Explore-A-Story: A Celebration of Books

On Sunday, April 19th, more than 700 guests attended “Explore-A-Story: A Celebration of Books,” a family festival and fundraiser celebrating The Wonder of Reading’s purpose: to inspire in children the love of reading. ArcLight Cinemas Hollywood was transformed into a carnival-like atmosphere complete with celebrity readers (Shia LaBeouf, Jesse McCartney, Madison Pettis, et al), children’s book authors (Hope Anita Smith, Ann Whitford Paul, Elisa Kleven, et al), walk-around book characters, food from California Pizza Kitchen, art activities, book signings, and a book fair by Barnes & Noble Booksellers.

Other entertainment included the Invertigo Dance Theatre, which performed a dance to Where the Wild Things Are; music by Mariachi Cielo Nuevo; the Guild Opera Company, which performed Little Red Riding Hood and David Prather.

Despite the heat, children and their families had a terrific day and supported a wonderful organization.

Posted by Amy Fuller, Assistant Account Executive

Explore-A-Story Returns

The Wonder of Reading’s annual event Explore-A-Story: A Celebration of Books takes place this Sunday, April 19^th at ArcLight Hollywood. It is an incredible day of readings by children’s book authors and illustrators, performances, arts-and-crafts, movies, and a book fair with book signings…all inspired by great children’s literature. This year’s celebrity readers include Shia LaBeouf, Jesse McCartney, Jane Kaczmarek, Madison Pettis and Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa.

The event celebrates and supports The Wonder of Reading’s mission: to inspire in children the love of reading. Since 2004, The Wonder of Reading has played a key role in opening nearly 200 new libraries in public elementary schools in the Los Angeles area, as well as training more than 4,000 volunteers to read one-on-one with youngsters each week. Currently, more than 130,000 children are enrolled in partner schools and are benefiting from the libraries the Wonder of Reading has helped renovate and restock.

Posted by Amy Fuller, Assistant Account Executive