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Literary specialist and poet Tracie Vaughn Zimmer shared with the young people in her session at the Teen Café during the Claire’s Day that a writer needs to address all five senses to truly capture the reader.
As I sat and listened to her – the jacked-up sounds of the Black Swamp Blues Society playing in the background, the smells of the freshly grilled hamburgers being cooked up by the Washington Local Schools Culinary Arts program, the feel of the smooth Sharpie pen in my hand as I took notes, the taste of the yummy cookies from the good people at Swan Creek Retirement Village for the teens in their special space and place, and seeing smiles everywhere throughout the day – I knew she was providing the angle for this story.
The ninth annual children’s book festival held at the Maumee Branch Library May 15 offered so much to attendees that one could have very easily experienced sensory overload.
And that is a good thing.
If you were there, you would have seen beautiful sunny skies and the light breeze swaying the helium-filled purple balloons to and fro, enticing families into the huge white circus-like tents filled with books, authors and entertainment taking center ring.
Young children, their eyes filled with delight at meeting Leona the Lion from WGTE, giggled in the craft tent as they colored pictures about their favorite places to visit in Ohio.
Parents had tears in their eyes as their children were recognized and honored for improvements in their reading skills.
More than 300 children were nominated by their teachers and principals for the C.A.R.E. Award, or Claire’s Award for Reading Excellence, which recognizes improvement in reading skills. Every one of them left beaming, their big, toothy unrestrained grins reflecting their pride as they displayed their certificates and scrambled over to the book sales tent to choose their complimentary book as the reward for their hard work.
You would have heard authors and illustrators of books for children from preschool to high school sharing their experiences and delighting their audiences with their creative presentation skills.
During these sessions, I’ve witnessed the range of laughter ranging from gentle giggles to the outright belly-shaking guffaws from adults.
Music wafted through the air throughout the day, provided by artists young and old.
The family-friendly Wilson Lake and Rock Bass band rocked out the young ones, and I had the privilege of enjoying the awesome harmonies of the Maumee Select Singers during their performance. I only wished I could have caught the dancing provided by the Mexican ballet group or the theatrics of the young Adventures in Education performers.
The recurring whiffs of Sharpie pens used by the authors and illustrators to sign patrons’ books attacked the sinuses like a spring ant does to the honey jar in the baking cupboard. (Zimmer suggested that using similes and metaphors is important too.)
The autographed books are a special gift for all ages. My children now have a whole collection of these special works, each and every one of them signed by the author or illustrator, “To Kyle and Ian, in memory of Claire.” Claire’s Day tastes like coffee from Georgette’s, donuts from Mama C’s and Tim Horton’s, fajitas for the committee and authors from Abuelo’s, and even before the actual event, Vito’s Pizza for the volunteer informational meeting. And, of course, the aforementioned yummy burgers from Washington Local Schools students.
I was touched by a young family taking advantage of the grassy park next to the library and enjoying a picnic. I smiled as I walked past, memories of doing the same with all three children tugging at my heart.
Most of all, the day feels like a big warm quilt, draped lovingly around my shoulders, the various panels filled with images of joy, love, books, music and dancing, smiles, friends, children, a daughter gone too soon, and an awesome husband, daughter and son who have been here with me every day, weaving their love through my heart.
So, if you missed this year’s event, make sure to prepare yourself for yet another day filled with the sights, sounds, smells, tastes and feel of something like you’ve never experienced before.
The 10th annual Claire’s Day will take place Saturday, May 21, 2011 at the Maumee Branch Library.
Thanks, Tracie, for the inspiration for the story and to Claire for moving me forward in directions I could only dream of.
Reprinted with permission from The Maumee Mirror. Julie K. Rubini is the founder of Claire’s Day, which is held in memory of her daughter Claire, who died unexpectedly in 2000 at the age of 10. Julie is also the author of the book Hidden Ohio, which was nominated for the 2010 Buckeye Children’s Book Award.
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