Young people and grown-ups alike celebrated the beauty and power of books at Chapin’s treasured Book Fair, which took place October 26, 27 and 28.
With the theme of “Dream Big!” as it's anchor, this much-anticipated event kicked off on Thursday evening with a bustling cocktail reception in the hot air balloon- and cloud-adorned Assembly Room. The reception featured remarks from Head of School Suzanne Fogarty, an exciting raffle, author signings, and delicious food and drinks (the signature cotton-candy cocktail was a crowd favorite).
The following day, with Lower and Middle School girls visiting their classes and Upper School students came on their own for energetic book browsing and shopping opportunities (including Gator Gear offerings). Throughout the Fair, a collection of notable authors shared their books and writing journeys with students in every division. As well, for the first time, the Book Fair extended to Saturday with a captivating roster of events for the whole family.
Leading up to the official Book Fair, these authors gave talks to our students:
Lower School:
Elyssa Friedland, author of “The Museum of Lost Teeth” (October 25)
Lauren Tarshis, author of the “I Survived…” series, including the most recent, “I Survived the Great Alaska Earthquake, 1964” (October 25)
Middle School:
Karina Yan Glaser, author of the “Vanderbeekers” series, including “The Vanderbeekers Ever After, Book 7” (October 10)
Brian Selznick, author of “Big Tree” and “The Invention of Hugo Caberet” (October 26)
Upper School:
Mattie Kahn, author of “Young and Restless: The Girls Who Sparked America’s Revolutions” (October 24)
In addition, the following authors joined us to share their books during Saturday’s Family Day:
Misako Rocks, “No Such Thing as Perfect (Bounce Back 2)” and “Bounce Back 1,” Book Talk and Drawing Workshop (for Lower and Middle School)
Abby Hanlon, “Dory Fantasamagory: Can’t Live Without You,” Book 6 in the “Dory” series (for Lower and Middle School)
Matthew Longo, “The Picnic: A Dream of Freedom and Collapse of the Iron Curtain” (for Upper School)
Below are the presenting authors who kindly signed their books during the Book Fair whom we would also like to thank:
Chapin community members:
Lisa Greenwald, “Absolutely, Positively Natty” and “Ellie’s Deli”
Lauren Willig ’95, “Two Wars and a Wedding”
Anne Walker ’91 and Peter Pennoyer, “Peter Pennoyer Architects: City/Country”
Elyssa Friedland, “The Museum of Lost Teeth”
Karina Yan Glaser, “The Vanderbeekers Ever After: Book 7”
Vashti Harrison, “BIG”
Mattie Kahn, “Young and Restless: The Girls Who Sparked America’s Revolutions”
Victoria Kann, “Pinkalicious and the Pinkamazing Little Library” and “Pinkalicious”
Claribel Ortega, “Witchlings: The Golden Frog Games” and “Witchlings 1”
Misako Rocks, “No Such Thing as Perfect (Bounce Back 2)” and “Bounce Back 1”
Christian Trimmer, “The Good Hair Day”
“Dream Big!” represented the hard work and imagination of the Parents’ Association Book Fair Co-Chairs and an amazing committee of volunteers who gave their all to make this event such a resounding success. We thank:
Susan Butts, Vendor Management & Author Acquisition
Lucia Corral, Decor
Mary Ellen Miller, Author Hospitality & Volunteers
Mindy Oh, Marketing
Carolyn Rosebrough, Marketing
Felicity Tan, Project Management, Finance & Technology
Yukari Pass, Raffle
Diana Jagannath, Raffle
Committee: Anne Hogarty, Ayesha Siddiqui, Caroline Laumann, Caroline Waxler, Carrie Hughes, DeNora Getachew, Diana Eng, Diana Kirke, Helen Wong, Jessie Beller, Kimberley Yoon, Lauren Sachs, Mary Elizabeth Catala, Mrinalini Dave, Pamela Ortega, Pari Shah, Patty Seyfert, Sheryl Shah, Violet Feng, Young Park.
We are also grateful to Alana, Tivia and Richard Kramer for their generous sponsorship of the Book Fair and additional contributors.
Thanks also to the more than 150 volunteers for their invaluable assistance and to Chapin’s Food Services and Facilities teams; our librarians and teachers; the students who helped with the Book Fair video and artwork; and the many members of the professional community who made this event shine.
Finally, a huge thank you to everyone in the Chapin community who purchased books to support our school and to the families who donated books to under-resourced schools through Project Cicero. Joyful reading to all!
