We’re wild about
plans for the 8th annual Children’s Art & Literacy Festival,
which is celebrating the work of award-winning NCCIL artist and author Peter
Brown. The Abilene Cultural Affairs Council has planned three days of fun June
6-8. The fun includes the unveiling of the newest storybook sculpture, which was
inspired by Brown’s book, “Mr. Tiger Goes Wild.”
Families from
nearly 90 cities and 12 states have registered to come to downtown Abilene, the
official Storybook Capital of America. Nearly 5,200 people attended last year’s
CALF.
Brown’s original
work will go on exhibit June 6 for the summer at the National Center for
Children’s Illustrated Literature in downtown Abilene. The exhibit, “A Time and
Place for Everything: Peter Brown,” will include many original pieces from his
best-selling books.
Brown’s latest
book, “The Wild Robot Escapes,” is the sequel to his New York Times Best
Seller, “The Wild Robot.” He has earned numerous honors, including a Caldecott
honor, a Horn Book Award and two E.B. White Awards. Brown’s art exhibition in
Abilene will be his first time to see his body of work displayed in a gallery.
Brown will be in
Abilene for the opening of his art exhibition and for the CALF festivities,
which start Thursday afternoon with a Peter Brown character costume contest
followed by the Storybook Parade through Abilene’s cultural district. After the
parade, the “Mr. Tiger” sculpture will be unveiled in the Adamson-Spalding
Storybook Garden. Stay for food trucks and entertainment during “The Curious
Garden Party” at the Abilene Convention Center. Meet the renowned illustrator
at an artist talk and book signing at the historic Paramount Theatre at 7 that
evening. All events Thursday night are free.
Friday and
Saturday, festival registrants can choose from a vast selection of arts
activities. Children collect buttons for their festival lanyards as they
complete each activity, which includes dramatic readings of Brown’s most
popular books, art activities, a ventriloquist, train rides, Abilene
Philharmonic instrument petting zoo, and perennial childhood favorites such as
Professor QB and Kornpop the balloon sculptor. A new addition is the “Birds of
Prey” demonstrations by Wildlife Rehab Lorena. They will be presenting programs
about rescued birds such as hawks and owls at Frontier Texas!
A big thanks to
the sponsors and volunteers who make CALF possible. We also want to thank the
City of Abilene, which assists in many aspects of the festival and is a wonderful
supporter of the arts.
Registration is
open. Tickets are $11 for children ages 3 to 12 (2 and under are free) and $16
for ages 13 and up.
For more
information and a full schedule of events, visit www.abilenecalf.com or call 325-677-1161.