August 14, 2008

Mayor’s Press Office
(312) 744-3334
Ruth Lednicer
Director of Marketing
(312) 747-4907
lednicer@chicagopubliclibrary.org

Join the Chicago Public Library in celebrating Bookamania, on Saturday, November 22, 2008, at the Harold Washington Library Center, 400 S. State St. Bookamania is a free literary extravaganza where children between the ages of 3 -10 and their families will have the opportunity to meet famous children’s book authors, illustrators and costumed storybook characters; enjoy puppetry, theater, dance, magic and music performances; and participate in dozens of unique book-related craft activities.

“Reading not only stimulates children’s minds, it also helps build listening, memory and vocabulary skills,” commented Chicago Public Library Commissioner Mary A. Dempsey. “Providing a fun event like Bookamania highlights the importance of families reading together, and ensures the next generation of Chicagoans will become great readers.”

Bookamania will feature Mo Willems, #1 New York Times children’s book author and illustrator, who created Knuffle Bunny, Knuffle Bunny Too, Don’t Let the Pigeon Drive the Bus and the Theodore Geisel award wining book There’s a Bird on Your Head. Also present will be Lucía González, a Pura Belpré award winner who wrote the picture book The Storyteller’s Candle/La velita de los cuentos, which tells the story of how Pura Belpré, New York’s first Latina librarian, brought the magic of the public library to the children of El Barrio; Bryan Collier, illustrator of Doo-Wop Pop ; and local authors Amy Krouse Rosenthal with Little Hoot and Sallie Wolf with Truck Stuck.

Children will have the opportunity to have their picture taken with life-sized, costumed characters Corduroy the Bear, Cookie Mouse and Pancake Pig, Mother Goose, Norman the Doorman, the Chicago Public Library Owl, Amelia Bedelia, Geronimo Stilton and the Storybook King and Queen.

Special performances will be presented by St. Ailbe Children’s Choir, Carol Weston, Carol Cannon, Chris Fascione, the Puppet Bike, Jan’s Clans Puppets, Lenny Marsh, and Linda Robertson. Emerald City Theatre will perform If You Take a Mouse to School.

Bookamania begins at 11:00 a.m. and continues until 3:00 p.m. at several locations throughout the Harold Washington Library Center, including the Thomas Hughes Children’s Library, Winter Garden, Cindy Pritzker Auditorium and Main Lobby. A schedule and complete listing of activities will be available November 1, 2008 at all 79 Chicago Public Library locations or on the Library’s website www.chicagopubliclibrary.org.

Bookamania is made possible through a grant from the Chicago Public Library Foundation and the Target Corporation.

The Chicago Public Library is comprised of the Harold Washington Library Center, two regional libraries and 76 neighborhood branches. All locations provide free access to a rich collection of books, DVDs, audio books and music; the Internet and WiFi; sophisticated research databases, many of which can be accessed from a home or office computer; newspapers and magazines; and continue to serve as cultural centers, presenting the highest quality author discussions, exhibits and programs for children, teens and adults.

The Harold Washington Library Center, Carter G. Woodson Regional Library and Conrad Sulzer Regional Library are open 7 days a week, the remaining 76 branch libraries are open 6 days a week and patrons can access all of the libraries ’ collections online 24 hours a day. For more information, please visit the website or call the Chicago Public Library Press Office at (312) 747-4050.