Literarily fun

Book lovers can familiarize themselves with this year's new releases at next week's 45th annual Hebrew Book Week.

By JERUSALEM POST STAFF
book week 88 (photo credit: Courtesy)
book week 88
(photo credit: Courtesy)
Book lovers will have an opportunity to familiarize themselves with this year's new releases and rediscover old favorites during next week's countrywide 45th annual Hebrew Book Week. Running Wednesday, June 7, to Saturday night, June 17, and starting at 6 p.m. each evening except Saturdays, the festival features book fairs and fun throughout Israel. Festival-goers can choose from an impresive array of reasonably priced titles from 150 publishing houses and also enjoy a variety of free cultural events. Tel Aviv's Ganei Yehoshua in Hayarkon Park will provide the setting for a fair featuring an assortment of children's activities including art and magician workshops and a creativity corner. The highlight of the event will be the "Read to Succeed" tent. Aimed at encouraging children to read, the tent will host a selection of Israel's best childrens authors reading excerpts form their books. Among those slated to appear are Orit Dvir, Gila Oz and Yehuda Atlas. Jerusalem's event, which has varied in location in recent years, will take place for the first time at the compound near the old train station across from Libery Bell Garden. A pop-up book exhibition, meetings with popular authers including Nira Harel and Ronit Haham, and a "Kids Coffee Bar" are some of the options available for children. Adults can enjoy a variety of musical performances based on themes of poetry, theater and books. Outside the railroad compound, bar, caf and restaurant patrons will get the chance to meet bookish personalities from authors to translators, poets to literary researchers. Shoppers at Haifa's Grand Kanyon Mall can take advantage of discounts at a number of stores in honor of the city's fair. The mall will host authors, singing groups, musicians, workshops and more. Beersheva leads the many other smaller towns across the country also taking part. The city's book events will take place at the BIG shopping center, with plenty of performances and activities for children. In one book fair innovation, the caf s of Beersheva's old city will host authors and other literary folk, while performances at minimal prices will be spread throughout the town. For more details, log on to www.sfarim.org.il.