Meet the Authors at Children’s Book Day at Sunnyside

Bruce Degen, illustrator of the Magic School Bus series, will join Alyssa Capucilli, author of the Biscuit series, and dozens more children’s book authors and illustrators at Celebrate Children’s Book Day, a one-day gala devoted to children’s literature and filled with readings, demonstrations, magic, music, and book signings at Washington Irving’s Sunnyside on Sunday, Sept. 19 from 12 – 6 pm.

In all, more than 50 children’s book authors and illustrators will take part.

“It is amazing that little Tarrytown is home to one of the only events dedicated to Children’s book authors and illustrators,” said author Nick Bruel of Tarrytown. “No where else have I seen such a heavy concentration of luminaries in the children’s book world all gathered in one place. Every year I am astounded by the hundreds of people that attend.”

In addition to author appearances, costumed characters Clifford, the Big Red Dog, Bunnicula, Biscuit, and Franklin the Turtle, will be roaming the grounds. Magician Dikki Ellis will be performing pocket magic from 12:30-4:30pm. The creators and stars of the legendary children’s television show The Magic Garden, Carole Demas of Irvington and Paula Janis, will be performing from 4:30-5:30.

New faces to Book Day this year include: Michael Buckley author of The Sisters Grimm series, Bryan Collier illustrator of Dave the Potter, Gary Golio author of Jimi: Sounds Like a Rainbow, Diane Goode illustrator of But I Wanted a Baby Brother!, Victoria Kann author/illustrator of Pinkalicious , Steven Kroll author of The Tyrannosaurus Game, Matt McElligott, author/illustrator of Even Monsters Need Haircuts, and Lizzy Rockwell author/illustrator of Don’t Go Up Haunted Hill…or Else!

Returning favorites include many from Westchester County:

• From Bedford Hills: Katie Davis, author of The Curse of Addy McMahon.
• From Chappaqua: Jean Craighead George, author of My Side of the Mountain; Matt Van Fleet, author/illustrator of Heads; and Jean Van Leeuwen, author of the Amanda and Oliver Pig series; Barbara Dee, author of Solving Zoe.
• From Croton: Jerry Pinkney, illustrator of The Lion and the Mouse; Gloria Pinkney, author of Back Home; Jerry Smath, illustrator of The Taming of Lola
• From Hartsdale: Eric Velasquez, illustrator of Our Children Can Soar.
• From Hastings: Alyssa Capucilli, author of the Biscuit series; Pat Schories, illustrator of the Biscuit series; Ed Young, illustrator of Moon Bear; Roni Schotter, author of Nothing Ever Happens on 90th Street; Dan Greenburg, author of The Secrets of Dripping Fang series; and J.C. Greenburg, author of Andrew Lost series.
• From Irvington: Peter Sis, author/illustrator of The Dreamer.
• From Katonah: Judy Blundell, author of 39 Clues.
• From Mamaroneck: Charise Mericle Harper, author/illustrator of Just Grace series.
• From Ossining: Susanna Reich, author of Painting the Wild Frontier; Gary Golio, author of Jimi; Sounds Like a Rainbow
• From Scarsdale: Bernard Most, author/illustrator of Dinosaur Cousins.
• From Tarrytown: Nick Bruel, author/illustrator of Bad Kitty
• From White Plains: Howard Fine, illustrator of All Aboard the Dinotrain
• From Yonkers­: James Howe; author of Brontorina
• From Yorktown: Marisabina Russo, author of The Bunnies Are Not in Their Beds.

Author and illustrator appearances, including readings and demonstrations, will be broken into 90-minute segments beginning at 12, 1:30, and 3. The full schedule of authors appears on www.hudsonvalley.org. Books by all of the attending writers and illustrators will be available for purchase and signing.

Food from Irvington-based Geordane’s will be available for picnickers.

The event is produced by Beth Vetare-Civitello and Susan Brandes and sponsored by Sunnyside Federal Savings and Loan of Irvington. The non-profit Historic Hudson Valley owns and operates Sunnyside, which is the romantic, picturesque homestead of Washington Irving, the author best known for The Legend of Sleepy Hollow and Rip Van Winkle.

Admission to Sunnyside is $12 for adults; $10 for seniors; $6 for children 5-17; and free for children under 5 and HHV members. Tours of Irving’s house are included in the price of admission. Tickets can be purchased online: www.hudsonvalley.org. Washington Irving’s Sunnyside is at 89 West Sunnyside Lane in Tarrytown, one mile south of the Tappan Zee Bridge, off Route 9.