Spreading the word

The Central Library’s Authors Festival inspires local children to read. Abbey Sue, a Labrador-chow mix, had lost her home and landed at the Humane Society in Huntington Beach, but then things starting looking up. First she found a new home -- with Huntington Beach resident Elizabeth Lubin -- and then she found literary stardom.

Abbey Sue is the subject of Lubin’s 32-page picture book, “Pound Pup,” which will be featured in the Authors Festival sponsored by the Friends of the Children’s Library at the Huntington Beach Central Library.

The three-day event, now in its 19th year, starts Sunday and concludes Tuesday with a full day of activities.

“This is a great opportunity for me, and I’m thrilled to be sharing the story with local schoolchildren,” said Lubin, a substitute librarian in the Ocean View School District and volunteer at the Humane Society.

As part of the Authors Festival, forty children’s writers and illustrators, including Lubin and two others who live in Huntington Beach, will make guest appearances at 25 local schools and libraries.

It is estimated that they will reach an audience of more than 15,000 elementary and middle-school children in Huntington Beach and Fountain Valley, said Jo Anne Rankin, president of the Friends of the Children’s Library.

“Through this festival, the goal is to really encourage kids to read and write,” Rankin said. “We hope having these authors and illustrators make personal visits to local schools will inspire these students.”

On Sunday, the public is welcome to attend a special “Family Story Time” at the library’s Tabby Theater. Featured authors include Laurie Knowlton (“Why Cowboys Sleep With Their Boots On”) and the team of Judith Enderle and Stephanie Gordon (“Hide and Seek Turkeys”).

On Tuesday, the 40 participants will be escorted to local schools, where they will be authors-in-residence for the day.

Students at each school will participate in activities and discussions about the author’s work. Lubin will read to students at Sun View School on Tuesday.

From 2:30 to 4:30 p.m. Tuesday, 20 of the authors will return to the library for a reception and talk with students and their parents.

“This used to be a one-day thing, but now it’s a full three days and it’s a really wonderful event,” said Mary-Pat Gonzalez, a librarian who helped organize the event. “We have some very talented authors coming out to meet and read to the children. It’s going to be great.”

Lubin has shared story time in recent weeks with students at Huntington Beach’s Perry, Eader, College View and Harbour View elementary schools. During her visits, she shares stories with students about the dogs at the Humane Society still awaiting adoption.

“I’ve also done book fairs and visited libraries, complete with slide shows,” Lubin said. “”This is so much fun for me. I not only get to share my book with these students, but talk to them about the wonderful rewards of adopting a pet.”20060126itmgtyncKENT TREPTOW / INDEPENDENT(LA)Barbara Richardson reads “Six Snowy Sheep” at the Tabby Storytime Theater at Huntington Beach Central Library on Tuesday. The authors of the book, Judith Enderle and Stephanie Gordon, will be among the writers participating in the library’s Authors Festival.