Kids Author Carnival

Yesterday was the perfect day, despite getting caught in two short rain showers. It started at the Morgan Library and Museum with an exhibit From Gatsby to Garp, books from famous American authors. Then a walk from Madison and 34th down to 10th Street and Avenue of the Americas. I had a chance to walk around the West Village, my favorite area in Manhattan. By the way, the Bees Knees is a cute café that has great coffee cake muffins.

But the highlight of the day was the Jefferson Market Library on 10th Street and Avenue of the Americas and its Kids Author Carnival. Talk about fostering the love of reading. Thirty or so authors played Charades and Pictionary with the young kids (elementary school age) using book titles. These kids were smart and knew their books. Some authors talked about writing and there were writing exercises/games for the kids. The kids had fun doing their thing and the adults had fun watching them. And I got a chance to meet Caroline Carlson, author of one of my favorite books, The Very Nearly Honorable League of Pirates series.

I had some time before meeting up with Abbe, so I walked around the block and stumbled on this wonderful little community garden right behind the library. It had paths to walk and benches to sit and meditate or people watch…I did both, I guess. A little oasis in the middle of the city. And it’s funny, but the sound of the birds drowned out the sound of the cars…or was that merely my imagination?

The next time you’re in Manhattan with nothing to do, visit the Jefferson Market Library and its community garden.