It is late April, lunchtime. I am standing on the big wheeled-toy deck at the back of our playground, facing a curve of children and families crowded together on low stools and benches. This space, usually rumbling and rattling with tricycle traffic, caped heroes, and bouncing basketballs, is wrapped in an expectant hush. I take a deep breath, look from one face to the next and the next, and gather my “announcing voice.”

“Welcome to the Children First Story Festival!”