Books Rule at Annual Claire?s Day

Keeping Up With Kids  |  04/24/2013 9:00 am

Support literacy and a great local cause at the 12th Annual Claire’s Day on Saturday, May 18th. This yearly festival?which honors Claire Lynsey Rubini who passed away from a heart condition in 2000 at the age of ten?embraces all of Claire’s favorite activities, including telling stories, dancing, making crafts, and most importantly, reading.

The event takes place at the Maumee Branch Library, 501 River Road, from 9 a.m.-5 p.m. In addition to Claire’s favorite pastimes, the day features live music from Wilson Lake and the Rock Bass and meet-and-greets and signings from some of today’s well-known children’s book authors and illustrators. Don’t miss appearances by Mark Crilley, Rhonda Gowler Greene, Valiska Gregory, Bruce Langton, John Manders, Kristin Nitz, Elizabeth Raum, Betsy Snyder, Lisa Wheeler and Cinda Williams Chima.

Claire’s Day will culminate with the presentation of the annual C.A.R.E. Awards (Claire’s Awards for Reading Excellence), earned by students with improved literacy skills. The awards are presented by local principals from area elementary and middle schools. More than 400 C.A.R.E. Awards will be distributed this year.

Claire’s Day Inc. is a 501(c)3 organization, and through the efforts of a part-time executive director and volunteers, plans and coordinates a variety of events and activities the week leading up to the book festival. 

For more information about the 2013 Claire’s Day itinerary or to find out more about the pre-event and fundraiser Claire’s Night, held for adults only on Thursday, May 16th, please visit www.toledolibrary.org.