Mamaroneck Author to Read from Her Latest Work at Children's Book Fair

Mamaroneck resident Charise Mericle Harper, author and illustrator of the "Just Grace" series, will be one of 50 writers and artists participating in the 13th annual presentation of "Celebrate Children's Day at Sunnyside" on Sept. 19 at Washington Irving's home and grounds in Tarrytown. The Celebrate Children's Day activities take place from noon to 6 pm.

The program provides a treasure trove of children's literature for book buyers and an opportunity for readers of early ages to meet and mingle with a large assembly of writers. "No where else have I seen such a heavy concentration of luminaries in the children's book world all gathered in one place," said Nick Bruel an author of kid's books from Tarrytown.

The Sunnyside program includes book readings, demonstrations, magic tricks, live music, and book signing at author tables.

Costumed characters, dressed as figures from children's tales, will roam the grounds—including Clifford the Big Red Dog, Bunnicula, Biscuit, and Franklin the Turtle. Magician Dikki Ellis will entertain from 12:30 to 4:30 p.m. Carole Demas, a resident of Irvington and Paula Janis, the creators and stars of the legendary children's television show The Magic Garden, will appear from 4:30 to 5:30 p.m.

Harper will read from her latest book "Pink Me Up" from 12:30 to 1 p.m. in the Apple Orchard. Born and raised in Vancouver, Canada, Harper attended Barat College in Chicago where she majored in marketing. She has lived in Mamaroneck for five years. 

Following college, she worked as a free-lance illustrator for newspapers and book companies and started a weekly comic strip called "Eye Spy," picked up by six newspapers.

Her first book was called "When I Grow Up" and it was intended for children six or under. "Pink Me Up," her twenty-fifth book, is about a little girl whose mom can't take her to a pink-dress party. So dad dons a disguise, replaces mom, and clothed in pink, escorts his daughter to the party. A brave volunteer from the audience will be sought to "pink up" like the father in the story.

Picnic food will be offered for purchase, provided by Geordanes, a food basket specialist with a shop in Irvington.

As an added incentive to attend the Children's Day event, all registrants will be offered free tours of the Sunnyside estate's cottage. Washington Irving was the writer of two of literature's most famous short stories: The Legend of Sleepy Hollow and Rip Van Winkle; he also wrote The Life of George Washington and A History of New York—the latter under the pseudonym Diedrich Knickerbocker.

Celebrate Children's Day was produced by Beth Vetare-Civitello and Susan Brandes and is sponsored by Sunnyside Federal Savings and Loan of Irvington.

The admission cost is $12 for adults, $10 for seniors, $6 for children 5 to 17, and free for children under 5 and Historic Hudson Valley members. Tickets can be purchased online at: www.hudsonvalley.org. 

Washington Irving's Sunnyside is located on South Broadway (Route 9) at its intersection with West Sunnyside Lane in Tarrytown, approximately one mile south of the Tappan Zee Bridge. 914-631-8200.