The outstanding, cultural season continues in South Florida with the annual Miami Book Fair International , an eight-day literary party this November.
The Fair, in its 28th year, will open Sunday, November 13 th with the popular Evenings With… series, featuring six nights of readings and discussions with noted authors from the U.S. and around the world. Literary buffs will also have the opportunity to partake in the Festival of Authors , with more than 350 authors reading and discussing their work.
Aspiring book worms and thousands of schoolchildren will participate in Children’s Alley activities, including theater, arts-and-crafts, storytelling and readings by children’s book authors. Comics and graphic novels are once again featured, with the school of comics on Friday and a new section just for kids and teens, as well as presentations over the weekend by renowned graphic novelists and illustrators.
One major Alley highlight is a visit from “The Wimpy Kid” author Jeff Kinney on Sunday, November 20 th . He will read from his current book, “Cabin Fever,” and is arriving with his Wimpy Kid bus of activities.
Also, kids can get a chance to be part of history – the Book Fair is aiming for Guinness Book of World Records recognition for largest author book signing. Kinney will sign every book as long as the line lasts.
An avid fair-goer and parent has said of the Children’s Alley, “The Children’s Alley is a place for curiosity and sense of wonder. It brings popular and literary characters to life and allows kids to enter a magical world.”
Kids programming highlights include:
Let’s Play and Learn (Babies to Age 4)
Kai-Lan is on the way to have fun at Miami Book Fair International turning literature into play! Babies, toddlers, and preschoolers are welcomed to join with the simple joys our English and Mandarin Chinese speaking friend has to offer. They will join the adventurous preschooler, grandfather Ye-Ye and all her forest pals to experience new pleasures, such as listening to authentic Chinese pipa music.
One World, Many Stories (Ages 4- 8)
There are many ways to describe the family of humankind-as countries, continents, colors, and cultures. In the One World, Many Stories venue books that note our commonalities and our differences take center notice. Mem Fox, in Whoever You Are (a Reading Rainbow Book) writes about what we have in common and what makes us different. Kids will learn how to say hello and be pleasant in ten languages!
Karen Katz, in The Colors of Us communicates the many shades and tones of our skin that defy simple terms like “White, Brown, Yellow, None of the Above.” Children will have their own opportunity to mix colors and spice to express their own lens.
And Todd Parr, in Reading Makes You Feel Good finds the universal goodness in our common connection to literacy and the world opened wide through reading. Kids will emulate Parr’s bright colors and uplifting words that describe us.
The Treehouse (Ages 5-10)
Judy Moody, the third grader with moxie, smarmy brother Stink and award winning author Megan McDonald’s entire cast of characters make their madly moody way! Fair-going kids will learn about the planets in the solar system with Stink as they build a solar system mobile. “Dr. Judy is in” as bone bingo teaches the terms that go with the human skeleton. Children will go around the world with Judy and learn about different countries as they construct flags and puppets from many nations.
The Green Planet (All Ages)
Kids will make usable paper from recycled goods; and use a scale to understand energy use and their impact on the planet. They will also learn about waste decomposition in the oceans, have a close encounter with Florida wildlife and enjoy interactive readings and story-telling, related to the important connection to nature.
The first Miami Book Fair International, founded by Miami Dade College and community partners, took place in 1984. Since then it has been recognized as the nation’s finest literary festival. In 2001, the Fair became part of the Florida Center for the Literary Arts at Miami Dade College, a cultural and academic initiative that promotes the advancement and appreciation of literature throughout the year.