The 2nd Annual Children's Arts and Literacy Festival (CALF) is coming to Downtown Abilene. The CALF is scheduled to begin with ArtWalk on June 13th and end on Fathers Day at the Abilene Zoo on June 16th. Readings will take place on Friday June 14th and Saturday June 15th with many other activities planned around Abilene for the duration of the Fathers Day weekend. Last years CALF event featuring Dr. Seuss was a tremendous success by the sheer numbers of people that attended and participated.

The featured artist this year is Walter Wick, the illustrator of 'Can You See What I See?' and 'I Spy'. Mr. Wick’s 'Can You See What I See?' books will be paired with a similar book for dramatic readings. This year the CALF will be about 'iSpy,' there will be fun and games for everyone that attends. The festival will have scheduled reading much like the first CALF festival. The following are some set reading times taking place from June 13th-16th:

• Session I — June 14th morning: 9:00am, 10:15am & 11:30am
• Session II — June14th afternoon: 12:45pm, 2:00pm & 3:15pm
• Session III — June 15th morning: 9:00am, 10:15am & 11:30am
• Session IV — June 15th afternoon: 12:45pm, 2:00pm & 3:15pm

Elizabeth McVey the Marketing Director for the Abilene Cultural Affairs Council says;

Friday and Saturday you can experience exciting events throughout the CALF. Children can attend six different dramatic readings and collect buttons designed by Mr. Wick. In addition, the Seymour Express will be running in “Storybook Park” where passengers can enjoy Dr. Seuss’ six beloved characters, William Joyce’s Childhoods Great Adventure and also “spy” several Seymours hidden throughout the park.

 

This year’s festival activities include: performances by magician Lonnie Chevrie, Sonny and his Extraordinary Birds at the Paramount Theatre, and the return of David McCullough, the Balloon Sculptor, as well as Disney’s Tangled in the evenings at the Historic Paramount. A new addition this year, the Abilene Planetarium will host and event where participants can see the beautiful images from his newest book, “Out of this World” projected on the ceiling dome. Tickets for this event are extremely limited.

Source: Abilene Cultural Affairs Council

One very special event includes a Dad’s Sunday Fun Day and another ,”I Spy” experience this time with the animals throughout the zoo. Walter Wick's photographic tricks have captivated fans of his books, including the “I Spy” and “Can You See What I See?” series. Wick is best known for his brilliant search-and-find photographs, he is the author, creator, and photographer of the “Can You See What I See?” series, as well as the co-creator and photographer of the “I Spy” books. He is also the author and photographer of two award winning science books, “A Drop of Water: A Book of Science and Wonder” and “Walter Wick's Optical Tricks”. The events website and ticket availability will come after the first of February 2013.

 Walter Wick talks about scene building

 This is '5 questions for Walter Wick'

 

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