Chappaqua Children’s Book Festival Returns on Saturday
Chappaqua is well-known for being a great place to live, to send children to school and as the home of a former and perhaps future president.
It is also now home to one of the premiere book festivals in the metropolitan area.
The Chappaqua Children’s Book Festival, scheduled to take place for the fourth consecutive year this Saturday has attracted the attention of parents and young readers throughout the region who have swarmed the event’s venue, Robert E. Bell Middle School in downtown Chappaqua, each time it’s been held.
“I think it’s really becoming well-known, actually,” said children’s author Barbara Dee, one of the festival’s directors. “I think word has really gotten out about this. Now Chappaqua is not just known as the home of the Clintons, but it’s also known as the home for a really spectacular book festival.”
This year there will be close to 90 authors and illustrators who will sell and sign their books and interact with their biggest fans, the children. About 20 new authors are expected, Dee said, including the highly regarded Rita Williams-Garcia, Rosemary Wells and Jane Yolen.
The festival will also mark the return of the immensely popular “Pinkalicious” author Victoria Kann and many local favorites.
Recently, Hall of Scoops, the ice cream and candy shop on South Greeley Avenue, hosted a launch for a new flavor in recognition of the approaching festival. It unveiled Biscuit’s Birthday Bash – cake batter ice cream and colorful confetti – commemorating the 20th anniversary of Biscuit, a series of books written by Alyssa Satin Capucilli and illustrated by Pat Schories.
The author-and-illustrator team was at Hall of Scoops last weekend to promote the festival and their 21st “I Can Read” series for emerging readers. They have also collaborated on more than 80 titles geared toward children between three and seven years old.
Capucilli said for an author there is no better place to be than the Chappaqua Children’s Book Festival, in part because she can meet her readers.
“It’s wonderful because everyone who comes there, in one way or another, is a book lover,” she said. “We have teenagers come back and say this is the first book (they’ve) ever read. You see teachers and parents. It’s a day where you don’t stop smiling.”
It’s also a fun day that includes music, a wide assortment of children’s activities and a variety of food vendors. Once again, the seventh annual Great Chappaqua Bake Sale will be part of the festival, an effort started by local parents and children to raise money for the Share Our Strength’s No Kid Hungry campaign. In its first six years the bake sale has raised more than $100,000.
This year The Mike Risko Band and entertainment company Hal Prince will provide the music. Regeneron will also be on hand with STEM activities.
Dee, who will be launching her own new title, “Truth or Dare,” for tween readers at the festival, said last year when rain forced the event inside Bell Middle School, enthusiasm remained strong. In fact, sales last year exceeded either one of the first two years, she said.
Although holding the event outside is more festive, organizers won’t be too worried about the weather forecast.
“I think it was where everybody who came was really there for the books,” Dee said. “We feel like we can’t lose, rain or shine.”
The festival is scheduled for 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. on the grounds or Robert E. Bell Middle School on South Greeley Avenue. Admission and parking are free; books and food are available for purchase. For more information, visit www.ccbfestival.org
Martin has more than 30 years experience covering local news in Westchester and Putnam counties, including a frequent focus on zoning and planning issues. He has been editor-in-chief of The Examiner since its inception in 2007. Read more from Martin’s editor-author bio here. Read Martin’s archived work here: https://www.theexaminernews.com/author/martin-wilbur2007/