Fun for the entire family!
Free exciting events for all ages!

  Parking and Map for Open Book Festival

Craft Activities for Kids
3rd Floor—Storytime Room
9:30 a.m.–2:00 p.m.

Jim Gill, Chicago-Based Children’s Musician & Author
Lower Level—Humphreys Multimedia Room
1st Show             9:30 a.m.–10:30 a.m.
2nd Show           11:30 a.m.–12:30 p.m.
Jim Gill offers more than a show to watch—each concert is an opportunity for family play! Jim bangs out energetic rhythms on his banjo while everyone claps, jumps, dances, and even sneezes along. The concert is filled, of course, with songs from Jim’s award-winning recordings for young children and the play that he uniquely conveys in his books. This year’s concert will feature a grandiose and ridiculous singalong of Jim’s new picture book,A Soup Opera.

Jim Gill is known as a musician and author, but he is also, by training, a child development specialist with a graduate degree from the Erikson Institute of Chicago. His goal has always been to promote active play between adults and children with his music and books. Anyone who has ever seen one of Jim’s family concerts knows that rather than performing for the children and parents, Jim leads them to sing and play together.

Jim has released five recordings of his music play for children. His most recent CD, Jim Gill Sings Moving Rhymes for Modern Times, was one of only two music recordings to receive a 2007 Notable Children’s Recording Award from the American Library Association (the same organization that names the Caldecott and Newbery Awards to books). Jim is the author of two picture books, A Soup Opera and May There Always Be Sunshine. All of Jim’s work can be sampled at jimgill.com.

Meet and Greet Your Favorite Storybook Characters!
9:00 a.m. - 9:30 a.m.
1st Floor Lobby & Lower Level Lobby near Humphreys Multimedia Room

9:30 a.m.–10:00 a.m.
1st Floor—Lobby & 3rd Floor—Lobby

10:30 a.m.–11:00 a.m. & 12:30 p.m.–1:00 p.m.
Lower Level—Lobby (outside Humphreys Multimedia Room) & 3rd Floor—Lobby

10:30 a.m.–11:30 a.m. & Noon–1:00 p.m.
1st Floor—Lobby

Michiana Twisters
1st Floor—Lobby
10:30 a.m.–11:30 a.m. & Noon–1:00 p.m.
Watch how balloon animals are made and take one home!

Madcap Productions Puppet Theatre, Cincinnati
Lower Level—Colfax Auditorium
1st Show            10:30 a.m. – 11:30 a.m.
2nd Show            2:00 p.m. – 3:00 p.m.
In the bountiful array of children’s literature, no author is better known and respected than the Greek storyteller Aesop. Enjoy a special performance of “Aesop’s Classic Fables” in which Aesop is an old man recalling three best-loved stories re-told by a cast of puppets—and you! Stories include “The Boy Who Cried Wolf,” “The Lion and the Mouse,” and “The Hare and the Tortoise.”

Madcap Productions Puppet Theatre is a nonprofit touring children's theater company that combines giant puppets with actors to create a unique style of puppet theater. Visit them at www.madcappuppets.com.

Andy Schmidt, Pianist
1st Floor—Café
10:30 a.m.–11:00 a.m. & Noon–12:30 p.m.
Hear local musician and piano instructor Andy Schmidt perform show tunes, classical selections, and more.

Josh Elder, Graphic Novel Author
3rd Floor—Presentation Room
11:00 a.m.–12:30 p.m. & 2:00 p.m.–3:30 p.m.

Chicago-based Josh Elder is the creator of the Mail Order Ninja graphic novel series for teens. In 2005 Mail Order Ninja won the grand prize in Tokyopop's Rising Stars of Manga contest and was picked up nationally as a syndicated comic strip in more than 45 newspapers. Josh also writes for DC Comics The Batman Strikes and the StarCraft graphic novel line and gives lectures on comics at schools and libraries across the country. When not writing, Josh serves as director of operations for Kids Love Comics, a non-profit organization that promotes literacy using comics, graphic novels, and manga. More can be found online at www.joshelder.com.

Experience an exciting hands-on workshop on comic book writing and illustrating conducted by Josh Elder and graphic artist Jen Brazas. Jen is a senior at the American Academy of Art in Chicago. Visit her work at www.mysticrev.com.

Karen Morrow, Storyteller
2nd Floor—Lobby
11:30 a.m.–Noon & 12:30 p.m.–1:00 p.m.

Rev. Karen Morrow, hospital chaplain and storyteller from Indianapolis, will entertain and inspire families of all ages with African fables, interactive stories, and songs at her “Let Me Entertain You, Let Us Learn” program. Karen’s storytelling is lively, engaging…and not to be missed!

Keiko Kasza, Award-Winning Children’s Author & Illustrator
Lower Level Humphreys Multimedia Room
1:00 p.m. – 2:00 p.m.

Did you ever wonder how an author starts with an idea and ends with a finished book? Keiko Kasza, award-winning author and illustrator of many books including A Mother for Choco, The Mightiest, and My Lucky Day, will show you! Kasza will also share stories about her childhood in Japan and demonstrate origami, the art of Japanese paper folding. (All ages welcome; most appropriate for ages 4 to adult.) Her presentation will be followed by a book sale and signing in the Molloy Room, also on the Lower level.

Keiko Kasza creates books that empower children and are simple, uncluttered, and funny. She was born and raised on a small island in Japan and studied graphic design at California State University–Northridge. Kasza’s books have won multiple awards. My Lucky Day won a Nebraska Golden Sower Award (sponsored by Nebraska Library Association) and a North Carolina Children’s Book Award and The Wolf's Chicken Stew was an ALA Notable Book and a Kentucky Bluegrass Award winner. Keiko currently resides in Bloomington, Indiana.

Drum Circle with RhythmWorks!
Lower Level – Humphreys Multimedia Room
2:30 p.m. – 3:30 p.m.

Everyone is a drummer! Join us for our annual drum circle and make cool rhythmic sounds while learning the basics of drumming with area percussionists Vinny Carrasco and Judith Hizer. Bring your percussion or try one of ours. Recommended for children ages 8–up. Children under 8, please bring a parent or guardian.

Relax in the Picnic Room
Lower Level – Dickinson Room
10:00 a.m. – 2:00 p.m.
Pack your lunch and come join us for a quick break between shows. We’ll provide water and light snacks; vending machines with drinks and snacks are available in Café on the 1st Floor.

• Complimentary books and giveaways for the kids while supplies last.
• Books and CDs by featured authors and performers will be available for purchase and signing.
• Storybook character books, CDs, and stuffed animals will be available for sale in the lower level.