Children's Book Week Is a Monster Good Time!
Monsters were everywhere Tuesday evening, May 11, at the South Milwaukee Public Library. Local author-illustrator Bonnie Leick drew monsters, the kids drew monsters, and Leick read from the monster book she illustrated, “Where the Mild Things Are.”
The monster art session was part of Children’s Book Week, an annual national event to encourage children to read. The evening’s activities attracted about 60 kids and adults.
In another room, local authors JoAnn Early Macken and Janet Halfmann entertained the kids. Macken shared some of her poems for children and spoke about the inspiration for her books. She also read her newest rhyming picture book, “Waiting Out the Storm.”
For her story time, South Milwaukee’s Halfmann created a park neighborhood in the audience. There was an anthill, a rose garden, a thieving carpenter ant, a blue jay, and of course a picnic. On cue, the kids (and adults) raised their picture signs to help Halfmann tell the story of “Little Black Ant on Park Street.”
Guests received bookmarks created by South Milwaukee students. The winner of “Guess the Number of Bubbles” was Shelia Franklin. Prizes won by kids in a random drawing included a month’s family pass to the YMCA, monster drawings signed by Leick, plush little black ants, and lots of books.
The event was a collaboration between the library, South Milwaukee Public Schools, and the Wisconsin chapter of the Society of Children’s Book Writers and Illustrators.
Photo caption: Author-illustrator Bonnie Leick draws monsters for the kids after reading "Where the Mild Things Are," one of the many books she has illustrated.
