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Review: JBFC Kids presents “Happy Dreamer” by Peter H. Reynolds

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Disclosure: We received free tickets the JBFC event.  No other compensation was received.  As always, all opinions are 100% our own.

Yesterday my daughter and I headed out to Jacob Burns Film Center in Pleasantville to take place in one of the new “JBFC Kids” events (more on this here), a book reading and animation experience with children’s author and illustrator Peter H. Reynolds.  If you are not immediately familiar with Reynolds name, you are most definitely familiar with his work.  Reynolds is the author/ illustrator behind the children’t favorite “The Dot” and the Dot’s sequels “Ish”  and “Sky Color” and many other books.  He is also the illustrator of the favorite children’s series “Judy Moody” and the illustrator of many other books.  He is also the founder of Fablevision, a learning resources website that highlights his works and features educational tools inspired by his works.

During our afternoon at JBFC, Reynolds did a reading of “The Dot”, “Ish” and his new book “Happy Dreamer.”  He also introduced the kids to his Fablevision product Animation-ish and finally did a group drawing session followed by a Q&A session.  When the session was over the film center and Reynolds provided “Happy Dreamer” themed coloring activities and swag and an opportunity to meet the author.  Of course, the highlight of this session was the new book “Happy Dreamer.”  It’s a beautifully illustrated book that encourages children to be happy and dream in whatever way feels right to them; the message is deep but the delivery is playful almost sing songy in the way children love.  The book is hand lettered and Reynolds beautifully illustrated.

Although Apple Moms is a big fan of the JBFC, our particular apple family hasn’t previously been to a JBFC Kids event.  Upon entering the event, children stamp their JBFC Kids passport; passports are stamped at all kid events and after three events the children earn a prize.  We were given drawing materials and headed inside where Reynolds was finishing a quick sketch of the beloved character Vashti from The Dot before formally beginning the session.  During the session, Reynolds stressed the importance of reading, creativity and individuality to the kids.  A big message my art loving but all-too-hard-on-herself daughter took away, was that your drawings don’t have to be perfect or good- they just have to be good-ish, a lesson well learned in Reynolds book “Ish.”  He did a great job of connecting with the children and engaging them in his books.  The children oohed and aahed over the presentation of his animation software “Animation-ish” and my daughter is already asking for this as her birthday gift.  Finally when we went to meet Reynolds and have our books signed, my normally super social daughter was bubbling with excitement and then could barely speak when it was her turn.  It was very neat to see her get so excited about an art and literary figure- rather a proud Mom moment if I do say so myself.  We had a great day at the Burns Film Center.  We hope you can join us soon at a JBFC Kids event and we highly recommend picking up a copy of “Happy Dreamer.”

 

 

Disclosure: We received free tickets the JBFC event.  No other compensation was received.  As always, all opinions are 100% our own.

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