Sunset Park

Brooklyn Book Fair to host literary celebration at P.S. 24

June 22, 2017 By Paula Katinas Brooklyn Daily Eagle
Councilmember Carlos Menchaca says he invited the Brooklyn Book Fair “to create a literary experience” for children at P.S. 24. Photo courtesy of Menchaca’s office
Share this:

Children will get the chance to meet some of their favorite authors and take part in fun-filled activities like yoga and origami making at a special all-day event in Sunset Park.

The Brooklyn Book Festival will present a literary celebration on Friday, June 23, at P.S. 24 at 427 38th St. The daylong event, which is supported by Councilmember Carlos Menchaca, will include visits from authors and illustrators during the day, a Family Book Fair in the evening and activities like yoga, origami-making, creating comic books and seeing an acting troupe act out the plots of popular books.

“Books entertain, educate and broaden horizons,” said Menchaca (D-Sunset Park-Red Hook). “I invited the Brooklyn Book Festival to create a literary experience in Sunset Park for students to enjoy meeting authors and illustrators so they know that books are written by real people, people who were children once like them. We all want all children to be readers, but let them understand that they can be the authors and illustrators, too!”

A great deal of thought went into the planning of the event, according to Menchaca. “The evening is planned so families from the community can enjoy literary fun because I think that children and parents reading together is where the magic is!” he said.

The daytime programs for students will feature author and illustrator visits for grades one to five, including: Brian Floca, the 2014 Caldecott Medal winner for “Locomotive;” Jason Fry, author of more than 30 books set in the “Star Wars” galaxy; George O’Connor, author and illustrator of the Olympians, a series of graphic novels about Greek mythology; and Jorge Aguirre, author of “Dragons Beware.”

Copies of the books signed by these authors will be donated to classrooms and to the school library.

The Family Book Fair will take place from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. Raúl Colón, who wrote “Portraits of Hispanic American Heroes,” will start off the evening, followed by an illustrator draw-off contest with Kat Fajardo, creator of “Gringa, Matt Loux, of “The Time Museum series; John Patrick Green, of “Hippopotamister” fame; and Isabel Roxas, creator of “Let Me Finish.”

The activities will include yoga for kids with author and yoga instructor Lara Hocheiser; origami-making with illustrator Naoko Stoop; creating mini comic books with graphic novelist Sara Varon; and a “Reading Rug” with Troupe, a company of actors reading aloud and performing children’s literary classics.

There will be books for sale in multiple languages. The P.S. 24 PTA will be hosting a bake sale.

The Brooklyn Book Festival, presented every September, is the largest book festival in New York City.

In the fall, the festival will provide free bus transportation to P.S. 24 families to attend the Downtown Brooklyn Children’s Day Festival.

“We’re thrilled that Councilmember Menchaca asked us to organize a literary celebration in Sunset Park. While everyone is invited to come to the big, annual festival, September 11-17, it is important to share literary events in communities,” festival co-producer Carolyn Greer said.

For more information on the P.S. 24 event, call Menchaca’s office at 718-439-9012.

 

Subscribe to our newsletters


Leave a Comment


Leave a Comment