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New Kids on the CCBF Block

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By Sarah Jane Weill

It’s no surprise that the Chappaqua Children’s Book Festival (CCBF), a growing phenomenon, has attracted a whole cast of new authors for this year’s upcoming event on October 3rd. Highly praised by the media as well as in the literary community, the CCBF gets numerous requests from authors and illustrators to join the festival. The 20 newcomers this year bring more variety to the event in terms of genre, content, and appeal. In hosting a range of authors, the CCBF can cater to the needs of almost every young reader, which will draw a larger turnout to the festival.

Two genres that were particularly sought after are nonfiction and Young Adult (YA.)  Nonfiction has a big appeal for children, so they were pleased to add authors like Jennifer Berne and Susan Stockdale.

These writers focus on concepts that engage readers in their own world. “I like to write about our amazing universe and the people who explore its mysteries and discover its secrets,” Berne says in reference to her books like On a Beam of Light about Albert Einstein. “I try to write books that are as compelling, interesting and inspiring for the adults who read them as for the children they’re reading them to.” In discussing her books like Stripes of all Types, Susan Stockdale says, “I enjoy conveying scientific themes such as how animals benefit from their stripes and spots.”

Since the breadth of the YA readership is so wide, organizers of the CCBF wanted to expand the representation of this genre in order to appeal to even more readers. As a result, the new YA authors vary in terms of their content.

Bianca Turetsky, author of The Time-Travelling Fashionista series about Louise Lambert, a 12-year-old girl from Connecticut, describes her style. “It’s historical fiction through a fashion lens. Louise tries on a vintage dress and gets magically transported back to the last time the dress was worn,” And Turetsky adds, “she gets to meet some of the greatest fashionistas in history.”

Virgina Euwer Wolff writes more realistic fiction. “I’m particularly interested in young people who are trying to understand the transitions that are happening to them…as they go through the twisty route to maturity,” she says in describing her novels such as True Believer.

Henry Neff who, along with author Matt Myklush, adds more contemporary fantasy and adventure fiction to the festival this year. “Both The Tapestry and my upcoming Impyrium series blend elements of fantasy, mythology, science fiction and history in ways I haven’t encountered too often,” Neff says in describing his work. “While [the two series] have many elements of epic fantasy, the stories and many characters have roots in actual historical eras, events and folklore. It’s a lot of fun to blend my love of history with products of my imagination.”

This is only a sample of the great new authors who will complement the many returning authors that should make it a very exciting year for the CCBF. The full list of new authors in attendance this year is as follows:
Nina Crews, Susan Stockdale, Jennifer Berne, Jane Sutcliffe, Sarah Cross, Virginia Euwer Wolff, Henry Neff, Matt Myklush, Susan Kuklin, Emmy Laybourne, Wendy Mass, Bianca Turetsky, Natasha Sinel, Sergio Ruzzier, Caldecott Medalists David Ezra Stein and Ed Young, Anya Wallach, and father and daughter co-authors Jeff and Erynn Altabel.

Avid reader Sarah Jane Weill, HGHS Class of ’14, is entering her sophomore year at Bowdin College.

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The Generosity of Our Local Businesses

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njoying the Chappaqua School Foundation Fundraiser: (L-R) David and Jenifer Gefsky, Bill Wachtell, Annie Zabar, Fran Flamino and Rachel Rader
Enjoying the Chappaqua School Foundation Fundraiser: (L-R) David and Jenifer Gefsky, Bill Wachtell, Annie Zabar, Fran Flamino and Rachel Rader

By Madeline Finesmith

Residents of New Castle cannot fail to notice the philanthropic spirit that thrives here. All you have to do is drive through the town of Chappaqua on a typical day and you will see banners across Greeley, signs in stores, or postings on Instagram or Facebook about the current fundraising activities.  Have you ever focused upon how much of that fundraising involves the generosity and involvement of our local business community?

Our businesses support our causes in ways big and small, some going to extraordinary lengths to help us make good things happen. Evan’s Team receives not just in-kind donations of signage, but also organizational services for the information that needs to be collected from its sponsors.

