Children's Pavilion @ 2015 Twin Cities Book Festival
Enhance festival experience with age appropriate activities for youngest attendees. Introduce children and parents to new books and authors. Provide options for learning, performing arts and creative expression.
MELSA supported 2015 Twin Cities Book Festival, a premier event that spotlights authors, publishers and a variety of organizations dedicated to literature by providing funding for marketing and hosting the Children's Pavilion of kids 0 - 10 years of age. Six Minnesota children's authors presented: Mike Wohnoutka, Stephanie Watson, John Coy, Tran Thi Minh Phuoc, Donald Lemke and Bob Lentz. The author of the popular Little Elliot books, Mike Curato, also visited the pavilion. Several activities in the Pavilion were designed specifically to enhances a specific book presented. Almost two hundred children completed an obstacle course with a basketball hoop challenge which connected to John Coy's book Game Changer. Stephanie Watson went through 100 balloons teaching kids how to create balloon animals to extend the story of her book Behold ! A Baby. Kids were able to design their own puzzles, just as Mike Wohnoutka demonstrated drawing a story. The Heebie Jeebies got the kids up and dancing to music and face painters allowed the to explore the event as snakes, puppies, butterflies, tigers and more fantastic characters. It was a great day connecting kids and families with literature.