Wild About CALF

We’re wild about plans for the 8^th annual Children’s Art & Literacy Festival, which is celebrating the work of award-winning NCCIL artist and author Peter Brown. The Abilene Cultural Affairs Council has planned three days of fun June 6-8. The fun includes the unveiling of the newest storybook sculpture, which was inspired by Brown’s book, “Mr. Tiger Goes Wild.”

Families from nearly 90 cities and 12 states have registered to come to downtown Abilene, the official Storybook Capital of America. Nearly 5,200 people attended last year’s CALF.

Brown’s original work will go on exhibit June 6 for the summer at the National Center for Children’s Illustrated Literature in downtown Abilene. The exhibit, “A Time and Place for Everything: Peter Brown,” will include many original pieces from his best-selling books.

Brown’s latest book, “The Wild Robot Escapes,” is the sequel to his New York Times Best Seller, “The Wild Robot.” He has earned numerous honors, including a Caldecott honor, a Horn Book Award and two E.B. White Awards. Brown’s art exhibition in Abilene will be his first time to see his body of work displayed in a gallery.

Brown will be in Abilene for the opening of his art exhibition and for the CALF festivities, which start Thursday afternoon with a Peter Brown character costume contest followed by the Storybook Parade through Abilene’s cultural district. After the parade, the “Mr. Tiger” sculpture will be unveiled in the Adamson-Spalding Storybook Garden. Stay for food trucks and entertainment during “The Curious Garden Party” at the Abilene Convention Center. Meet the renowned illustrator at an artist talk and book signing at the historic Paramount Theatre at 7 that evening. All events Thursday night are free.

Friday and Saturday, festival registrants can choose from a vast selection of arts activities. Children collect buttons for their festival lanyards as they complete each activity, which includes dramatic readings of Brown’s most popular books, art activities, a ventriloquist, train rides, Abilene Philharmonic instrument petting zoo, and perennial childhood favorites such as Professor QB and Kornpop the balloon sculptor. A new addition is the “Birds of Prey” demonstrations by Wildlife Rehab Lorena. They will be presenting programs about rescued birds such as hawks and owls at Frontier Texas!

A big thanks to the sponsors and volunteers who make CALF possible. We also want to thank the City of Abilene, which assists in many aspects of the festival and is a wonderful supporter of the arts.

Registration is open. Tickets are $11 for children ages 3 to 12 (2 and under are free) and $16 for ages 13 and up.  

For more information and a full schedule of events, visit www.abilenecalf.com or call 325-677-1161.