The Inside Press

Magazines serving the communities of Northern Westchester

Max Chwatko

About Max Chwatko

Max Chwatko is a rising junior at Horace Greeley High School.

As Excitement Builds for the Chappaqua Children’s Book Festival… Teachers and Librarians Explain Why!

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The Chappaqaua Children’s Book Festival is less that a week away, and excitement is building! The CCBF, with over 8,000 visitors each year, has become one of one of the largest children’s book festivals in the country.

The 11th annual event, held September 28, 2024 from 10 a.m. – 4 p.m. at the Chappaqua train station.

The festival will feature 160 authors including Laura Numeroff (the “If You Give a Mouse a Cookie” series), 2024 Caldecott Medal winner Vashti Harrison, festival favorite Victoria Kann (“Pinkalicious”), Dan Gutman (the “My Weird School” series) and so many more!

The festival gives kids and families a chance to meet and interact with the authors of their favorite books and discover more. The fun-filled day includes food trucks, activities and more for all to enjoy. 

I asked some familiar faces around town who they are looking forward to meeting this year!

Who are you excited about seeing at the CCBF this year?

David Forsberg, 4th Grade teacher, Roaring Brook School:

This event has grown into a truly special day. Upon arriving, you sense excitement from children and parents as they walk around with new books that they can’t wait to take home and enjoy.  The authors from the festival are world renowned and may be familiar to Chappaqua students.  There are always new exciting authors that have something new to offer to the festival. 

Last year, our 4th grade students were able to meet Sayantani DasGupta at an author’s day visit at RBS.  Students and teachers were engaged listening to the incredible experiences and writing methods she shared.  Dr. DasGupta grew up in Ohio and shared about how she was always addicted to reading and loved learning about how authors came up with their own ideas.  She became a pediatrician and children’s author.  Our 4th grade students were immediately captured by her energy, disposition and her impressive accomplishments. 

I hope that families take advantage and attend the festival with their children this year!  You can’t go wrong.

Robbin Freidman, Chappaqua Library:

I’m looking forward to meeting Katie Yamasaki, the author and illustrator of several warm and inspiring picture books. In addition to creating books, Yamasaki is a muralist and her picture book illustrations bring the same kind of vibrancy and scope as her murals. For my first book club session of the school year (the book club is for middle school students with an adult, usually a parent), we read “Turtles of the Midnight Moon” by María José Fitzgerald, so I know all those readers and I are hoping to say hello to her.

Mercy Garland, Chappaqua Library:

I am looking forward to meeting Rajani LaRocca because I love her novels-in-verse (“Red, White and Whole” AND “Mirror to Mirror”).  I also look forward to meeting Nicole Melleby because she creates really deep characters dealing with complex problems and issues.  For illustrators- I would love to meet E.B Lewis because his work is always so beautiful.  

Julie Ann Polasko, Chappaqua Library:

As a Children’s Librarian, I am continually learning from our new books. I am so excited to meet M.O. Yuksel and tell her how grateful I am for her books, because they represent those of the Muslim faith, and educate others. Examples are her picture book In My Mosque, and the biography One Wish, about Fatima al-Fihri, the founder of the oldest continuously operating University in the world!

I’m also looking forward to seeing Carrie Finison. Her “Dozens of Doughnuts” is one of my go-to suggestions for a funny picture book. It features a bear preparing for hibernation by making doughnuts (as one does)–but has she been too generous when all of her woodland friends come knocking?

Teresa Bueti, Chappaqua Library:

I’m hoping to meet author & illustrator Dan Santat. I’ve loved so many of his own books, from the Caldecott-Award-winning “The Adventures of Beekle: The Unimaginary Friend”, to the sensitive “After the Fall”, to his middle school graphic memoir “A First Time for Everything”, and then there are the ones he’s illustrated for other authors, like Minh Lé’s “Drawn Together”.   I enjoy his energy and humor–his work is incredibly varied, but so distinctive.

Chris Eidem, Chappaqua School Librarian:

I am looking forward to meeting Kyle Lukoff (“Too Bright to See”) and am excited to talk with him about his Newbery Honor and Stonewall awards and thank him for writing books that support our LGBTQ adolescents. I also look forward to seeing Phil Bildner (“A High Five for Glenn Burke”) whom I have met on several occasions and who is a trusted voice for the LGBTQ community, and also is a baseball fan!

Hudson Talbot is a favorite author friend who I have hosted at Roaring Brook for Author Day several years ago.  We have a connection with Hudson NY, my hometown, and where I attended an exhibit of his illustrations. He lives across the river near Catskill and I visit with him when I am home at my mom’s house.

One of the greatest experiences for a librarian and an author is not only connecting a student with the right book at the right time, but witnessing it changing their life.  Hudson wrote his autobiographical book “A Walk in the Words” describing and illustrating his struggle with dyslexia as a child. I was so pleased to give this book to our reading teacher specifically for a student who was struggling with reading. This book allowed the student to recognize his disability and know that he was not alone, and now has been able to grow as a reader with the support and understanding he needed. It was life changing. That to me is the ultimate “Why”  for what we strive to do every day.