Robert Fuhrer, an Evan’s Team Board member, says that when a large fundraising effort is held, people only see the finished product. However there is a lot of organizational work that goes into it, and our businesses help us with that work. It is those incredible types of intangible services that no one knows about, that truly demonstrate the philanthropic nature of our business community.

Some of our largest community events simply could not happen without the support of our business community. The Chappaqua Children’s Book Festival, now in its third year, is a prime example of that. Chappaqua’s businesses provide a majority of the outright cash funding needed to rent the tents, tables and other costs of the festival. Publicity services help draw in thousands of attendees. The stores hold pre-festival events to raise awareness and excitement for the festival.  There is now even a permanent mural on the side of a downtown building!

Our businesses have made a huge impact on our children’s education through their support of the Chappaqua School Foundation.

Started in 2011 in a difficult economic environment, CSF’s Spring Madness Program involves both a discount program and silent auction. Hundreds of businesses now participate, directly resulting in grants for educational innovation. David Gefsky, President of CSF, says that the community at large should be aware of the enormous gratitude and appreciation that is owed to our local businesses for their ongoing support.

Their participation helps the CSF to help channel the communities’ generosity into our schools.

Our businesses team up with us to help raise money for our causes. Restaurants allow us to use their facilities at little or no profit to themselves, sometimes setting aside whole areas of their property for weekly events. Stores host events to raise money for specific local organizations.

Sometimes they even come to the charities to suggest events, not the other way around. Sometimes the stores make things happen by strategizing with an organization how to hold their event. The organization, publicity and funding for these events are all time consuming tasks that require serious effort on the part of our businesses.

There are many other examples of how our business community gets involved with our causes. The point is, we are in a symbiotic relationship. They need our patronage, and we rely on their support to help make our community a vibrant and meaningful place to live.

But what is clear is that as a whole, our business community has become our partner in philanthropy.  They not only give materially, but also have also become involved on a deeper level by making our causes their own.

Madeline Finesmith lives with her husband, son and two cats in Chappaqua where she has been a resident for 13 years. With a background in tax consulting, Madeline currently serves as the Chair of the Bell Middle School PTA and the Assistant Executive Director of the Chappaqua Children’s Book Festival.

Sujean Rim: Author, Illustrator (and Charlie’s Mom) Calls Chappaqua Home

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Although she flies somewhat under the radar locally, Sujean Rim has quite a loyal fan base of moms and young kids for her books like Birdie’s Big Hair and the just-released Birdie’s First Day of School. She holds readings regularly at the Chappaqua library that always draw a crowd.

Her next Birdie book is due out for Halloween 2016. This will be followed by a loosely autobiographical tale personified by bears plus two other non-Birdie books in the pipeline with Scholastic. In addition to her children’s books, she creates very well-regarded illustrations for clients like Bloomingdales, Barnes & Noble, Uniqlo, Jockey and UNAids.

Sujean and her husband Bob (also an artist) are proud parents to Charlie who will start first grade at Coman Hills this fall. She notes, “My husband and I have always loved children’s literature and have been reading to Charlie since he was still in my belly! We still read about two to five books together every night. Our art studio is in our home so he enjoys drawing with us when we work and considers himself a ‘serious artist’ too.”

She adds “CCBF is my favorite event! It has really been a fun way to connect with so many readers, fellow authors/ illustrators and of course, my neighbors. I can’t wait to participate again this year!”

Sujean will read and talk about Birdie’s First Day of School at the Chappaqua Library on Thursday, September 3rd at 4:30.

–Dawn Greenberg

Author Jean Van Leeuwen Inspires Chappaqua’s Youngest Writers

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Photos by Jolie Simpson

One of Chappaqua’s most well known and prolific children’s authors, Jean Van Leeuwen, is part of an adorable and sweet surprise for a certain class of first graders each year.

Douglas Grafflin Elementary School first grade teacher Yvonne Davies tells the story: “Jean has been volunteering with me approximately 15 years: she worked with two other colleagues before me that I know of. The children develop a relationship with her over the year as she works with them one on one, giving ideas and suggestions. They know her as a community volunteer, “Mrs. Gavril” until May, when we do ‘the reveal.’

