy a musical performance by musician Michel Gil. Then, it is storytelling-time with “Cuenteros Cuentacuentos” by Nitsy Grau and Leopoldo Morales (Troop of Actors), Leonardo van Schermbeek’s one-man-show Las medias de los flamencos, Dotty Vásquez Mantero’s hand puppets, and stories in the paper theater (kamishibai) by Eddy Díaz Souza. The afternoon will continue with a children’s arts & crafts workshop by illustrator Jefferson Quintana.
“Like Children’s Alley during the Miami Book Fair in November, this “Picnic de Libros,” will further our mission of creating a community of readers and engaged citizens–you have to start early!” said Lissette Mendez, MBF’s director of programs. “The great fun we’ll have is a bonus!” These festivities will stimulate children’s creativity and develop an outreach to the community.
This fun-filled afternoon is a literary and cultural feast where children and their parents are the main attraction. A special picnic will be served with blankets on the lawn and baskets full of “juicy” Spanish language books by the best publishing houses. The young, and not-so-young, will all get to know new literary works that will make their imagination run wild. “We are excited about partnering with Fundacion Cuatrogatos in presenting this inspiring children’s literacy program in our community,” added Delia Lopez, MBF’s director of operations. “We want to give a special thanks to our funders such as the National Endowment for the Arts, the State of Florida Department of Cultural Affairs and the Miami-Dade County Department of Cultural Affairs who made this fun family event possible at MDC’s Koubek Center.”
This event is made possible by the support from our sponsor the Art Works Grant by National Endowment for the Arts. We also thank Lectorum Publications, Spanish Publishers, Cinco Books, Penguin Random House Grupo Editorial, La Poderosa/Cadena Azul, and El Nuevo Herald tor their collaboration. A special thank you goes to renown Spanish illustrator Alfonso Ruano, whose art is featured as the picnic’s graphic.
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 include culinary presentations; 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.
Cuatrogatos Foundation
Cuatrogatos Foundation is a non-profit organization which develops educational and cultural programs encouraging the joy of reading and a passion for books and literature among children and young adults in Miami. As part of their ongoing efforts, they organize author visits to local schools and seminars for parents and teachers. They also produce the annual Children’s Literature and Reading Seminar in November with the Miami Book Fair. www.cuatrogatos.org
Conecta Miami Arts
Conecta Miami Arts is an emerging non-profit multi-disciplinary arts organization that produces and presents socially-engaged artistic experiences for young people. Our mission is to develop the next generation of culturally sensitive artists, audiences, philanthropists and arts officers of Miami by producing and presenting contemporary and relevant performances of high artistic excellence. By providing access to the arts at an early age, Conecta Miami Arts will directly contribute to the development of a generation who will engage the arts with purpose and will in turn mold the future cultural landscape of Miami.
Miami Book Fair contact: Lisa Palley, 305-642-3132, lpalley@bellsouth.net, Deyanira Navarrete, 305-495-7168, deyanavarrete@gmail.com