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

Craft Activities for Kids
3rd Floor—Storytime Room
10:30 a.m.–2:30 p.m.

Meet and Greet Your Favorite Storybook Characters!
10:00 a.m. - 10:20 a.m.
1st Floor Lobby & Lower Level Lobbies

10:30 a.m.–11:00 a.m.
1st Floor & 3rd Floor Lobbies

11:30 a.m.–Noon
Lower Level, 1st Floor & 3rd Floor Lobbies

1:45 p.m.-2:20 p.m.
Lower Lobby outside Humphreys Multimedia Room

Jim Gill, Chicago-Based Children’s Musician & Author
Lower Level—Humphreys Multimedia Room
1st Show             10:30 a.m.–11:30 a.m.
2nd Show            3:00 p.m.–4:00 p.m.
Jim Gill, an award-winning author and musician, returns to Open Book with more than a show to watch—it’s an opportunity for family play! Jim will play his banjo, his friend Don Stille will play accordion, and everyone in the room will clap, jump, dance, and sneeze along. The concert is filled, of course, with songs from Jim’s recordings and features a read-along and sing-along of Jim’s musical books for young children.

Jim 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. Because of his studies, his goal has always been to promote with his music active play between adults and children.  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 produced five award-winning CDs of music play for young children that are favorites in classrooms, playrooms, and family rooms. Jim is also the author of two picture books for children. His latest, A Soup Opera, is a sing-along opera inspired by concerts that Jim performs with symphony orchestras. The book received a 2010 Notable Award from the American Library Association. His first book, May There Always Be Sunshine, received the 2002 Book Award from the Philadelphia Children’s Museum. All of Jim’s work can be sampled at jimgill.com.

Stevens Puppets
Lower Level—Colfax Auditorium
1st Show 11:30 a.m.–12:30 p.m.
2nd Show 2:00 p.m.–3:00 p.m.
Join Stevens Puppets as they celebrate their 73rd year of producing unforgettable marionette productions featuring classic children’s literature and fairy tales for children of all ages.

At this year’s Open Book Family Fest, Stevens Puppets will feature Beauty and the Beast, a touching and humorous marionette play full of chuckles and drama. Artistic staging and clever effects accented with beautiful harp music bring this ever-popular classic triumphantly to life.

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

Johnathan Rand, Nationally Known Children’s and Teen Author
1st Floor Café
12:30 p.m. – 1:30 p.m.
Come meet author Johnathan Rand and get some super-inspiration! Johnathan truly and dramatically changes the way kids (of all ages) think about reading and writing. His lively, irreverent, and irresistible presentation is filled with laughs, thrills, and, above all, education. He is the author of more than 60 books, including several series such as American Chillers, Michigan Chillers, the Adventure Club, and the new Freddie Fernortner, Fearless First Grader
series.

Lori Caskey Sigety, Storyteller
3rd Floor Lobby
11:00 a.m. –11:30 a.m.
Noon–12:30 p.m.
Join former SJCPL children’s librarian and branch manager Lori Caskey Sigety for interactive poetry and stories using various percussion instruments. Fun for families of all ages!

Rosemary Wells, Award-Winning Children’s Author  & Illustrator
Lower Level—Humphreys Multimedia Room
1:00 p.m.–2:00 p.m.
For more than 30 years, Rosemary Wells has been writing, illustrating, and charming generations of children and families with her books for young readers. Rosemary is best known for her beloved children’s book characters (Max and Ruby, Yoko, Timothy, Nora, and McDuff, to name a few). With more than 60 books to her credit, Rosemary will have plenty of great stories and fun to share with you! Come find out who Max and Ruby really are, hear about Rosemary’s advocacy for early literacy, and more. 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.

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 waters; vending machines with drinks and snacks are available in Café on the 1st Floor.

• 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.
• The Literacy Council of St. Joseph County will have a display promoting its activities on the 1st Floor Lobby.
• St. Joseph County Public Library wishes to thank the Friends of the Library for its financial support of this annual event.

For further information, contact Children's Services at 574 282-4607 or email k.springer@sjcpl.org