We are so very lucky to have this event in our own backyard, bringing the best and largest selection of authors and illustrators for all ages.  I look forward to it each year and am so pleased to have supported this project from its earliest conception to now being in its 11th year.

Cayne Letizia, English teacher, Horace Greeley High School:

As a high school English teacher at Horace Greeley High School, I’m particularly excited about the inclusion of a few young adult authors at this year’s Chappaqua Book Festival, like Dhonielle Clayton and Erik J. Brown. These writers offer stories that resonate with the age group I teach. Engaging with authors who understand the challenges and experiences of adolescents is a great way to inspire my students. I’m also looking forward to seeing my students volunteer and give back to the community–it’s an amazing opportunity for them to contribute and be part of something much larger than themselves.

I’m looking forward to seeing Torrey Maldonado at the Chappaqua Children’s Book Festival because my son and I both enjoyed reading his books “Tight” and “What Lane?” Meeting Torrey will be a great experience for both of us!

For more information, a list of authors, or to volunteer, visit http://www.ccbfestival.org/ or follow the CCBF at www.facebook.com/chappaquachildrensbookfestival.

 

 

The Chapters of my Life at the Chappaqua Children’s Festival

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I have, quite literally, grown up with the Chappaqua Children’s Book Festival.

I was just 5-years-old when the very first CCBF took place, and it was here that some of my earliest and most cherished memories formed. Walking through the arch-decorated with festival-themed balloons, I felt like I had entered a whole other world – a world filled with imagination and creativity.

I browsed through countless books, selecting the ones that piqued my interest. Later, at home, I read those books 100s of times, imagining the words coming off the pages and the characters filling my room, thus the beginning of my love for reading.

The very next year I asked to volunteer for the festival with my mom. Even at the ripe old age of 6, I remember how good it felt to be a part of something that I knew was larger than myself. I loved standing at the information booth, greeting friends, neighbors and excited strangers, handing out information and maps and feeling the buzz and excitement surrounding me. I felt grown up and proud to be a part of it.

The next few years I remember it finally sinking in that the kind, engaging people at the tables ACTUALLY WROTE THE BOOKS! Thinking back, I probably took for granted that so many of these renowned authors lived right in my town! I watched in awe as they wrote a dedication to me, fostering a connection that is so rare and I was so lucky to experience.

My mom always said that the only thing you can never have enough of is books, and so many from the festival still grace my bookshelves. They will always be treasured.

I recognized the real impact an author can make. They plant seeds of wonder in the minds of kids that never stop growing. When I helped work the line for Pinkalicious – always a festival highlight – I was amazed by the never–ending line of exuberant young readers waiting their turn to meet their hero. I felt humbled by Victoria Kann’s patience and grace as she greeted every fan and signed books long past her scheduled appearance.

The next few years I had even more interaction with these esteemed authors, working as a greeter, and often escorting authors to readings throughout the day. I was so appreciative that these famous and creative minds would take the time to ask about me. These interactions gave me confidence in both conversational speaking and also inspired me to write.

As the years went on, and sports and activities made it harder to volunteer, I still made time to go – “graduating” to bagging and working as a cashier with my friends, something that I always watched the older kids do as an attendee. Each book I bagged or order I processed made me feel like I was making a difference, getting books into the hands of those who otherwise can’t afford them and planting those seeds of curiosity in their minds. Everyone should know the joy of a new book!

On the 10th anniversary of the CCBF last year, as an intern, I helped produce videos for social media after interviewing area businesses about what the festival means to them. The tasks reminded me of what this festival means to me – bringing this amazing community together, giving back, and celebrating a shared love of reading and books.

THE 2024 CHAPPAQUA CHILDRENS BOOK FESTIVAL

Join us as we celebrate our 11th year of connecting authors to readers!

September 28, 2024, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. at the Chappaqua Train Station

The CCBF, with over 8,000 visitors each year, has become one of one of the largest children’s book festivals in the country.

The annual event, which dazzles and delights readers of all ages, will this year feature 160 authors including Laura Numeroff (the If You Give a Mouse a Cookieseries), 2024 Caldecott Medal winner Vashti Harrison, festival favorite Victoria Kann (Pinkalicious), Dan Gutman (the My Weird School series) and so many more!

The Chappaqua Children’s Book Festival is grassroots, all-volunteer effort, with community members working together so children and teens can be inspired by their favorite authors. The festival gives kids and families a chance to meet and interact with the creators of their favorite characters and to appreciate that there is a real person behind the art and the words on the page.

The celebratory day includes food trucks, activities and more for all to enjoy. For more information, a list of authors, or to volunteer, visit ccbfestival.org or follow the CCBF at facebook.com/chappaquabookfestival