“By then kids have become better readers and have often fallen in love with the Oliver and Amanda Pig book series, written by Jean van Leeuwen.

One day in May, I let them know that they will get to meet Jean Van Leeuwen and the excitement grows. The priceless looks on their faces when they discover that Mrs. Gavril IS Jean Van Leeuwen, and realize they have been working with a famous author all year is one of the highlights of first grade. While kids always enjoy working with her, after they realize who she is, they can’t get enough.”

Shhh…keep it a secret, parents of rising first graders!

Jean has lived in Chappaqua for 38 years, and have been volunteering at Grafflin for close to 20 years.

jean book coverWhile her Oliver and Amanda Pig series are popular around the world, she has written for both toddlers and middle graders we well.

She notes: “Many of them have been inspired by my own two children, David and Elizabeth. When they were very small, I didn’t have much time for writing. The only free time in my day was when they were taking their naps. So I began to write little stories about what they were doing and saying. These stories grew into a book, Tales of Oliver Pig. Over the years, that first book has grown into a whole series of Easy-to-Read books about Oliver and Amanda Pig. Even though my children are now grown-up, I still write from my memories of the fun we had together when they were young.”

The Chappaqua Children’s Book Festival and Hall of Scoops are thrilled to pay tribute to Oliver and Amanda Pig with a “Purple Pig Tales” flavor at Hall of Scoops during the month of September. Proceeds will benefit the JCY-WCP SMART program (Students and Mature Adults Read Together). A kick-off party on Monday, August 31st from 2-4 p.m. will include crafts, games and a reading by Jean Van Leeuwen.

About the upcoming book festival, Jean says: “I of course am a big fan of the book festival! It provides an opportunity for local children to purchase books directly from the author and illustrator and have them signed then and there. They may learn a little bit about how a book comes to be. And the festival promotes reading, and encourages parents to be involved in reading with their children.”

–Dawn Greenberg

Snack Time – It’s Elementary!

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Chef Lisa Beels (on left) and Laura Anderson
Chef Lisa Beels (on left) and Laura Anderson

Another summer is almost in the rearview mirror, which means that the daily ritual of backpacks and lunchboxes is just up the road. For those of us who need to pack snacks for our younger kids each school day, the choices can be a little bit overwhelming. But they don’t have to be. Follow these simple guidelines, and your kids can stay energized with healthy snacks that don’t take forever to pack, and won’t end up uneaten and wasted.

First, make it tasty. Pack snacks that your elementary school kids will want to eat and that you know that they like and aren’t likely to waste. Air-popped popcorn is one great option. It is packed with fiber and antioxidants, without all of the butter, sodium and calories of theater-style popcorn. Trail mix is another good option, although you will have to substitute granola, pretzel, or pumpkin or sunflower seeds if your child is in a nut-free environment. And be sure to throw a couple of chocolate chips in there so your kids will be excited to eat it.

Second, keep it simple. You don’t have unlimited time to prepare and pack snacks. Even if you are going to make your kids’ snacks from scratch, use an easy recipe with a small number of ingredients. There is no need to construct a multi-course meal.

fruit compoteThird, make it healthy. Healthy doesn’t mean bland anymore, and there are loads of choices for healthy snacks that are tasty too. Dried fruit, veggie puffs, baked corn or rice puffs, carrots, sliced apple, banana, grapes and squeezable applesauce are all delicious and healthy, and the fruit options contain natural sugar without the crash. For energy, granola is a healthy source of carbs, as are baked and whole grain crackers. Save the protein for meal time, and avoid candy bars and sugary drinks.

Fourth, make sure your kids’ snacks are appropriately sized. Just as you don’t have unlimited time to prepare your kids’ snacks, grade school kids don’t have unlimited time to eat them. They don’t need much–just enough to tide them over until their next meal and give them enough energy to make it to the end of the school day. Pack one item that can fit into a standard sized sandwich bag or small reusable plastic container and can be eaten in less than five minutes, along with a small container of water.Recipes