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Anticipation Builds for April 10-12 Children’s Book Festival

Posted on April 6, 2015

Johnstown, PA (Apr. 6, 2015) – It’s not every day that a child gets to meet an author of a beloved book. This year, The Learning Lamp hopes to connect kids to four nationally known, award-winning children’s authors (three of whom are also awesome illustrators) during the Children’s Book Festival of Johnstown. The three-day, FREE event kicks off this Friday, Apr. 10 from 6 to 8:30 p.m. and runs Saturday from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. and Sunday from 12 to 4 p.m. All festivities take place at the BOTTLE WORKS in Johnstown.

“For seven years, the Children’s Book Festival of Johnstown has opened thousands of kids up to the wonder of books,” said Ingrid Kloss, development director at The Learning Lamp. “Just last year, we served nearly 5,000 adults and children from all over the region with events leading up to and during the festival. This year, we’re hoping to top that number and instill a love of reading in even more children.”

  • During Friday’s kick-off, families will be treated to presentations from each of our headlining authors, which include Dave Roman (Astronaut Academy), Greg Pizzoli (Number One Sam – 2015 PA One Book), Zachariah Ohora (Stop Snoring, Bernard) and Mark Weakland (Zombies and Forces of Motion).
  • On Saturday, all four headlining authors will return, along festival favorite, Zany Umbrella Circus, a folksy circus act out of Pittsburgh. Festivalgoers will also get the chance to meet talented local/regional authors Cathy Breisacher of Hollidaysburg (Petunia Pepper’s Picture Day) and Jodi Uhron of Johnstown (Sydney & Me).
  • Sunday will feature presentations from headlining authors Dave Roman, Zachariah Ohora and Mark Weakland. Stage Right makes a return visit to the festival with its popular Books Alive production of Dr. Seuss’ And to Think that I Saw it on Mulberry Street. Musician Mark Ross will get kids up and moving with lively storytelling sessions. Plus, meet visiting author Melinda Falgoust of Metairie, Louisiana (The Gubbins Club) and local/regional authors Jodi Uhron of Johnstown (Sydney & Me) and Lori Jones of Pittsburgh (Riley’s Heart Machine).

As in years past, pre-festival activities also include two full days of school visits that extend our guest artists’ outreach to hundreds of children in a three-county area. The schedule is as follows:

Thursday, Apr. 9, 2014

  • Dave Roman, Bedford Area Elementary School, 8:30 to 11:30 a.m.
  • Dave Roman, Everett Area Elementary School, 1:30 to 2:15 p.m.
  • Zachariah Ohora, Windber Area Elementary School – Spring Family Reading Night, 6 to 7 p.m.

Friday, Apr. 10, 2014

  • Greg Pizzoli, Head Start in Gallitzin, 10:15 to 11 a.m.
  • Greg Pizzoli, Cambria Heights Elementary School, PA PreK Counts, 12:45 to 2:30 p.m.
  • Zachariah Ohora, Windber Area Elementary School, 9:15 to 11:50 a.m.
  • Dave Roman, Windber Area Elementary School, 12 to 2:35 p.m.
  • Zachariah Ohora, Cambria County Area Library – Johnstown, 1:30 to 2:30 pm.

Throughout the three-day festival, ongoing activities include kids’ crafts, a new and used book sale, book signings, a “meet and greet” with the authors, a bookmark contest and a book giveaway. Every child that attends the festival leaves with a free book through FirstBook! Bookmark contest winners in each age bracket receive a basketful of age-appropriate books. Festival-goers can also qualify to win four FunDay Passes to Idlewild and SoakZone just for completing a festival survey.

The 7th Annual Children’s Book Festival of Johnstown is made possible through the support of our sponsors, including:

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