I attended the Children’s Literacy Fair in Thousand Oaks, CA today. It is great to see so many people coming together to support local public schools in the 24th district. Four local children’s authors were on hand for the entirely-volunteer effort: Mary Ann Fraser, Chris Warnock, Barbara Jean Hicks,  and Carol Heyer (pictured from left to right). Westlake Learning, a Thousand Oaks small business, helped sponsor the event and seven public schools participated. The Borders bookstore hosted the literacy fair.

Each of the authors, who live in Thousand Oaks, Simi Valley, and Oxnard, read from their books to groups of children who attended. They gave away free literacy-related gifts, and signed their books. Librarians from the participating schools (all elementary schools in the Conejo, Simi, and Moorpark School Districts were invited) provided lists of books they needed for their collections.

Parents, families, and community members came to support their schools by purchasing the discounted books which were hand-delivered to the local schools by Westlake Learning co-owner Sheri Hanson.