New exhibition at the Canadian Children's Museum promotes reading: ADVENTURES INTO BOOKS: GUMBY'S WORLD
May 14, 1998, Hull, Quebec — Children are invited to step into the world of books with the book-loving guide, Gumby®. Visitors can "walk into" giant books leading to adventures in space or down into an archaeological dig — and discover the incredible variety of ways to learn about the world around us. Visitors will get to know the popular clay animation figure Gumby and share in this character's enthusiasm for reading and the adventure it offers.
Adventures into Books: Gumby's World is a hands-on exhibition designed to appeal primarily to children aged 5 to 12 years. Developed by the Bay Area Discovery Museum in Sausalito, California, Gumby's World is now open to the public at the Canadian Children's Museum in Hull, and will run until October 11, 1998.
OPENING WEEKEND MAY 16 TO 18This long weekend, May 16 to 18, is opening weekend for Adventures into Books: Gumby's World. The Canadian Children's Museum extends an invitation to all children and their families to join in three days of fun and imaginative activities:
Saturday and Sunday, Gumby's Family Fun Film encourages children to put their imagination to work by making their own mini-film. Cameras roll at 11:00 a.m. and at 2:00 p.m. The cost is $2 per family.
Sunday and Monday, Performers for Literacy put on an interactive storytelling show that demonstrates, in a most engaging and entertaining way, how reading, writing, speaking and listening really make the world go round. Performers Beverly Wolfe and Mary Burns lead the activity in English at 3:00 p.m. both days. In French, Francis Leblanc and Shannon Reynolds put the spotlight on literacy at 1:30 p.m. each day. There is a maximum of 50 participants per show.
Adventures into Books: Gumby's World is the first exhibition to feature Gumby, the popular green clay animation figure, created by Art Clokey back in 1953. Since then, Gumby's escapades into books have entertained several generations of children. In the age of television, Gumby's long-running television show always began with the adventurous character stepping into a storybook to experience prehistoric or future events. Gumby has since been adopted as mascot for the American Library of Congress' Centre for the Book.
At each component of Adventures into Books: Gumby's World, visitors encounter the fun-loving Gumby venturing into books. Two walk-in book environments invite children to experience adventures into stories: Dig the Past and Adventures in Space, where they can engage in a scientific exploration of the past or embark on a science-fiction journey into the future. Focusing on children's ability to find adventure and solve problems using books, both environments encourage visitors to make their own choices about how each story will proceed.
In Dig the Past, a cave and dig area offer exciting mysteries to be solved. Here, children can become archaeologists, decipher cave paintings, and dig for artifacts. Adventures in Space lures visitors onto a spaceship in which they can travel to the imaginary planet of their choice. Kids become starship captains, consulting wacky star charts and interplanetary guides as they careen around the galaxy encountering interesting aliens. But life on board this spaceship requires more than just a healthy thirst for adventure: in the "everyday life" area, there are meals to be absorbed and bedtime to contend with — which can't be completed without a story to read!
At the Creation Stations, kids can create their own books in a variety of ways and — yes — they can view vintage footage of Gumby's long-running television show!
Adventures into Books: Gumby's World is adventurous, fun and seeks to foster a lifelong love of reading!
Information (media):
Media Relations Officer: (819) 776-7169
Senior Media Relations Officer: (819) 776-7167
Fax: (819) 776-7187
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