Youth & Family

John Alexander has been telling stories all his life. He is a professor at UVa, where he teaches a course comparing folklore in Slavic Studies with African American and Native American literature and folklore. School visits.
Bob Anderson, a resident artist at the McGuffey Art Center, started drawing at age five. When I Was a Little Boy·and his Obo were influenced by his growing up in Hawaii; by living and working in West Africa; and by extended visits to India and Central America. 3/22 12 p.m. & School visits.
Joseph Patrick Anthony is author and co-creator of The Dandelion Seed, winner of the 1998 Benjamin Franklin Award Silver Medal for Best Children's Picture Book. Joseph is also the author of In a Nutshell, and Innerworld, a novel about changing the world from the inside out. 3/22 12 p.m. & School visits.
Cris Arbo has worked in theater, as an animation background artist, and as a vocalist. Her latest literary award is for In a Nutshell, which has been named to the Virginia State Reading Association's 'Young Readers Program' for 2002-03. 3/22 12 p.m. & School visits.
Jim Asher is a writer and musician whose day job is Assistant Principal Monticello High. He adapts poetry into songs and plays into musicals, his most recent being an adaptation of A Christmas Carol. 3/20 6 p.m. & School visits.
Julie Baker grew up in West Virginia, where she listened to many stories about the mine wars. She lives in Charlottesville, teaches English, and is learning to raise sheep and grow pawpaws. Her book is Up Molasses Mountain. School visits.
Josef Beery has participated in the Virginia Festival of the Book for years, teaching children bookmaking and illustrating techniques. He is a graphic designer. 3/22 12 p.m. & School visits.
Robin Braun has an M.F.A. in painting from the University of Iowa. She began ãThe Beeâs Dreamä four years ago and completed it in the Fall of 2002. 3/22 12 p.m.
Bly Brown has worked in education for more than twenty years, as a library media specialist in four elementary schools. Currently, she is the coordinator of Ready To Learn, a literacy Project at WVPT Public Television. School visits
Nancy Campbell is a librarian at the Jefferson-Madison Regional Library. School visits
Tim Carrier is a librarian at the Jefferson-Madison Regional Library. School visits
Play Partners, a program of Children, Youth and Family Services (CYFS), Inc. provides an avenue for increasing the quality of learning experiences of children in family day care homes in the Charlottesville-Albemarle area with enrichment activities related to the ãstory of the month.ä Trained volunteer teams present pre-literacy activities to children in the care of a provider for one hour a week from October through May. CYFS Inc. is a local private human service agency. 3/22 10:30 a.m., 1:00 p.m.
Tod Cohen is the photographer of Itâs Challah Time!. He is a professional wedding and family portrait photographer. 3/23 3 p.m.
Kathy Coleman has shared her Appalachian stories at the White House and regularly participates at the National Storytelling Convention in Jonesboro, Tennessee. Her stories and characters are drawn from the oral tradition of southwestern Virginia. School visits.
Sue Corbett is the daughter of Irish immigrants and grew up in a Long Island neighborhood similar to the one depicted in 12 Again. Ms. Corbett worked as a journalist for fifteen years. She lives in Virginia with her husband and their three children. 3/22 4 p.m.
Judy Cutright is the Director of Gifted Services at Burley Middle School, and she will read almost anything. School visits.
Pablo Davis is an Assistant Dean of Students and editor of CALENDARIO for the University community. In addition, he is Coordinator of the office of Students with Children (SWC) and, with his wife Elizabeth Pettinaroli, is a founder of La Hora de los Cuentos en Espa–ol. 3/22 10:30 a.m.
Debra Fabrizzi is currently the artist in resident at the Virginia Arts of the Book Center, located in the McGuffey Art Center in downtown Charlottesville. She is a letterpress printer, book artist, and sole proprietor of Furnace Fire Press. 3/22 10 a.m., 12 p.m., 2 p.m., 4 p.m.
