12th Children’s Art + Literacy Festival (CALF)-Celebrate the art of childhood
CALF is four days of fun for one low pass price! We celebrate the children’s books of the summer artist on exhibit at the National Center for Children’s Illustrated Literature. This year it is LeUyen Pham, who has illustrated more than 120 books! Experience dramatic readings, costume characters, art activities and the best children’s entertainers in Texas. As you complete different activities, earn a book character button for your lanyard, a beloved CALF tradition. Registration opens in February 2024.
Featured Events
Dramatic Readings Celebrate LeUyen Pham’s books with amazing readers from Young Audiences of Abilene! Some readings feature one book, and some feature two shorter books. Each session is followed by an art activity suitable for small children at no extra cost! Meet a costume character from the book and collect a character button for your lanyard.
Reading times Friday & Saturday
Morning: 9, 9:45, 10:30, 11:15 am
Afternoon: 12, 12:45, 1:30, 2:15, 3*, 3:45* pm
*The NCCIL will not have readings late Friday afternoon in order to prepare for the LeUyen Pham dinner in the gallery. For more information on the dinner, go to nccil.org
All About LeUyen
LeUyen Pham (pronounced “Lay-Win Fam”) was born in Saigon (now Ho Chi Minh City). Her family left in the final days of the Vietnam War and settled in Southern California. LeUyen spent two years at UCLA studying political science when she decided to take an art class. Impressed with her work, the head of the art department guided her toward the prestigious ArtCenter College of Design in Pasadena, where she majored in illustration. After graduation, LeUyen worked for DreamWorks’ Feature Animation division as a layout artist and illustrated books on the side.
Her book career took off, and she left DreamWorks to write and illustrate full time. Today, LeUyen is a New York Times Bestselling author and illustrator of more than 135 books. She illustrated the Vampirina Ballerina picture book series by Anne Marie Pace a Disney Junior animated TV series. LeUyen and Shannon Hale co-created the groundbreaking, best-selling graphic novel memoirs Real Friends, Best Friends and Friends Forever, and they teamed up for the best-selling picture IttyBitty Kitty-Corn series. Her book “Bear Came Along” by author Richard T. Morris received a 2020
Caldecott Honor. LeUyen and her family live in Los Angeles, and she says her friends call her “Win.” ART EXHIBIT:
”LeUyen Came Along” Opening at the National Center for Children’s Illustrated Literature at 3 p.m. June 13, 2024 and on exhibit through Sept. 13 DINNER:
“Pink Party with LeUyen Pham” at 6 pm Friday, June 14. This special dinner hosted by the National Center for Children’s Illustrated Literature (NCCIL). LeUyen will sign books at this event. Tickets at nccil.org/calf WORKSHOP:
9-9:45 am and 10-10:45 am Saturday in the art studio.
Cost is free for NCCIL members and $20 per child for non-members LeUyen will sign books for workshop registrants Limited spots. Register at nccil.org/calf
BOOK SIGNINGS:
Thursday night, June 13 at Paramount Theatre
Friday morning at NCCIL Gallery
Saturday morning for workshop registrations in NCCIL Studio
Friday night during “Pink Party with LeUyen Pham” at NCCIL
About the National Center for Children’s Illustrated Literature
The NCCIL (pronounced “nickel”) is located at 102 Cedar St. in downtown Abilene and collaborates with award-winning illustrators to produce exhibitions of their artwork that are distinctive, appealing to museum visitors of all ages, and of the highest quality. In addition to this unique artistic partnership, following its debut at the NCCIL gallery, each exhibition travels to museums, public libraries, and galleries nationwide. To the local community, the NCCIL offers:
Opportunities to meet visiting artists during exhibition opening events
FREE family art activities every Saturday from 10 AM-1 PM
Instructed exhibition tours for students
Annual workshops and art camps
Books signed by exhibiting artists
National Center for Children’s Illustrated Literature (NCCIL)
102 Cedar St.
COSTUME CHARACTER: Bear
TAKE-HOME ART ACTIVITY: NCCIL Activity Pack
OTHER EVENTS: Exhibition of LeUyen Pham’s original artwork in the gallery. She will sign books purchased from the NCCIL on Thursday night at Paramount Theatre and Friday morning at the NCCIL. Reserve your spot for a Saturday morning workshop with LeUyen or Friday night dinner with LeUyen at nccil.org/calf. Books will be for sale at the NCCIL during CALF. Books will be for sale at T&P Depot 9 am-4 pm June 10-12 and 9 am-12 pm June 13.
NOTES: Bathrooms available. Strollers must be parked outside. LeUyen’s books available for purchase in the gift shop. Become a NCCIL member and leave your books to be signed before the festival and avoid lines!
The Grace Museum
102 Cypress St.
COSTUME CHARACTER: Mouse
ART ACTIVITY: Make a clay mouse
NOTES: Bathroom with diaper changing table available. Stroller parking inside. Readings on first floor; art activity in the courtyard. No cost to tour museum for CALF registrants. Spark history and art space will be closed to CALF attendees.
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DoubleTree by Hilton Heritage Ballroom C, 500 Cypress St. COSTUME
CHARACTERS: Itty-Bitty Kitty-Corn and Unicorn ART ACTIVITY: Make a paper bag pug dog
OTHER EVENTS: Visit the CALF Bakery for cookie decorating and other treats. Watch the show Grace for President. NOTES: Bathrooms available with changing table. Stroller parking inside. Restaurant open for breakfast, lunch and dinner and gift shop with snacks for sale.
Community Foundation 850 N. 1st St.
COSTUME CHARACTER: Vampirina
ART ACTIVITY: Make a surfing Vampirina NOTES: Bathrooms available. Stroller parking inside. Frontier Texas! 625 N. 1st St. COSTUME CHARACTER: Duck
TAKE-HOME ACTIVITY: Bear headband
OTHER EVENTS: Birds of Prey shows by Sky Kings Falconry
NOTES: Bathroom with diaper changing table available. Stroller parking outside. Tour museum at discounted price. Majestic 173 Pine St. Retro CALF Readings! Favorite festival characters from previous years are back –with new stories! Meet characters from each book and collect a vintage CALF button. Led by McMurry Theatre’s talented Neena McLain. COSTUME CHARACTERS: Variety from past CALF years NOTES: Bathrooms available. Stroller parking outside. Abilene Zoo 2070 Zoo Lane Reading times: 10:30, 11:30 am Costume Character: Vampirina
Notes: Wear your CALF pass to the zoo and get in free! Animal Encounter and art activity following each reading.
ART ears
9:30,