WeLove The National Book Festival 2015

I love an annual event that you can experience differently every year! While always enjoyable, I feel really charged up about my experience at yesterday’s National Book Festival! The event yesterday was massive per standard. Arriving via metro is always encouraged ,and for my family interest heading directly to the children’s floor is always our first and usually only area of interest for the day. Highlight of the children’s floor are the Scholastic area which this year consisted of storytime, fun family photo booth, character encounters, coloring, balloon figures, free books which ran out way too early for the smaller kids as well as an active vision board that allowed kids to express how reading empowers them.

   

Because we enjoy good eats I must highlight the Caribbean food vendor that every year provides affordable, flavorful and filling eats! Yummy my vegan bowl was too good! Back to the books… AARP provided free books signed by the author, totes with giveaways, photo booth, 3D virtual reality glasses to demo as well as a cool ass 3D printer that I obviously now NEED in my life. 

 The little chess and knome pieces pictured took 20 min each to print… Imagine printing mini versions of your loved ones! How futuristic!

Wells Fargo had a massive space to engage families. 

   
      Panning for gold, lassoing horses,  super comfy storytime set up. After each storytime the children were gifted with the book or horse stuffed animal that was read about.

HIGHLIGHT alert!!! Yesterday we met Sonia Manzano! AKA Maria from Sesame Street!  

 

Words can’t even describe! My Mother, Myself and My Daughter have long been apart of the Sesame viewership legacy. To meet a beautiful , humble soul that feels like they had a major role in raising you is exciting and humbling!  

  Becoming Maria is the new memoir she put out! Check her story out!

National Geographic also had a area focused on planets and space discovery. We are definitely excited to add space camp to her activities once Liv becomes of age for the program.

   
 

Just when we thought our day was concluding we headed to the evening poetry slam! My God! The Young Kings that spoke so genuinely and courageously inspired me! I feel honored to have heard their strong words and for my daughter to have been exposed to such strength! Kids are so important! They are to be valued and heard always!

WeLove Meaningful Books!

  

Thrifting is life! Many days along side my grandmother and parents as a child I was constantly in a thrift store or at a yard sale looking for unique items. As I got older and initiated these excursions myself I’ve gone through phases of items that I was targeting. Now that my little person is here ,and especially because I homeschool I literally get a high from the amazing learning tools we have acquired as well as the beautiful books that we get to add to Liv’s library. I spend quite a bit of time digging through shelves inspecting books for perfection. Making sure they are odor free and free of any markings or rips…. Most importantly I seek out books with educational value, special interest, meaningful content as well as characters that visually represent our family. 

Each book pictured above was in pristine condition with excellent content and for the entire set I spent about $2 *pops collar and does a little dance* “In God’s Name” highlights the quest for everyone to connect to the most high, while many may call the creator a different name the book concludes with everyone acknowledging that they are all a reflection of God and each name can be applied and at that point of unity they truly had reached a place of communion not just with each other but with the most high as well.

I scored an awesome Spike Lee Joint guys! I’m pretty sure I squealed and clicked my heels right there in the aisle. “Giant Steps to Change the World” highlights the accomplishments of courages thinkers and doers of the past and present while challenging children to develop their own plan to impact the world!

The Kwanzaa book I purchased is full of history, activities and recipes. We are currently learning about animal and insect life cycles so the Caterpillar to Butterfly book was a timely addition and lastly “Just for Today”  is a fun story of parental bears that abandon their stressful adult chores to simply enjoy the day with their cubs… no yelling… No shoes just fun and love.

What are you reading to your little ones?

Children’s Africana Awards & Book Festival

22nd Annual Children’s Africana Awards & Book Festival (CABA)
Saturday, November 8, 2014
11:00 am – 2:00 pm
National Museum of African Art
950 Independence Avenue SW,Washington, DC 20560
FREE and open to the public

Africa Access and the Outreach Council of the African Studies Association give annual awards for the best children’s and young adult books on Africa published in the U.S. The awards celebrate outstanding K-12 books on Africa published in the U.S. The awards are designed to encourage the publication of accurate, balanced children’s materials on Africa, to recognize literary excellence and to acknowledge the research achievements of outstanding authors and illustrators.

Meet the Authors and Illustrators; Books available for purchase in the Gift Shop. Book Signing; Art Activity; Face Painting; Refreshments. Registration Requested.