Free books are just the start at African American Children's Book Fair Saturday

ILLUSTRATOR and author Eric Velasquez still treasures the books his mother would read to him when he was a child.

Even before he could read in English, his second language, Velasquez would flip through the pages with wide-eyed wonder while his mother was away. He would try to remember the stories, and when he couldn't do that, he'd imagine his own story.

"Ownership of the books is very important, because you bond with the books," Velasquez said. "The characters are becoming something special for you."

Velasquez is one of 26 authors and illustrators from across the country who will be featured at the 23rd African American Children's Book Fair tomorrow.

Hundreds of free books will be available, thanks to corporate and other sponsors, and thousands more will be for sale.

The free event will be from 1 to 3 p.m. in the Community College of Philadelphia Athletics Center.

The book fair also will feature workshops and the opportunity to interact with the authors and illustrators.

"It's just a wonderful event," said Carole Boston Weatherford, an author who has collaborated with Velasquez. Weatherford will attend the fair; she has been involved with the event for a few years. "It's an opportunity to meet and connect with young readers. To me, that's the most rewarding part."

Velasquez said he also loves the interaction, especially when someone tells him that one of his illustrations resembles someone they know.

"At that point, I feel that I've hit a chord with them," Velasquez said. "The people I illustrate represent someone real in their lives - that my work isn't caricaturing them to the point that they aren't able to connect with my characters on a human level."

Both artists tackle heavy topics in their work: Weatherford chronicles historic segregated lunch-counter protests in Freedom on the Menu: The Greensboro Sit-Ins, and Velasquez illustrates a story of the discrimination that black customers faced while trying to purchase footwear in New Shoes.

Book-fair founder and organizer Vanesse Lloyd-Sgambati said that children's books are an appropriate way to introduce heavy topics to youth.

"It's part of the tapestry of all of our lives," Lloyd-Sgambati said. "To negate it and not to discuss it opens the door for your children to have the wrong discussion with someone else."

In addition to exploring tough subjects, many of the books offer insight into African-American culture and history. However, Lloyd-Sgambati emphasized that all kids are welcome at Saturday's event.

The goal is clear - to get new books into eager little hands.

"I really, truly believe that the key to the future is literacy for our children," Velasquez said.