Paul Fleisher is the author of educational software, and two dozen books for young people and educators, including Ice Cream Treats, Ants, and Secrets of the Universe. In 1999 he received the Thomas Jefferson Medal for Outstanding Contributions of Natural Science Education. School visits.
Frances Furlong has experience and education in the performing arts and literature. She was awarded a scholarship to study in Stratford-upon-Avon, England and a Virginia Commission for the Arts Fellowship. She is a founder of The Old Michie Theatre in Charlottesville. 3/22 12:30 p.m.
	Christina Goyne is a senior at Monticello High. She has studied voice in Italy and is the first student from Monticello High School to be selected for the Virginia Music Educators Association Honors Choir. School visits
	Rosemary Graham, who earned her Ph.D. in American literature from the University of Virginia, is an English professor at Saint Mary's College of California. Her young adult novel is My Not So Terrible Time at the Hippie Hotel. 3/22 4 p.m.
John Halliday is the Director of the Jefferson-Madison Regional Library. Shooting Monarchs is his first novel. School visits
	Earl HamnerÎs novels Spencerâs Mountain and The Homecoming were made into films and became the basis for the long running television series ãThe Waltons.ä Hamnerâs latest book, Good Night John-Boy, is an in-depth study of ãThe Waltons.ä 3/19 7 p.m.
George Harrar is the author of First Tiger, Parents Wanted, and Not As Crazy As I Seem for young adults. His short fiction has appeared in numerous magazines for children and adults. His short story ãThe 5:22ä won Story magazineâs Carson McCullers Prize and was in the 1999 edition of The Best American Short Stories. 3/22 4 p.m.
	Peggy Harrison has traveled extensively as a photographer and specializes in landscapes and in portraiture, which inspired her children's books, We Love Soccer and We Love Baseball. Peggy is also developing books for teenagers and adults. She lives in Charlottesville, with her son Evan. 3/22 1 p.m.
	Dan Hawes of Syntax Publishing is the author of the poetry collection, Pages of my Mind: Cool· Calm· COLLECTED. He is an academic instructor with the Department of Correctional Education in Virginia. School visits.
	Jen Hoffman is a member of the syndicated childrenâs radio program, ãTell Us A Tale,ä heard nationally on public radio stations (locally on WTJU 91.1 FM) and on-line at TellUsATale.com. She is a storyteller and actor. 3/15 1 p.m., 3/23 12 p.m.
Joy Jones is a teacher and lecturer She is the author of Between Black Women: Listening with the Third Ear, and the childrenâs book Tambourine Moon. School visits
	Peter Jones is the host and producer of the syndicated childrenâs radio program, ãTell Us A Tale,ä heard nationally on public radio stations (localled on 91.1 FM )and on-line at TellUsATale.com. When not on the radio, he does storytelling around the U.S. and Europe. 3/15 1 p.m., 3/23 12 p.m. (Radio)
Dee Keith taught Creative Drama, puppetry and Childrenâs theater at Broome County Community College in Binghamton, New York. She is now retired. Area Visits.
	Joan Kindig is an assistant professor at UVa, currently teaching graduate reading classes and childrenâs literature. She chairs the Virginia State Reading Program Ð Young Readerâs Program, is on the Editorial Board of Capitol Choices and is an active member of the Childrenâs Book Guild. 3/22 12 p.m.
Latifa Berry Kropf is the author of Itâs Challah Time! She has been making challah and teaching for 20 years. 3/23 3 p.m.
Barbara Spilman Lawson is a professional singer/storyteller who will present "Shake It Up, Sing It Out! Stories With a Twist!" Children and families will hunt for bears, yodel in the Alps, slurp lollipops, squish through mud, and more! School visits
Mary E. Lyons is a former reading specialist and school librarian. She began sharing the lost stories of Southerners, women, and African Americans in 1980. School visits.
Charlotte Matthews is a poet whose writing has recently appeared in The Mississippi Review, Sou'Wester and The Spoon River Poetry Review. She teaches writing at PVCC and at the Johns Hopkins University's Center for Distance Education. School visits.
