Children's Book Author Peter H. Reynolds Set to Host The North Star Children's Ramble Set for Sunday, April 26th

DEDHAM, MA - Bestselling author/illustrator Peter H. Reynolds once again will serve as Grand Marshal of The North Star Children’s Ramble in Dedham - a set of races for children ages three to twelve, held in conjunction with the annual James Joyce Ramble. Co-sponsored by the Dedham Youth Commission and The Blue Bunny Bookstore, The North Star Children’s Ramble is a one-of-a-kind literacy-themed fitness event for kids ages 3-12 and their families. There are age-specific races ranging from the 50 yard dash to 500 yard dash, as well as a Dedham Family Fun Run, a four-lap ramble around the perimeter of the kids’ field. The North Star Children’s Ramble will take place on Sunday, April 26th (rain or shine) at Dedham’s historic Endicott Estate, in the field adjacent to the greenhouse on the corner of Walnut and Mount Vernon Streets. Free registration begins on-site at 8:00 a.m. and registration forms can also be completed in advance by downloading them online at http://www.fablevision.com/northstar/ramble/.

Designed to be a child-friendly complement to the James Joyce race, the North Star Children’s Ramble is a free race offering events of varying distances in five age groups: four and under, five and six, seven and eight, nine and ten, and eleven and twelve, with the added family race at the start of the event. The races will begin with the National Anthem by local musician Steve Marchena on electric guitar before the Family Fun Run kicks off at 8:45 a.m. Kids’ races start at 9:30 a.m. and any child wearing an official registration number who crosses the finish line will get a free goodie bag, which includes a quality children’s book and other donated items.

While children are waiting for the races to begin, they are invited to enjoy athletic warm-up activities with a team from Dedham Health and Athletic Complex, as well as face painting, coloring, music, and games provided by other event sponsors. Children’s publishers Candlewick Press, Charlesbridge Publishing and Scholastic Books have donated new books as part of the prize offerings for each child who runs in the race. Other sponsoring organizations include The Blue Bunny Bookstore, New Balance, Needham Bank, Dedham Health and Athletic Complex, Catching Joy, The Children’s Workshop, Kids Fun Stop, FableVision Learning, The John Thomas & Special Friends Fund, Dedham YMCA, and Whole Foods Dedham.

The annual children’s race is named in honor of Peter H. Reynolds’ award-winning storybook The North Star. The “fable for all ages” is an illustrated allegory about a young child’s journey on the path of life, which, as Reynolds points out, “encourages life-long learners to navigate their true potential and to follow their dreams.” The book has become a favorite gift for graduations and other life milestones.

Peter H. Reynolds is known worldwide as a best-selling children’s book illustrator/author of dozens of books, which have been published around the world in over twenty languages. Some of his books include the Judy Moody and Stink series, The Dot, Ish, Rose’s Garden (Candlewick Press); Going Places, Someday, Little Boy (Simon & Schuster); and Sydney & Simon: Full STEAM Ahead (Charlesbridge Publishing).

Reynolds is also CEO/Co-founder of FableVision Learning, the Dedham-based, educational software & professional development firm that creates and publishes many educational media & software programs, including Animation-ish, an easy-to-use animation software package for kids, which can be downloaded as a free trial at www.animationish.com. Reynolds shares his publishing and media ventures with his identical twin brother and former Dedham Selectman Paul Reynolds, who serves as CEO of FableVision Studios in Boston - an award-winning media/technology development firm. FableVision’s mission is to use media, storytelling, and technology to reach, support, and inspire all learners. Peter makes Dedham his home where he helped found The Blue Bunny, an independent bookstore at 577 High Street in historic Dedham Square. The Blue Bunny’s mission is to foster creativity and self-expression in kids and grown up kids.

The North Star Children’s Ramble is an adjunct to the 10K James Joyce Ramble (www.ramble.org), the same-day race for the grown ups, which draws nearly four thousand runners and fifty thousand spectators. Proceeds from the race go to the Dana-Farber Cancer Research Institute, which has received hundreds of thousands of dollars in funding from the event over the years.

For more information or to volunteer for The North Star Children’s Ramble, contact Janet Reynolds at The Blue Bunny Bookstore at 781-493-6568 or e-mail [email protected].