Miami, Oct. 24, 2022 – Calling all pint-sized bookworms! Miami Book Fair’s educational playground, Children’s Alley, will be open during the popular Street Fair weekend, Nov. 18 – 20. Families can explore science, art and music, participate in hands-on learning activities, lounge with a good picture book, and much more!
Returning this year is the mysterious (and imaginary) Master of Ceremonies and convener of bookish good times Professor Wembly Wordsmith, who’s bringing his book-loving cousin Rita Readsmuch with her curious monkey sidekick, Stanza. This dynamic triple drops anchor in Miami to share the wonders found in books and the magic of reading. Always look up and around! Roaming around the Alley, you’ll also find jungle characters, balloon twisters, stilt walkers and giant puppets! Plus, especially this year, the HarperCollins Book Truck will park in the Alley to give away free books and other goodies.
Some of the highlights in Children’s Alley:
Kids can busy their hands at the Create! Stations where they can craft sculptures, write and decorate poems, and more. Featured workshops by MDC’s GOGO MOA+D, The Bass Museum, History Miami and a whole host of local artists, will introduce kids to many artistic practices. Space is limited, so be sure to pick up your free ticket at the info booth.
Visit the Participate! stage to clap your hands and stomp your feet. Grab a seat under the iridescent canopy for musical folktales, theatrical storytelling, mesmerizing magic, and so much more! Or master aerodynamics with a paper airplane race, watch a thunderstorm cloud appear before your eyes, interact with a variety of robots, and even learn new rhythmic drumbeats in the Learn! canopy. Look out for Musical performances by Inez Barlatier, Young Musicians Unite, Guitars Over Guns, and Susie Jaramillo, plus theatrical performances inspired by books from Miami Children’s Museum and Creative Stage Productions and sideshow and magic by The Incredible Ian and Circ X.
SPECIAL EVENTS!
Saturday, Nov 19 at 2:30 p.m. Live: It’s a Draw-Off: An audience favorite! Authors George O’Connor, Nathan Hale and Johnnie Christmas battle it out with markers as they take prompts from the audience to bring your ideas to life, line by line!
Various times all weekend: Robotics demos with Kids Robots Academy: Learn about the history of robotics and meet some! Including Akido the robodog; Jcat the robokitty; dancing humanoid robots Alpha and Meccano; Temi the Home Robot; and even the Kamigami insect robots. Science demos by Frost science Museum and PBS KidVision Full STEAM Ahead.
Wind down at the The Lizard Lounge. Downward dogs are on the menu during morning yoga sessions, and cozy afternoons will feature story times with picture-book authors. This open-air lounge is perfect for chilling on a beanbag with a book. Family yoga starts at 11 a.m. with Jackson Health. Daily story times begin at noon. Featured authors include Susie Jaramillo and Vanessa Garcia.
For Miami Book Fair information, visit www.miamibookfair.com, or call 305-237-3528 or email wbookfair@mdc.edu. The official fairgoers guide will be available online later this month.
Follow the Miami Book Fair on social media @miamibookfair.
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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 generating discourse on contemporary literature and current issues of international importance. Throughout the rest of the year, Miami Book Fair responds hosts an ongoing schedule of activities, including The Little Haiti Book Festival; 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 programming is made possible through generous support from the State of Florida and the National Endowment for the Arts; City of Miami; Miami-Dade County Department of Cultural Affairs and the Cultural Affairs Council; Miami-Dade County Mayor and Board of County Commissioners; Miami-Dade County Public Schools; Greater Miami Convention and Visitors Bureau; Miami Downtown Development Authority; and Friends of the Fair; as well as many corporate partners. Miami Book Fair: Building community, one reader at a time.
Miami Book Fair Contact: Lisa Palley, Palley Promotes, 305-642-3132, lpalley@bellsouth.net.