Literacy Fair at 2 Exposition Park Sites

This weekend’s Literacy Fair at the California Museum of Science and Industry and the California Afro-American Museum, both in Exposition Park, is two days filled with movies, storytelling and free books for participants. The goal is to make children aware of the many shapes literature takes and to encourage reading as a way to discover these things.

Movies inspired by classic children’s books will be screened both days at Kinsey Auditorium. Admission is free. Today’s schedule begins with “Curious George” and “Frog and Toad Together” at 10 a.m., “The Velveteen Rabbit” at 11 a.m., “The Mouse and the Motorcycle” at noon and 3 p.m. and “Molly’s Pilgrim” at 4 p.m. Sunday’s program begins with “Curious George” and “Frog and Toad Together” at 10 a.m. and 2 p.m., “The Mouse and the Motorcycle” at noon and 4 p.m., “Molly’s Pilgrim” at noon and 4 p.m. and “The Velveteen Rabbit” at 1 p.m. After each showing, there’ll be a drawing for free books of these titles.

Gallery Storytelling

There’s storytelling in the Rigler and Deutsch Gallery both days at noon, 1, 2 and 3 p.m. with kids gathering on the rug. Reading Is Fundamental, the organization that is sponsoring the fair, will give away a free book to each child who attends one of the storytellings. The organization expects to give away 2,000 books this weekend.

Live performances--all slick and sly ways to encourage reading even more--are set for two museum theaters. At the Hearst Theater, “Alice in Numberland” (performed by the Museum of Science and Industry’s resident theater group) starts at noon today and at 11:30 a.m. and 3:30 p.m. on Sunday. “We Tell Stories” goes on at 12:45 p.m. today and 1:30 p.m. Sunday. T’Bone the Clown’s “Wild About Reading Show” starts at 3:30 p.m. today and 12:30 p.m. Sunday.

Nearby at the Afro-American Museum, there’s a dramatic expression program at 11 a.m. both days followed by a Griot (the Afro-American storytelling tradition) performance at 1 p.m. and 3 p.m. Books by Afro-American writers will be given away.

Honorary chairman Ray Bradbury will speak on the subject of literacy at 1:30 p.m. today in Kinsey Auditorium. All programs are free. Parking is $1 (quarters only). Information: (213) 743-8632.