For kids of all ages, the afternoon festival promises an exciting and fun-filled day of activities including children's workshops, performances of the musical Wild Things Whirligig, a book fair featuring Sendak favorites and other children's titles, and special tours of the Rosenbach's Maurice Sendak Gallery. [A full schedule of programs and events follows below.]

The Sendak in Spring Festival is free with museum admission. Admission is $8 for adults, $5 for students and seniors, and free for children under 5. Advance reservations for Wild Things Whirligig performances are required and can be made at www.rosenbach.org. The Rosenbach Museum & Library is located at 2008-2010 DeLancey Place and can be contacted at (215) 732-1600.

The festival will present four performances of the popular Wild Things Whirligig, an energetic, interactive children's musical that weaves together classic characters from Sendak's works as well as the author's own inspirational figures, including Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart. Created by Karen Saillant, Artistic Director of the International Opera Company, the performance chronicles the characters' journey to the land of the Wild Things.

Emphasizing the importance of imagination and everyday creativity, the festival will present three thirty-minute workshops, offered twice per day, which explore the art of storytelling through music, illustration, the spoken word, and book making.

In between workshops and performances, children will have the opportunity to visit The Maurice Sendak Gallery and view original drawings from many of Sendak's books. Inaugurated in 2003, the gallery is dedicated to showcasing the works and personal collections of the author, whose original drawings and drafts of books are on deposit at the museum. The festival will also host a Children's Book Fair in the Rosenbach shop, which features an excellent selection of children's books, including the largest collection of Sendak books in the Philadelphia area.

One of the best-loved creators of contemporary children's books, Maurice Sendak has authored and illustrated 84 books in a career spanning nearly seven decades. The themes and illustrations that characterize Sendak's work have challenged the norms of children's literature over time and continue to entrance both children and adults to this day. His innovative techniques and honest portrayal of childhood emotion are celebrated worldwide and have earned him several prestigious honors, including the Caldecott Book Medal (1964), the international Hans Christian Andersen Medal (1970), the National Medal of Arts (1996), a Library of Congress "Living Legend" medal (2000), and the Astrid Lindgren Memorial Award for Literature (2003).

About the Rosenbach
The Rosenbach Museum & Library seeks to inspire curiosity, inquiry, and creativity by engaging broad audiences in exhibitions, programs, and research based on its remarkable and expanding collections. The museum was founded by legendary book dealer A.S.W. Rosenbach and his brother and business partner Philip. With an outstanding collection of rare books, manuscripts, furniture, and art, the Rosenbach is a museum and world-renowned research library, set within two historic 1865 townhouses, that reflects an age when great collectors lived among their treasures.

This program has been generously funded by the Independence Foundation and the Ellis. A. Gimbel Trust.

Sendak in Spring Festival: April 22 & April 28, 2007
Daily Schedule & Program Descriptions

12:00 - 12:30 Choose a Workshop
12:30 - 1:00 Visit the Sendak Gallery and Book Fair
1:00 - 1:45 See the Whirligig performance reservations required
1:45 - 2:00 Visit the Sendak Gallery and Book Fair
2:00 - 2:30 Choose a Workshop
2:30 - 3:00 Visit the Sendak Gallery and Book Fair
3:00 - 3:45 See the Whirligig performance reservations required

Performance - Wild Things Whirligig:
Go wild at the Rosenbach with a dynamic, interactive performance inspired by the wonderful works of Maurice Sendak. Created by Karen Saillant, Artistic Director of the International Opera Theater, this production weaves together classic characters and Sendak's own inspirational figures, including Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart.

Seating for this popular performance is limited; book tickets online at www.rosenbach.org. Non-refundable pre-payment is required for all Whirligig performances.

Workshops (offered twice each day):
Story Songs: This workshop led by Philadelphia's favorite storyteller Linda Goss will have kids clapping their hands and stomping their feet in a call-and-response storytelling session, while artist Gretchen Shannon instructs children on how to create their own whirligigs (an object that spins or whirls).

Book Making for Children of All Ages: Renowned book artist Jude Robison will teach children how to make their own books, including an Origami Book, a Castle Book, and a collaborative Wishing Star Book.

Story Invention: Author and illustrator Alexander Stadler - creator of the children's series Beverly Billingsly - will illustrate a group-driven story, on the spot. As participants fill in the plot, Alex will bring the story to visual life, right before the children's eyes.

Where: The Rosenbach Museum & Library, 2008-2010 DeLancey Place, Philadelphia
Festival Hours: Sunday, April 22, 12:00 - 4:00 p.m., Saturday, April 28, 12:00 - 4:00 p.m.
Admission: $8 for adults, $5 for students and seniors, free for children under 5
For Information: (215) 732-1600, www.rosenbach.org

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