Kathy May is the author of the Molasses Man. She also writes poetry and fiction. School visits.
	Pat Muller is the Childrenâs and Youth Services Consultant at the Library of Virginia. She has been a youth services librarian for thirty years and has served as President of the Young Adult Library Services Association. 3/22 12 p.m.
	UNABLE TO ATTEND Slade Njoku, author of Akula the Black Bird, is a Nigerian children's author who learned cultural traditions from his grandfather. Author of seven books, he has participated in the Great Basin Books Festival held in Reno Nevada in September 2002. School visits.
Matt Novak, childrenâs author and illustrator, attended the School of Visual Arts in New York. He has worked as a teacher, puppeteer and a Disney artist. His books Mouse TV and Newt have won national awards. School visits.
Fernando Opere is a poet, musician, and dramatist. He is a professor of Latin American literature at UVa. He has published seven books of poetry. School visits.
David Plunkett is a librarian at the Jefferson-Madison Regional Library. School Visits.
Frank Riccio is the illustrator of The Spirited Alphabet, Little Soul and the Sun, Baseball for Breakfast, and The World of Shoes. He uses juggling to involve children in storytelling. School visits.
Darrell Rose is well known for his African drumming and story telling. He currently plays with the Wailers and is preparing for a tour with Corey Harris. School visits.
Mark Rough entertains with traditional acoustic instruments, including the bombard, bouzouki, and wooden flute. He presently teaches fifth grade at Cale Elementary School. School visits.
Miriam Rushfinn is Director of the Parent Center, Inc. and a Motheread/Fatheread instructor. For over 20years she has worked with adult and childrenâs programs in hands-on and supervisory roles in schools, recreation, therapeutic and nonprofit settings. 3/22 2 p.m.
James Scott, author and performer, has been a stand-up comic for over twenty years. His book Louder is a collection of poems children love. School visits
Sarah Severs is a Media Specialist at Burley Middle School who loves to read mysteries. School visits.
	Marcia Silvermetz received her M.Ed in Sports Medicine / Exercise Physiology in 1981 at UVa. She loves writing about health for children and older adults. She lives in Charlottesville, directing Wavecrest Enterprises, including Hiccup Cottage Publications. 3/22 12 p.m.
Cathy Stapleton is the drama and music teacher at Free Union Country School. Cathy opened the Charlottesville School for the Dramatic Arts in 2001. School visitsThe CHS Theater Group is under the direction of David Small. Evening Performances 7 p.m.
Cyndra Van Cliefâs bookshop, The Book Bag, will be highlighting childrenâs books for sale throughout Saturdayâs Storyfest, including the artist speakers. 3/22 12 p.m.
Jacki Vawter is an early childhood education consultant and childrenâs literature specialist. She is a member of the Childrenâs Book Guild of Washington, D.C. and teaches childrenâs literature as an adjunct faculty member at UVa. 3/22 12 p.m.
The Voices of Cale, a group of children from Cale Elementary School is under the direction of Ms. Rebecca Pelton. They have performed with John McCutcheon, John Dearth, Jonathan Spivey, Darrell Rose, Cathy Fink and Marcy Marxer. They have recorded two CD's and are working on their third, a lullaby CD with music by Jim Asher. 3/19 7 p.m.
Debby Ware has been knitting all her life. She started designing knitted goods for children on Marthaâs Vineyard. After her recent move to Rapidan, Virginia, she continues to design knitting kits and has published Too Cute. School visits.
Ray-Mond White, full-time artist, studied at Piedmont Virginia Community College and Virginia Commonwealth University. His art on paper bags uses mixed media (pastels, pastel oils and pencils) and he develops workshops for art on recyclable materials. Area visits.
Carol Ziemer is a teacher with ten years classroom experience. She is a Motheread / Fatheread instructor, professional storyteller and artist. She owns Magical Celebrations, a party business, and runs a fine arts camp. 3/22 2 p.m. & School visits.

Join our email list to stay informed about developments and events.

top of page