Books are only part of fun for kids at book fair on 57th

Professor Dumbledore, headmaster of Harry Potter’s school of magic, will lead a parade of children to kick off the 15th annual 57th Street Children’s Book Fair from 1 to 5 p.m., Sunday, Sept. 23.

Children may dress as their favorite storybook characters and join the parade, which begins at 12:45 p.m., in front of 57th Street Books, 1301 E. 57th St. The parade participants will march through the fair site from Kimbark to Dorchester Avenue and back.

More than 15 Chicago booksellers, ranging from national chains to specialty stores, will showcase their collections of new and used children’s books. Storytellers, puppeteers, singers, dancers and musicians will perform on three open-air stages throughout the afternoon. Performers will include storyteller Denise Berry-Hanna, the Chicago Storytelling Guild, puppeteer Marilyn Price, Dance Africa and the Hyde Park Youth Symphony.

The fair also will include face painting, arts-and-crafts activities and three-dimensional “storybook rooms” based on “Where’s Spot?” and “The Three Little Pigs.” Several winners of the Chicago Public Schools Young Authors competition will read their works in the storybook rooms.

The book fair, part of World Music Festival: Chicago 2001, will feature a performance by Rup Tung Cack, a Vietnamese folk group, as well as a preview of “Alice in Wonderland” by the Hyde Park School of Ballet. As part of Chicago Book Week, the ballet will be performed in its entirety Sunday, Oct. 14, in Mandel Hall, 1131 E. 57th St.

The University’s Office of Community Affairs and the Mayor’s Office of Special Events are sponsoring the book fair. Arne Duncan, newly appointed Chief Executive Officer of the Chicago Public Schools and a longtime resident of Hyde Park, will serve as this year’s honorary chairman.