In the world today where information is delivered in a number of ways, reading books is one of the best ways to be informed. Though reading might seem like fun to some and not to others, it provides endless knowledge and lessons while keeping the mind active.
It also makes one smarter, not to mention the knowledge, vocabulary and thinking skills it develops.
There will be scores of children who will demonstrate their love of reading and those who will be developing an interest in reading at the African American Children’s Book Fair, one of the oldest and largest single-day events for African-American children’s books in the country, with an average yearly attendance of more than 3,500.
The event features nationally known bestselling authors and illustrators, many of whom have won some of the most prestigious American Library Association awards including the Coretta Scott King Award. These authors and illustrators have produced some of the best books of our generation.
The book fair, now in its 28th year, will take place Saturday, February 1, 2020, from 1p.m. – 4 p.m., at Community College of Philadelphia, 17th and Spring Garden streets, Philadelphia. The event is free and open to the public.
The fun-filled afternoon will be packed with activities to promote the power and the joy of reading. Authors and illustrators will make presentations and sign their books. Featured will be a Literary Row, where book-related promotional materials will be distributed free of charge.
The Educator’s Book Giveaway area also will distribute brand new books to teachers for use in their classrooms and school libraries. Additionally, there will be a wide selection of affordable literature available for purchase.
Among the hundreds of titles available at this year’s festival are “Changing the Equation:50+ US Black Women in STEM by award winning author Tonya Bolden, which tells the stories of the African American women who have made their mark in the STEM(Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics) field.
Another interesting book which will be available is “I AM FARMER — Growing an Environmental Movement in Cameroon” by Baptiste and Miranda Paul. The vibrant picture book tells the story of Cameroonian environmentalist Tantoh Nforba.
There will be over 30 authors representing their work at this year’s event.
The African children’s Book Fair is a part of the African American Children’s Book Project’s initiative to promote and preserve multicultural children’s literature. The organization firmly believes that “A Book Opens up a World of Opportunities”, according to Vanesse Lloyd-Sgambati, the organizations founder.
Such book fairs also contribute to the improvement of literacy for adults and children, according to Lloyd-Sgambati. Statistic show that an estimated 245,000 adults in the city lack basic literacy skills, according to the most recent data from the National Center for Education Statistics.
While school is plays a major role in reading success, what happens at home is doubly important. There is no doubt that parental involvement in literacy makes a difference in a young person’s reading ability. Some have a mini-library in their homes, a sign that reading is encouraged, while others have few to no books. The difference is access to children’s books might, to some degree, explain the achievement gap between Black and White students as well as between children in lower income and higher-income families.
“You can’t tell a child to read at home if there are no books in the household,” said Lloyd-Sgambati. “With fewer retailers offering diverse books, the need is even greater.
The event provides young people with the opportunity to have access to books. “Adults who attended program as children now bring their children. They understand the importance of having books in the home and the life-long impact of reading on the journey to success for their children.” Books, according to Lloyd –Sgambati, “empower, enrich, and enlighten the lives of children.”
Parents, caregivers and educators from the tristate area are usually very supportive of the African American Children’s Book Fair. Children who attended in their youth are now bringing their own children. Many have shared at project events how the event opened up the pages of books to them.
How to get children to read for fun
Most parents wish their children would read books and want to know how to encourage them to read more. The latter is the most frequently asked question educator Lynne Francis says she receives from the parents of her first and second graders.
Francis, a certified reading teacher, has transformed an area of her classroom into a comfortable reading nook to encourage student reading.
“For my students, it is a tranquil space for exploring all sorts of books from the classroom library,” said Francis.
Following are some of the best tips Francis offers on how to get your child to become a lifetime book reader and lover.
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