Chappaqua Children’s Book Festival 4th Year

Chappaqua Children’s Book Festival

Brings 90 Authors and Illustrators to Westchester County for the 4^th Year in a Row 

September 24, 2016 from 10am – 4pm

“It’s like a big farmers’ market, but instead of vegetables you have books.”

– Peter Sís, Author and Illustrator,  as told to the NY Times

Authors Covering Multiple Genres and Reading Levels, Author Readings, Illustrator Demos, Book Signings, Family-Friendly Food Court and The Great Chappaqua Bake Sale

WHAT: Ninety renowned children’s book authors and illustrators will participate in the 2016 Chappaqua Children’s Book Festival (CCBF), inspiring children and teens from around the metropolitan region for the 4^th year in a row. The Festival is rain or shine and will take place on Saturday, September 24, 2016 at Robert Bell Middle School and the Great Lawn of the Church of St. Mary the Virgin in Chappaqua, NY from 10am – 4pm.

Voted “Best Bookworm Event” by Westchester Magazine and “Best Festival” by Kids Out and About, CCBF will offer books for sale, author “meet and greets” and book signings, great eats from the region’s best food trucks, and baked treats and raffle tickets from the 7^th Annual Great Chappaqua Bake Sale, to benefit Share Our Strength’s No Kid Hungry mission to end childhood hunger. Admission and parking are free and the event is rain or shine.

A complete list of authors and illustrators can be found at www.ccbfestival.org or on the Chappaqua Children’s Book Festival app, which can also help visitors navigate the festival.

Activities to include:

• Book signing by 90 authors, including Pinkalicious Author Victoria Kann, Cloudy With a Chance of Meatballs Illustrator Ron Barrett, Max and Ruby Author/Illustrator Rosemary Wells, Zack Files series Author Dan Greenburg, Bad Kitty series Author Nick Bruel, among many, many others!
• Book readings by James Howe, Heidi Stemple, Jane Yolen, Sujean Rim and Rita Williams-Garcia
• The Mike Risko Band to provide musical entertainment
• Dance party by Hal Prince
• STEM activities with Regeneron
• GaGa, life-size games and airbrush tattoos courtesy of Kiwi Country Day Camp
• PLUS, crafts activities, face-painting, costumed characters, gift giveaways, balloon twisting and more

For those arriving in to the Chappaqua train station or parking in the lot between 9-11am, meet Clifford the big red dog and Maurice Sendak’s Wild Thing at Chappaqua Station restaurant, where they will also be offering special “grab and go” breakfast items.

Food vendors on-site at the Festival will be serving family-friendly food, including Melt Mobile with gourmet grilled cheese sandwiches, Let Them Eat Pita with falafel sandwiches and hummus bowls, Skinny Buddha with organic healthy salads and meals, and Exit 4 Food Hall with gourmet pizza.

To raise local awareness of the Chappaqua Children’s Book Festival, local sweets and ice cream shop Hall of Scoops will offer a new ice cream flavor in the month of September – Biscuit’s Birthday Bash, with cake batter ice cream and colorful confetti – commemorating the 20^th anniversary of Biscuit.

The Chappaqua Children’s Book Festival relies on the generosity of local businesses to produce the event for the community. Sponsors in 2016 include Houlihan Lawrence, Kiwi Country Day Camp, Chappaqua Learning Center and Regeneron, among others.

WHEN: Saturday, September 24, 2016 from 10am to 4pm

WHERE: Robert E. Bell Middle School, Chappaqua, NY. The best GPS address is 125 South Greeley Avenue, Chappaqua, NY. Free parking is available at the Chappaqua train station, across the street from the school.  Chappaqua is a 50-minute train ride from Grand Central Terminal. In the event of rain, the event will take place inside the school.

COST: Admission, parking and children’s activities are free and books and food will be available for purchase.

WHO: The Chappaqua Children’s Book Festival, established in 2013, is an annual “happening” every fall in the heart of Chappaqua, with a mission to create, sustain and nurture a culture of literacy in partnership with the community and local schools. This free, public event fosters a love of reading as families meet and greet outstanding creators of books for children of all ages. CCBF is the only children’s book festival in Westchester County and was inspired by Book Day at Sunnyside, which was discontinued in 2012 after 15 years.  The 2016 Chappaqua Children’s Book Festival will take place on Saturday, September 24 from 10am – 4pm at Bell Middle School and the Great Lawn of the Church of St. Mary the Virgin in Chappaqua, NY.

For more information, visit www.ccbfestival.org or follow the CCBF at www.facebook.com/chappaquachildrensbookfestival. Find the Chappaqua Children’s Book Festival app in the iTunes App Store.