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Shenandoah University ‘Rockin’ the Library’ event returns: First since COVID

Crystal Graham

shenandoah universityShenandoah University’s Children’s Literature Conference will close with the return of its “Rockin’ the Library” event from 4:30-6:30 p.m. on Friday, June 24, on the Braddock Street side of Handley Library. The theme for this year’s conference is “The Gift of Story.”

It’s the first “Rockin’ the Library” since the pandemic. The event features authors and illustrators that have participated in the conference, which began in late April with twice-weekly virtual visits to classrooms and educators.

The event will also include live llamas in honor of “Llama Destroys the World” by author Jonathan Stutzman and illustrator Heather Fox and art demonstrations by Fox, author/illustrator Greg Pizzoli (“The Watermelon Seed” and the “Baloney” books) and author/illustrator Deborah Freedman (“Tiny Dino,” “Is Was” and more).

The celebration also includes book giveaways, cupcakes, a photo booth, face painting, a DJ, dancing, and story characters.

“Rockin’ the Library provides children in our community an opportunity to meet the authors and illustrators of some of their favorite books,” said Shenandoah children’s literature program director Karen Huff. “Studies show that children who have access to books do not suffer from summer reading loss. I hope that every child who comes to ‘Rockin’ the Library’ will have a wonderful time and often return to the library to check out books and participate in the summer reading programs offered through the Handley Regional Library.”

The conference, including “Rockin’ the Library,” is made possible with the support of the Claude Moore Center for Literacy at Shenandoah University and the Claude Moore Charitable Foundation.

The library is located at 100 W. Piccadilly St.

For more information, visit su.edu/clc or email [email protected].

Crystal Graham

Crystal Graham

Crystal Abbe Graham is the regional editor of Augusta Free Press. A 1999 graduate of Virginia Tech, she has worked for 25 years as a reporter and editor for several Virginia publications, written a book, and garnered more than a dozen Virginia Press Association awards for writing and graphic design. She was the co-host of "Viewpoints," a weekly TV news show, and co-host of Virginia Tonight, a nightly TV news show on PBS. Her work on "Virginia Tonight" earned her a national Telly award for excellence in television.