CAPTIVATING STORYTELLERS, STORYBOOK CHARACTERS,

(MIAMI, FL - APRIL 2, 2012)
The Miami-Dade Public Library System presents its 12th annual Art of Storytelling (AOS) International Festival Day on Saturday, April 28, from 10:30 a.m. through 4 p.m. at the Main Library, 101 W. Flagler Street, downtown Miami. The event is free and open to all ages.

The day kicks-off with a traditional dragon dance in honor of this year’s international exchange partner: the Taipei Public Library in Taiwan. Throughout the day, guests will experience stories and tales from renowned storytellers like Alton Chung, Arianna Ross, Toni Simmons, Randel McGee, Shana Banana, Jackson Gilman and Andy Offutt Irwin.

Bigger and better this year is the Teen Zone – a special area for youth ages, 13-18. The Teen Zone features an anime/magna competition, lots of zombie and steam punk-related activities, a performance by the rock band Live School of Music and a Cosplay costume contest. For the little ones, there will be a cast of storybook characters for them to meet and the nine-foot tall puppets of the Bit’s ‘N Pieces Puppet Theatre will captivate the entire family. Special guests performing on the plaza include Bollywood Indian Dancers, a Kung Fu demonstration, a Fu Manchu show, a Chinese fan dance and the rhythmic sounds of Afrocon Tempo. The cultural plaza will be filled with entertainment including magicians, stilt-walkers, face-painting, arts and crafts, ethnic foods, and a traditional West Indian carnival parade.

AOS, developed by the Library System in 2001, also includes an international library-to-library exchange; storytelling workshops and a Tales under the Stars showcase series. Free parking is available (while spaces last), at the Miami-Dade Cultural Center Garage, 50 NW 2nd Avenue and the Hickman Garage, 270 NW 2nd Street. For a full schedule of events and more information, visit www.mdpls.org or call 305.375.BOOK (2665).