Stockard Channing, Condola Rashad and More Set for Beverly Cleary Celebration at Symphony Space

After the success of sold-out events two years running, featuring Paul Giamatti, Amy Ryan, Liev Schreiber, David Hyde Pierce, and Naomi Watts, Symphony Space and First Book NYC team up once again.

This time, the annual event on Sunday, April 3rd, will celebrate the treasured children's novelist Beverly Cleary on her 100th birthday with an all ages event as part of Symphony Space's Thalia Kids' Book Club series.

A Celebration of Beverly Cleary will feature authors Tony DiTerlizzi (The Spiderwick Chronicles), Jeff Kinney (Diary of a Wimpy Kid), Jarrett J. Krosoczka (The Lunch Lady series), and R. J. Palacio (Wonder) along with Stockard Channing, Condola Rashad, and stars of screen and stage, who will read from THE MOUSE AND THE MOTORCYCLE, RAMONA THE PEST, DR. MR. HENSHAW, and more.

The evening will include live drawings by the illustrators, readings, music, and a birthday sing-along for Ms. Cleary. Symphony Space is proud to sponsor Team First Book NYC for this event.

The event will take place on Sunday, April 3rd at 4 pm at Symphony Space's Peter Jay Sharp Theatre, 2537 Broadway, New York, NY. Tickets: $15 each; available online or by calling 212-864-5400.

Beverly Cleary is one of America's most beloved authors. As a child, she struggled with reading and writing. But by third grade, after spending much time in her public library in Portland, Oregon, she found her skills had greatly improved. Before long, her school librarian was saying that she should write children's books when she grew up. Instead she became a librarian. When a young boy asked her, "Where are the books about kids like us?" she remembered her teacher's encouragement and was inspired to write the books she'd longed to read but couldn't find when she was younger. She based her funny stories on her own neighborhood experiences and the sort of children she knew. And so, the Klickitat Street gang was born! Mrs. Cleary's books have earned her many prestigious awards, including the American Library Association's Laura Ingalls Wilder Award, presented to her in recognition of her lasting contribution to children's literature. Dear Mr. Henshaw won the Newbery Medal, and Ramona Quimby, Age 8 and Ramona and Her Father have been named Newbery Honor Books. Her characters, including Beezus and Ramona Quimby, Henry Huggins, and Ralph, the motorcycle-riding mouse, have delighted children for generations.

Team First Book NYC was founded in 2011 with one goal in mind: to provide books and educational resources to organizations supporting childhood literacy in the New York City metropolitan area. Each year, Team First Book NYC distributes thousands of brand-new books to underserved children and the programs that serve them throughout the New York City metro area. Founded in 2011, Team First Book NYC has granted more than 53,000 books to kids in need and looks forward to hosting its most successful fundraiser to date.

"The bar we set for our signature event is a high one to leap over, but the production we have planned this time around will surpass the expectations of anyone who enjoyed our previous shows," said Sean Gallagher, chair of Team First Book NYC. "Ultimately, our goal is to provide as many books as possible to the underserved children in our community. We want everyone who comes to our spring benefit to have a fantastic time, and to be inspired to support the kids in this community with action."