Free Readings and Entertainment for Children, Presented by Target; Readings by Notable New Yorkers from Favorite Children's Books As Selected by NYC Public Library Systems

NEW YORK, Sept. 25, 2009 – The third annual New York Times Great Children's Read will be held rain or shine on Sunday, Oct. 4, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., at Columbia University, located at Broadway and 116 th Street. The day-long event, presented by Target, is a free celebration with readings and live entertainment for children and families. A list of New York's top-20 “ Favorite Stories to Read-Aloud ” has been specially selected by children's librarians from the three public library systems of New York City: Brooklyn Public Library, The New York Public Library and Queens Library. Celebrities from film, TV and Broadway will read from the 20 books on the list. For updates and other information, please visit www.NYTimes.com/GreatRead .

Featured entertainment this year at the Target Children's Stage will include performances by Playhouse Disney's “ Choo-Choo Soul ,” Hip Hop Harry (“Move Those Feet”), Justin Roberts & the Not Ready for Naptime Players (“Pop Fly”) and Yo Gabba Gabba! featuring D.J. Lance Rock & Brobee (“ New Friends, Meet the Gabba Gang ” ); readings by celebrated children's book authors and illustrators John Carter Cash (“Momma Loves Her Little Son”), Kate Feiffer (“ My Mom is Trying to Ruin My Life,” “Which Puppy?” ) and Jules Feiffer (“ Which Puppy?”) ; Jacqueline Dembar Greene (American Girl Collection : The “Rebecca” Series), Alec Greven (“How to Talk to Girls”), Jarrett J. Krosoczka (“Punk Farm,” The Lunch Lady books), Jane O'Connor (the “Fancy Nancy” series), Tony Award winner Bernadette Peters (“Broadway Barks!”), Randall de Sève and Peter de Sève (“The Dutchess of Whimsey”), Melodee Strong (“You Are Important” Board Book Series) and Peter Yarrow (“ Puff the Magic Dragon,” “Day is Done”).

The “ Favorite Stories to Read-Aloud” for young readers ages three to eight, will be read by the star of Broadway's “West Side Story,” Matt Cavenaugh ; Miss New York USA 2009, Tracey Chang ; former professional baseball player and broadcaster Roberto Clemente Jr .; “The Electric Company” actor Dominic Colon ; Broadway star and recording artist Linda Eder ; MSNBC's Willie Geist ; the star of Broadway's “Memphis,” Montego Glover ; NY1 News's parenting reporter Shelley Goldberg ; executive vice president for Government and Community Affairs, Columbia University, Maxine Griffith ; Olympic gold medalist Sarah Hughes ; the star of Broadway's “Finian's Rainbow,” Cheyenne Jackson ; a Tony Award winner for Broadway's “Billy Elliot,” Gregory Jbara ; co-anchor of NBC's “Today” show, Natalie Morales ; the star of Broadway's “Rock of Ages,” Constantine Maroulis ; “Law & Order: Criminal Intent” actor Julianne Nicholson ; “Sesame Street” cast member Gordon, Roscoe Orman ; the Tony Award-winning star of Broadway's “Wicked,” Rondi Reed ; comedian and actor Jerry Stiller ; WCBS-TV News anchor Dana Tyler ; and more to be announced.

The reading stage will be hosted by WOR Radio710HD personality Liz Hamburg . The selected books are, in alphabetical order:

• Alvin Ho: Allergic to Girls, School and Other Scary Things , by Lenore Look, illustrated by LeUyen Pham
• Amazing Grace , by Mary Hoffman, illustrated by Caroline Binch
• Bark, George , by Jules Feiffer
• Bee-bim Bop! , by Linda Sue Park , illustrated by Ho Baek Lee
• Blueberries for Sal , by Robert McCloskey
• Caps for Sale , by Esphyr Slobodkina
• ; The Chicken-Chasing Queen of Lamar County , by Janice N. Harrington, illustrated by Shelley Jackson
• Don't Let the Pigeon Drive the Bus! , by Mo Willems
• Frog and Toad Are Friends , by Arnold Lobel
• Jazz Baby , by Lisa Wheeler, i llustrated by R. Gregory Christie
• Joseph Had a Little Overcoat , by Simms Taback
• Just in Case: A Trickster Tale and Spanish Alphabet Book , by Yuyi Morales
• ; Kitten's First Full Moon , by Kevin Henkes
• Meet Danitra Brown , by Nikki Grimes, illustrated by Floyd Cooper
• Miss Nelson is Missing! , by Harry Allard and James Marshall
• Seven Blind Mice , by Ed Young
• When Dinosaurs Came with Everything , by Elise Broach, illustrated by David Small
• Why Mosquitoes Buzz in People's Ears , by Verna Aardema, illustrated by Leo and Diane Dillon
• Wild About Books , by Judy Sierra, illustrated by Marc Brown
• Winnie-the-Pooh , by A. A. Milne, illustrated by Ernest H. Shepard

“We are delighted to present our third annual Children's Read at Columbia and to welcome Target as the returning presenting sponsor,” said Yasmin Namini, senior vice president, marketing and circulation, The New York Times. “We hope everyone in the New York area will join the celebration and enjoy all the wonderful, free entertainment at Target's Children's Stage, the celebrity “Read-Aloud” and the interactive, family-friendly activities planned for this great day.”

The third annual New York Times Great Children's Read is presented by Target. Supporting Sponsors are Disney's “The Lion King,” Luftansa and The New Victory Theater. Cultural Participants are The Metropolitan Museum of Art and New-York Historical Society. The Media Partners are New York Comic Con and WOR Radio710HD.

For updates and the latest schedules of participating authors and events, please visit www.NYTimes.com/GreatRead . Visitors can register for a free e-mail newsletter that will keep them up-to-date on the latest news about the Great Children's Read. For sponsorship and custom opportunities, contact Marion O'Grady at 212-556-1457 or ogradmm@nytimes.com .

About The New York Times Company

The New York Times Company, a leading media company with 2008 revenues of $2.9 billion, includes The New York Times, the International Herald Tribune, The Boston Globe, 15 other daily newspapers, WQXR-FM and more than 50 Web sites , including NYTimes.com , Boston.com and About.com . The Company's core purpose is to enhance society by creating, collecting and distributing high-quality news, information and entertainment.

About Target

Minneapolis-based Target Corporation (NYSE:TGT) serves guests at 1,719 stores in 49 states nationwide and at Target.com. Target is committed to providing a fun and convenient shopping experience with access to unique and highly differentiated products at affordable prices. Since 1946, the corporation has given five percent of its income through community grants and programs like Take Charge of Education. Today, that giving equals more than $3 million a week.

Contacts:

Pat Eisemann, 212-556-8719; eisemp@nytimes.com
Brett Oberman, 212-764-7900; brett@ksa-pr.com

This press release can be downloaded from www.nytco.com