FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

SUCCESSFUL HOUSTON LATINO BOOK AND FAMILY FESTIVAL
BRINGS NATIONAL TOTALS TO 30 FESTIVALS AND
MORE THAN 500,000 ATTENDEES OVER THE PAST 8 YEARS.

Produced by Latino Literacy Now and Edward James Olmos, the Festival's mission is to reduce illiteracy and advance the cause of reading in the Latino community

Carlsbad, Calif., October 27, 2004 – With weekend crowds of over 30,000 the recent Houston Latino Book & Family Festival can be considered a complete success on many levels.

Special Guest of Honor at the Houston event, that took place at the George R. Brown Convention center on October 16-17, was comedian/author George Lopez who spoke and signed his new book, Why You Crying? My Long, Hard Look at Life, Love, and Laughter. Barnes & Noble Booksellers, a major sponsor of the Book Village at the Houston Festival, had more than 1,000 copies of his book on site, and Mr. Lopez stayed until the last book was sold and signed.

Other special literary guests included Univision news co-anchor and author Maria Antonieta Collins, MLS Star and former Los Angeles Galaxy player Mauricio Cienfuegos, Xavier Garza, Lorraine Lopez, Neo Franco Cantu and Diane Bertrand.

Giselle Blondet, co-host of Univision’s Spanish language morning show, Despierta America, was also a special Festival guest who spoke to the crowd and signed her books. Ms Blondet echoed Festival organizer’s sentiments exactly when she mentioned, “I get so upset when I hear people say that Latinos don’t read. I believe this turnout dispels that notion entirely.”

“We are extremely proud our event has resonated so powerfully with the Latino community,” said co-producer Edward James Olmos, who was on hand to introduce George Lopez and to rally the crowd to the Festival’s main theme that reading is important and can make a difference in a young person’s life. “We have expanded our Festival related programs to include more interactive events for the community to participate in. This expansion is the truest sign that we are becoming successful in our mission to produce quality, educational events for the Latino community.” These programs include: Open A Book, Change Your Future, a scholastic participation program for elementary, middle and high schools and Folklórico Challenge USA, featuring regional competition for three age levels at each of our Festival venues with national finals to follow.

Co-hosts for the Houston Festival are Nuestra Palabra: Latino Writers Having Their Say and Pancho Clause Scholarship & Art Fund. For the third straight year the Houston Latino Book & Family Festival was honored to have the Houston Chronicle as Presenting Sponsor. The Chronicle has proved to be an excellent partner and has been instrumental in the initial growth of this event –the largest literary event in the State of Texas for 2004. Other major sponsors for the 2004 Houston Festival included Nestle, Western Union, Chase Home Finance, Selecciones: Readers Digest en Español, Barnes & Noble, Continental Airlines, CenterPoint Energy, Nick Jr., Rice University, H-E-B Stores, Univision 45, The Girl Scouts of the USA, Houston PBS 8, Christus St. Joseph Hospital, KTRK-TV ABC 13, Harris County Public Library, Houston Public Library, Houston Community College, Amerigroup, the Greensheet, The Houston Calendar, NHPO, CACHH, K-LOVE-106.5, 102.9 Estereo Latino, 90.1 KPFT and Telefutura 67.

All Latino Book & Family Festivals are free to the public, and features a show floor with six distinct activity areas:

Book Village

English and Spanish, children and adult books are on display coupled with respective, scheduled author readings and book signings.

Careers, Education, & Technology Village

Available options in higher education, quality children’s primary and secondary education alternatives, and employment opportunities are showcased within this village. This section also explores the explosive growth of the Internet and eCommerce and how these new tools for entertainment, education, and business can benefit the Latino community.

Children’s Village

Young people in attendance are able to participate in entertaining learning activities with their peers. Children’s book publishers and displays of toys and children’s clothing make the section a well-rounded destination for families. Story telling by famous authors with follow-up activities that encourage reading comprehension are one of many activities offered.

Culture & Travel Village

Information on domestic or international travel, recreation facilities close enough for weekend getaways, or cultural clothing, arts, and crafts are available. Attendees also have the opportunity to speak with artists and learn about local and national cultural organizations that service their community.

Health Village

Health and fitness is the focus of this village featuring hospitals, cost-efficient insurance options, health care and nutritional expert professional advice. Sessions on the importance of testing and regular check-ups, affordable health care, arthritis, cholesterol and diabetes are some of the educational programs offered.

Mi Casita Village

Intelligently buy, furnish and maintain a home with the information provided by home experts in “Mi Casita” seminars and workshop.  Onsite meetings with professional realtors, insurance representatives, home remodelers and pool builders are obtainable.

Remaining 2004 Festival Dates
 
Chicago
November 27-28  • Unity School, Cicero, IL

Inland Empire of Southern California
December 11-12 • Carousel Mall, San Bernardino

About The Latino Book & Family Festival

The Latino Book & Family Festival is operated by Latino Literacy Now, a 501(c)(3), non-profit organization that supports literary excellence, reading and education. Actor, director and community activist, Edward James Olmos and Kirk Whisler, founding past president of the National Association of Hispanic Publications, produce the Festival. Past sponsors include Target Stores, Nissan, Chase Bank, Telemundo, Wells Fargo, Chrysler, Univision, Barnes & Noble, Borders, Washington Mutual, The Houston Chronicle and Continental Airlines.