Another Book Fair is Coming

By Sylvia Patience

Book loving children and teens, their parents and teachers, are invited to meet local authors, hear them read from their works, and buy autographed books.

The downtown branch of the Santa Cruz Public Library will host the SANTA CRUZ BOOK FAIR FOR KIDS OF ALL AGES on Sunday, April 28 from 1-3 pm.

This year’s BOOK FAIR kicks off the hundredth anniversary of Children’s Book Week, the longest-running national celebration of books for young people and the joy of reading. Over one thousand schools, libraries, and bookstores will celebrate Children’s Book Week from April 29 to May 5 from coast to coast in all 50 states. The theme for this year’s celebration is Read Now • Read Forever.

Eight local authors; Linda Covella, Diane Landy, Christine Z. Mason, C. Lee McKenzie, Sylvia Patience, Misa Sugiura, Claudia Makeyev, and Anastasia Suen will read passages from their books, show slides, or provide pages for coloring. Readings will include picture books for young children, selections from middle grade fiction for eight to twelve-year-olds, and young adult fiction for teens. Authors will autograph books available for sale and answer audience questions. A portion of the proceeds from sales go to the Friends of the Santa Cruz Public Library.

The SANTA CRUZ BOOK FAIR FOR KIDS OF ALL AGES follows one held at the library in Fall, 2016 and is part of a long tradition starting with the renowned Frankfurt Book Fair, first held over 500 years ago in the Middle Ages, still the largest book fair in the world, lasting five days with more than 7,000 exhibitors from over 100 countries.

The first Santa Cruz Book Fair in 2016 was the inspiration of local author Linda Covella. Once again, she has called upon other local writers of books for children to participate and help organize the April event. Linda says, “I see the Book Fair as a celebration of the Santa Cruz community’s love of reading. I hope it will encourage readers of all ages and give them a chance to engage with some local authors.”

Victor Willis, Librarian, is coordinating the book fair for the library. The Fair will be held at the library’s down- town branch, 224 Church Street, in the Upstairs Meeting Room next to the Young People’s Room. The organizers hope to make it an ongoing Santa Cruz tradition.

For more information, contact [email protected] or check the library’s website, santacruzpl.org in April.