Early Childhood Reading
Families Celebrate Joy of Reading at Target Children’s Book Festival
Festival Brings Free, Family-focused Entertainment to Detroit, Including Book Readings,
Appearances by The Doodlebops, Costumed Characters and Musical Performances
Minneapolis (August 9, 2007) – On Saturday, August 25th, thousands of children and their families will gather at Kensington Metropark near Milford/Brighton for the Target Children’s Book Festival presented by the Detroit Free Press. The book festival, a free event for all, offers Detroit-area families the perfect opportunity to spend time together engaging in various activities, including live readings, book signings and musical performances, all while enjoying a summer day outdoors.
During the book festival, which is open to the public from 10:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m., parents and children also can learn about Target’s commitment to providing reading resources for families, as well as programs and partnerships the company supports that encourage parents and children to read together.
Target is proud to be a part of this book festival because it provides a meaningful and rich experience for Detroit area families to explore reading together,” said Laysha Ward, vice president, community relations, Target. “Target understands how important it is to begin fostering the love of reading at an early age, which is why we support activities like book festivals that bring books to life and stimulate children’s interest in reading.”
The Target Children’s Book Festival will feature a number of live readings throughout the day. Among the authors reading on stage will be Barney Saltzberg, author and illustrator of Cornelius P. Mud, Are You Ready for School?; local Michigan author Leslie Helakoski, and illustrator Henry Cole of Big Chickens; Jim Benton, author and illustrator of The Fran with Four Brains; Debbie A. Taylor, author of Sweet Music in Harlem; Laurie Friedman author of the Mallory Series & Love, Ruby Valentine; and Stacey DuFord and Wendy Popko, author and illustrator of The Fairy Painting. Musical highlights will include The Doodlebops, Laughing Pizza!, Jordan McCoy, Justin Roberts & Not Ready for Naptime Players, Jordan Pruitt, José-Luis Orozco and The SqueeGees.
Authors and performers will share the stage with the “Big Red Chair,” the larger-than-life reading chair that is the symbol of the Target national reading program Ready. Sit. Read! Aimed at fostering a love of reading at an early age, Ready. Sit. Read! focuses on children from birth to age 9, and was developed in partnership with the United States Department of Education.
Families can take advantage of free boat rides courtesy of Target, visit farm animals, participate in children’s activities and receive free giveaways. Families also can stop by the Detroit Free Press Fun Village and have a picture taken with the Yak or play games like Tic Tac Yak or Yak Toss! There will be fun prizes and an area where children can create artwork that may appear in an upcoming Yak's Corner.
“We are committed to promoting literacy and reading as a family activity,” said Jeffery Kapuscinski, vice president, marketing, Detroit Free Press. “By hosting this community event each year, we offer Metro-Detroit children and families a wonderful opportunity to experience first-hand the excitement, fun and fulfillment books and reading offer. We are proud to work with Target on spreading the good news about books.”
Thanks to Target, free round-trip shuttle transportation will be provided from Genesee District Library in Flint, Mich. and Jackson District Library in Jackson, Mich. Shuttles will depart the libraries from 9:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m., every hour on the hour. The last shuttles returning to the libraries will depart the festival at 5:30 p.m.
For more information about the Target Children’s Book Festival in Metro-Detroit, visit Freep.com/books or Target.com/readysitread.
About Target
Minneapolis-based Target serves guests at 1,537 stores in 47 states nationwide by delivering today’s best retail trends at affordable prices. Target is committed to providing guests with great design through innovative products, in-store experiences and community partnerships. Whether visiting a Target store or shopping online at Target.com, guests enjoy a fun and convenient shopping experience with access to thousands of unique and highly differentiated items. Target (NYSE:TGT) gives more than $3 million a week to its local communities through grants and special programs. Since opening its first store in 1962, Target has partnered with nonprofit organizations, guests and team members to help meet community needs.
Minneapolis-based Target serves guests at 1,537 stores in 47 states nationwide by delivering today’s best retail trends at affordable prices. Target is committed to providing guests with great design through innovative products, in-store experiences and community partnerships. Whether visiting a Target store or shopping online at Target.com, guests enjoy a fun and convenient shopping experience with access to thousands of unique and highly differentiated items. Target (NYSE:TGT) gives more than $3 million a week to its local communities through grants and special programs. Since opening its first store in 1962, Target has partnered with nonprofit organizations, guests and team members to help meet community needs.
About the Detroit Free Press
The Detroit Free Press has been on guard in metro Detroit since 1831, surprising, engaging and delighting readers for generations. Owned by Gannett Co. Inc., the Free Press has a combined print/online readership of 1.4 million Monday – Saturday and a combined readership of 1.6 million on Sunday.*
The Detroit Free Press has been on guard in metro Detroit since 1831, surprising, engaging and delighting readers for generations. Owned by Gannett Co. Inc., the Free Press has a combined print/online readership of 1.4 million Monday – Saturday and a combined readership of 1.6 million on Sunday.*
The Free Press has always believed in growing young readers in the newspaper habit and in literacy. Almost 13 years ago, the Free Press pioneered educational journalism with Yak’s Corner, a weekly section just for kids and a reading program that features the wooly mascot appearing at libraries, schools and family events to rally for reading. The Yak’s Corner section has won several national awards, including Distinguished Achievement in Literacy from the Educational Press Foundation.