BY RUTH RICE

RRICE@TRIBDEM.COM

The second annual Children’s Book Festival will bring together readers and writers.

The festival will be held from 5 to 8 p.m. March 19, 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. March 20 and noon to 4 p.m. March 21 at Bottle Works Ethnic Arts Center, 411 Third Ave. in the Cambria City section of Johnstown.

The event was held at neighboring Art Works last year but had to move to Bottle Works because Art Works is under renovation, said Heidi Rizkalla, event coordinator.

“Last year’s book festival was such a success we had to do it again,” said Rizkalla, who is assistant director of education at The Learning Lamp. “This year, we will offer new features, including live entertainment, and bring back favorites from last year, like the chance to meet a best-selling children’s author, storytelling, a children’s book sale and lots of arts and crafts.”

Admission to the festival is free, and children must be accompanied by an adult.

The festival is sponsored by The Learning Lamp, Bottle Works, Atlantic Broadband, The Tribune-Democrat, Highmark Blue Cross Blue Shield and Pennsylvania Council on the Arts.

Children’s author Katherine Ayres of Pittsburgh will be center stage the evening of March 19 to kick off the festival.

Ayres will read from her popular children’s book, “Up, Down and Around,” the story of two children helping in a vegetable garden, where seeds go down into the ground and plants shoot up and grow all around.

She also will read from “Matthew’s Truck,” the adventures of a small boy and his toy truck, based on the real-life story of Ayres’ nephew.

Ayres teaches writing at Chatham University, where she also coordinates the children’s writing program.

She has been a speaker at the Ligonier Writers’ Conference and has appeared at numerous schools as a visiting author and writer-in-residence.

Last year, Ayres was chosen as the Outstanding Pennsylvania Author for Children by the Pennsylvania School Library Association.

The festival’s live entertainment will feature Stage Right Theatre Company of Greensburg, whose choreographed “Books Come Alive” series includes adaptations of beloved children’s stories.

Johnstown-based Band of Brothers Shakespeare Company, best known for its performances at Stackhouse Park every summer, will put on a presentation geared toward children.

Both groups will perform March 20 and 21.

Professional storyteller Jan Kinney of Altoona will spin tales on March 20.

“She came last year, and she was awesome,” Rizkalla said.

Kinney has appeared at major storytelling festivals in the eastern United States and has been listed in the Pennsylvania Council on the Arts’ Artists-in-Education Directory since 1992, offering a variety of storytelling programs, class visits and workshops for children and adults.

Artist Duane Webb will sketch portrait-sized caricatures for a small fee during the festival.

Book-related activities will include designing book covers and reading “If You Give a Mouse a Cookie” and allowing children to decorate cookies.

Students from Penn Highlands Community College’s education club will dress as Dr. Seuss characters Thing One and Thing Two as part of the festival.

Last year’s poster contest for students in preschool through grade six has been downsized to a bookmark contest this year.

“We sent out information to schools in Cambria, Somerset and Bedford counties,” Rizkalla said. “Parents will come to the festival and vote. There will be a winner in each division who will received a book-related basket.”

A book sale by Scholastic, a leading children’s publishing house, will feature items for children in preschool through grades seven.

There also will be a gently used book sale, and Rizkalla is asking parents to donate books their children haven’t read in a few years.

Books must be brought to The Learning Lamp, 108 College Park Plaza, Richland Township, by March 1.

Because the space at Bottle Works is smaller, Rizkalla stressed that events will be held on a first come first served basis.

“One visible difference this year is the facility and the flow of events,” Rizkalla said.

“Crafts and the used book sale will be held upstairs, the performances will be in the theater downstairs and the Scholastic book sale and caricatures will be in the gallery downstairs.”

“Last year, we had parents who came back more than once,” Rizkalla said.

“We got great feedback. People believe this is important and needed in the community.”

Rizkalla, who is an English teacher, said that early literacy research shows that literacy can be a gateway for improved economic conditions and educational advantages.

“If children see parents reading, they’re more likely to pick up a book,” she added.

Anyone interested in volunteering at the festival should call Rizkalla at 262-0732.

The festival also is an opportunity for high school students to fill required community service hours, she said.



Paging all parents

What: Second annual Children’s Book Festival.

Where: Bottle Works Ethnic Arts Center, 411 Third Ave. in the Cambria City section of Johnstown.

When: 5 to 8 p.m. March 19, 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. March 20 and noon to 4 p.m. March 21.

Admission: Free.

Information: 262-0732.