Contacts: 
Lyndsay Rossman, PR Chair, 904-4521-9153 or This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it
Maggie Hightower, Executive Director, 904-525-6591, This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it

Children’s Chapter Set for Much Ado About Books
Authors, Activities and Special Guests to Delight Event’s Youngest Bookworms

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. (Feb. 16, 2010) – The Jacksonville Public Library Foundation announced the exciting lineup for this year’s Children’s Chapter to take place during Much Ado About Books at the Jacksonville Main Library.  The free Children’s Chapter event, sponsored by Target, will feature three guest authors, celebrity readings, interactive games and roaming characters from noon – 3 p.m. on Feb. 27.

The participating children’s authors include Carlla Cato (A Gaggle of Geese), Eileen Erikson (Up in Nathanael’s Room) and Gigi Morales David (Just Mollie and Me) and are presented by Fidelity Investments.  Readings by the authors and guests like Mayor John Peyton will allow imaginations to fly while educating children on the importance of reading.  The Celebrity Readings, sponsored by Blue Cross Blue Shield of Florida, will take place in the Children’s Library.

“Our Children’s Chapter is one of the highlights of this annual event and the 2010 version will not disappoint,” said Maggie Hightower, executive director of the Jacksonville Public Library Foundation.  “A bookworm myself from a young age, it thrills me to see young minds excited about books and reading.” 

In addition to readings and author meet-and-greets, other activities will take place during the day.  Community partners will be situated in the Betsy Lovett Courtyard and throughout the Library grounds, including:

·         Whole Foods Market

·         RALLY Jacksonville ! & the Mayors Book Club

·         Jacksonville Children’s Commission

·         Pawsitive Pets

·         BOOKS-A-GO GO

·         The Black Stallion Literacy Foundation

·         WJCT Ready To Learn

·         Reach Out and Read Florida

·         The Early Learning Coalition of Duval

·         Nemours BrightStart

·         Real$ense Prosperity Campaign

All vendors will have activities and educational crafts at their booths surrounding the courtyard.  Special roaming characters will delight children including Curious George and the Man with the Yellow Hat, Clifford the Big Red Dog and others.  A live horse and pony, Little Black and Big Red, will be presented by The Black Stallion Literacy Foundation in front of the Library entrance on Laura Street.

To learn more information about the schedule of events, community partners and guest authors, visit the event Web site, www.muchadoaboutbooks.com.  Follow the event updates on Facebook and Twitter by visiting http://bit.ly/JaxBooks or www.twitter.com/jaxbooks. 

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About Much Ado About Books

In its 15^th year, Much Ado About Books is Jacksonville ’s largest literary event, bringing national, regional and local authors together with book lovers and raising funds for the Jacksonville Public Library. The program supports reading for all community members regardless of age and highlights local resources supporting the City of Jacksonville ’s literacy initiative.

About the Jacksonville Public Library

The Jacksonville Public Library is a large library system, consisting of a 300,000 sq. ft. Main Library and 20 regional, community and neighborhood branch libraries. The organization also serves the needs of the community with Talking Books Library for Disabled Customers and an active adult literacy program.   The Library directly serves residents and employees of Duval County both within the Jacksonville city limits and the Beaches and Baldwin communities. Residents of neighboring Baker, Clay, Nassau and St. Johns Counties are also able to partake of the services provided by the Library.  The Library’s mission is to connect people with ideas that enlighten, encourage, inspire, enrich and delight.