> By Heather Cook

Monkey See, Monkey Do...Children’s Bookstore is a cozy literary hub in Clarence (9060 Main Street) with a big dream of educating and engaging our children through literacy. This is not your typical bookstore. They offer after school literacy clubs for K-6 students, adult book clubs, tutoring, and many fun literacy events. They can even help your child get a head start at one of their one-hour literacy-based preschool classes, where children engage in weekly literacy themes in learning their alphabet, numbers, shapes and coloring skills.If your child loves the atmosphere and culture of Monkey See, Monkey Do, you can go ahead and host their birthday party there, too.

The bookstore received the Women’s National Book Association (WNBA) Pannell Award in 2012. This award is given out to recognize and publicly applaud the work of booksellers who stimulate, promote and encourage children’s and young people’s interest in books. In December, 2014 James Patterson gifted Monkey See, Monkey Do...Children’s Bookstore with seed money to implement their dream: The WNY Children’s Book Expo.

On Saturday, November 14, 10:00am—3:00pm, you can join Monkey See, Monkey Do...Children’s Bookstore at Kleinhans Music Hall along with 30 authors. Princesses Anna & Elsa will make an appearance. The music hall will be overflowing with exciting exhibits, creative workshops, hands-on activities and performances in the Main Lobby, Mary Seaton Room and Auditorium Stage throughout the day.

A few of their main events are as follows (Don’t fret; there are more than 20 others!):

11-11:45am—Keynote Speaker, Dr. Tererai Trent will present in the Main Auditorium at Kleinhans. Dr. Trent is defined as today’s most internationally recognized voices for quality education and women’s empowerment, she is a symbol of hope for children around the world.

12:10-12:30pm—Marilyn Cappellino, author of the Mangia! series of recipe books for kids, stresses family, fun and healthful foods in her cooking. See her holiday themed EXPO demonstration titled “A Sweet Way to Say ‘Thank You!’” She will be presenting on the Monkey See, Monkey Do...Main Stage in the Mary Seaton Room!

1:30-2:15pm—The second keynote speaker, Susan Bosak, will be on the Main Stage at Kleinhans at 1:30pm. Bosak’s book, Dream, is a story about time, legacies, and hopes and dreams across a lifetime illustrated by 15 top children’s illustrators from five countries.

The event is sure to spark the interest of young and adult book lovers in WNY by way of “bringing books to life” at a fun, memorable event. This is free and open to the public. The bookstore has more than 130 titles in stock for the WNY Children’s Book Expo authors. If you buy your favorite books before the Expo, you can save up to 20 percent. Drop by the bookstore this week to shop or call 716-204-8417 for more information.