Children's Art and Literacy Festival

Celebrate the art of childhood

A festival bringing to life the work of BrianLies!
Exhibiting Artist at the NCCIL

FEATURED EVENTS
NO EXTRA FEE
We bring the best of children’s entertainment to you! Indoor events have limited capacity and are filled on a first come, first served basis.

Storybook Parade
5:30-6 pm Thursday, Cypress Street from North 1st to North 6th

Wave at all of your Storybook Capital friends as they reunite for the Storybook Parade down Cypress Street. See costumed characters from each year of the festival starting in 2012. The parade ends at the Abilene Convention Center, where the Storybook Sculpture unveiling will take place at 6:15 pm.

Evan’s Magnificent Garden Party
6:30 pm Thursday, Adamson-Spalding Storybook Garden

Wiggle and giggle as Austin singer Joe McDermott performs on the garden stage. Enjoy food trucks and entertainment before heading to the Paramount Theatre for “Sketch with Brian” with NCCIL summer artist Brian Lies at 7 p.m.

Evan’s Garden Sprinklers
Thursday-Saturday, Abilene Convention Center, 1100 N. 6th St.

Escape the heat by walking through our colorful, cooling mist experience at the Abilene Convention Center.

Music with Joe McDermott
Thursday, Adamson-Spalding Storybook Garden

Get ready to laugh, sing and be wacky with singer/songwriter Joe McDermott, who specializes in music for children. Enjoy his high energy, Austin-style pop sound.

Professor QB
Thursday, Adamson-Spalding Storybook Garden
9, 11 am, 1, 3 pm

Pirate. Clown. Magician. Mad scientist. You never know what character Professor QB is going to bring to the show. Professor QB is a premier family entertainer in Texas who has performed for thousands of people.

Sketch with Brian & Book Signings
There are multiple opportunities for Brian Lies to sign your books!

Following “Sketch with Brian” at 7 pm Thursday, Paramount Theatre Lobby. NCCIL books will be for sale in the lobby. The first 500 people will receive a special CALF button, Storybook Capital pencil and sketch book.

Become a NCCIL member before the festival and you can purchase Brian Lies books at the gift shop and leave them to be signed by Brian - no waiting in lines! Go to nccil.org to become a member!

Brian’s Magnificent Garden Art Exhibition
Opening Thursday Night, NCCIL

An exhibition of original art by Brian Lies (rhymes with “cheese”) will open Thursday night, June 8 at the National Center for Children’s Illustrated Literature. The exhibit will remain in the gallery, free to visit, through September.

Brian has written and/or illustrated more than 30 books, including the New York Times best-selling bat books (Bats at the Beach, Bats at the Library, Little Bat in Night School, etc.), which have been featured on NPR and The Martha Stewart Show. In 2019, The Rough Patch received a Caldecott Honor, a Massachusetts Book Award Honor, and a Crystal Kite Award from the Society of Children’s Book Writers and Illustrators.

Brian Lies Character Costume Contest

INFO
All ages are invited to participate by dressing as a favorite character from a book illustrated by Brian Lies! The contest consists of a simple display and turn in front of the judges. All contestants are invited to participate in the Storybook Parade immediately following the contest.

Special keepsake for all contestants! Prizes for first through third place in each category!

REGISTER
Go online to www.abilenecalf.com to pre-register. Register in person the day of the event from 3:15-3:45 p.m.

WHEN: Registration ends at 3:45 p.m. Judging starts promptly at 4 p.m. Thursday, June 8, 2023

WHERE: Elks Arts Center, 1174 N. 1st St.

IDEAS: Check out our Pinterest page for inspiration at www.pinterest.com/abilenearts

CATEGORIES:

AGES 0-4: Prizes for first through third place.

AGES 5-7: Prizes for first through third place.

AGES 8+: Special consideration given to costumes at least partially created by the participants. Prizes for first through third place.

GROUPS: Three or more contestants with the same themed costume may enter. Prizes for first through third place.

Sculpture Unveiling
Help us welcome Evan and His Dog to the Storybook Capital! Evan the fox and his doggy friend will be unveiled in the Adamson-Spalding Storybook Garden at 6:15 p.m. Thursday, June 8, 2023 on the east lawn of the Abilene Convention Center. This beautifully crafted bronze sculpture was inspired by the Brian Lies book The Rough Patch. The sculpture was created by local Storybook Sculptor Steve Neves and cast in bronze by Schaefer Art Bronze. The unveiling will take place after the Storybook Parade.

Abilene is home to nearly 40 storybook sculptures, which is the largest collection of its kind in America, if not the world!

Storybook Capital Scavenger Hunt
The game goes live at 5:30 p.m. Thursday, June 8, 2023.

Here’s how you play:

Download the free GooseChase app for Android or iPhone.

Sign up and select a user name. Team members can download the app on their own phones but must use the same user name for log in.

Join the game by searching for “2023 Abilene CALF GooseChase.”

Complete as many missions as possible by 8 p.m. Saturday, June 10, 2023. Complete missions by submitting creative photos, video or text within the app.

Keep an eye on the real-time rankings and photo feeds to see what everyone else is up to!

Do not climb on the smaller sculptures to take photos. Everman Park with the Dr. Seuss sculptures is closed during train hours and open at lunchtime from 12 to 1 p.m.

Complete at least 10 missions to pick up your prize at the T&P Depot - Sandman button

GRAND PRIZE WINNERS! The highest ranked team (by committee review) receives five signed Brian Lies books. A prize will also be given for most creative photos!

Ticketed Brian Lies Events at the NCCIL

To Register https://www.abilenecalf.com/registration