Illinois Authors Book Fair Will Showcase Children’s Authors

ILLINOIS SECRETARY OF STATE

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

November 3, 2000
CONTACT: Dave Druker
or

CONTACT: Randy Nehrt

Illinois Authors Book Fair Will Showcase Children’s Authors
SPRINGFIELD - Secretary of State and State Librarian Jesse White has announced that the 5th Illinois Authors Book Fair, to be held at the Illinois State Library in Springfield Saturday, November 18th, will showcase authors of children’s literature.
     "Illinois is blessed with many talented authors of children’s literature, and I am delighted that this year’s Book Fair will honor and highlight their outstanding creative achievements," White said. "Almost 50 authors of children’s works will be on hand. The imagination, hard work and perseverance required to be an author is enormous. Our gifted Illinois authors enrich and enlighten our lives with their works. I hope parents, grandparents, children and families throughout Illinois will join me in Springfield for a fun-filled day as we salute our children’s authors at the Illinois Authors Book Fair."
     The Book Fair, which is presented by the Secretary of State, the Illinois State Library and the Illinois Center for the Book, will be held from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. at the Illinois State Library in downtown Springfield. Admission is free.
     A special guest at the event will be Donna Stewart-Hardway, who as a child actor was one of the "Munchkins" in the classic film The Wizard of Oz. The Book Fair is commemorating the 100th anniversary of the publication of The Wizard of Oz by Illinois native L. Frank Baum with a birthday party and costume contest.
     Other highlights of the Book Fair include:

An appearance by the world renowned Jesse White Tumbling Team
The Elsenpeter Marionettes
A workshop for aspiring children’s authors
A writing workshop for children
Chris Vallillo, storyteller and musician
The Vachel Lindsay Repertory Group
Magicians, book signings, a food vendor and an appearance by "Father Christmas"
     The Illinois Authors Book Fair is partially funded by grants from the Illinois Humanities Council, the Springfield Area Arts Council, National City Bank, Hanson Engineers, Inc., the Center for the Book in the Library of Congress, and the Illinois Arts Council, a state agency.