// FEATURE STORY //
WORDS VICKI SCHULTZ
bringing books to life COMMUNITY PARTNERSHIPS & THE ROCHESTER CHILDREN'S BOOK FESTIVAL
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hen children meet the people behind the pages of their favorite books, wonder and excitement fuel a day filled with learning. At the Rochester Children’s Book Festival (RCBF), authors explain to kids how ideas become stories, illustrators demonstrate how characters are brought to life, and children leave clutching self-made crafts and books signed especially for them — mementoes that will reinforce their love of reading throughout the year. Our volunteers and sponsors make sure the magic lasts beyond a single day by giving back to kids all year long.
Bringing the Festival to City Students
Get Caught Reading at the Rochester Children's Book Festival!
unteers participate year after year because they WHEN: Saturday, November 15th, love sharing their 10am-4pm WHERE: Monroe passion with Community College COST: FREE! such thoughtful, Local author inquisitive kids. Vivian Vande ASL interpreters provided by Altrusa InternaVelde founded the RIT/NTID tional, a local service RCBF 18 years ago, www.RCBFest.com organization and and she now organizes long-time RCBF sponsor the free Festival-To-Go a long-time RCBF sponsor, program for kids who might makes the Festival-To-Go even more not otherwise have access. “We impactful by donating books to the schools’ recognize that these are the formative libraries. years when children are trying to settle for themselves whether reading is something fun to do, or simply something grown-ups Giving Back Through Cominflict on them,” Vande Velde says. She munity Partners recruits volunteers from Rochester Area The Rochester Children's Book Children’s Writers & Illustrators (RACWI) Festival also reaches into the community to to share their knowledge and enthusiasm forge partnerships. The RCBF is proud to with K-6 students at one or two Rochester be one of the outstanding literacy programs City Schools each year. The presentations supported by the Friends & Foundation of are fun and informative, designed to win the Rochester Public Library. Each year, over even the most reluctant readers. VolCONTINUED >>>
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www.RocParent.com