FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE July 9, 2019 CONTACT Farrell Howe | Marketing & Communications Manager (269) 553-7879 Award-Winning Musician and Author Jim Gill is Coming to Kalamazoo! Kalamazoo, MI – Tuesday, July 9, 2019. Award-winning musician and author Jim Gill is coming to Kalamazoo on Wednesday, July 17 to host a workshop entitled A Joyous Way to Learn! as well as perform in concert at Oshtemo Township Park. A Joyous Way to Learn with Jim Gill: a Workshop for Educators, Librarians, and Caregivers<https://www.kpl.gov/event/a-joyous-way-to-learn-with-jim-gill-a-workshop-for-educators-librarians-and-caregivers/> Music Play to Promote Readiness, Literacy, Math Development and Inclusion Wednesday, July 17 | 9:30 am – 12:30 pm Kalamazoo Public Library<http://www.kpl.gov/> | Central Location<http://www.kpl.gov/cen> | Van Deusen Room 315 South Rose Street, Kalamazoo Registration Required<https://www.kpl.gov/event/a-joyous-way-to-learn-with-jim-gill-a-workshop-for-educators-librarians-and-caregivers/> | Cost: $10 Author, musician, and child development specialist, Jim Gill incorporates recent songs as well as in-depth discussion connecting music play with school readiness, literacy development and early math development. Early childhood professionals will leave the session inspired to share a new repertoire of songs and playful literacy activities with the children they care for. Even more, they will leave the session understanding that what is most challenging about working in early childhood is also what makes the profession so exciting. When we define our teaching as helping children learn, we not only provide joyous challenges for the children. We also keep ourselves engaged and rejuvenated by watching their excitement as they learn. This workshop is perfect educators, librarians, and caregivers. Registration is required. Cost is $10 per person. Please bring cash or check payment made out to Kalamazoo Public Library the day of. Family Concert with Jim Gill<https://www.kpl.gov/event/jim-gill-concert/> Sing. Play. Learn. Wednesday, July 17 | 6:30 – 7:30 pm Oshtemo Township Park<https://www.kpl.gov/venue/osh-oshtemo-township-park/> | 7275 W Main St. Kalamazoo Get ready to sing, clap, and dance at this fun family concert with award-winning musician and author, Jim Gill at Oshtemo Township Park (located behind the Oshtemo Charter Township Offices). Rain location: Oshtemo Township Hall. About Jim Gill Jim Gill<https://jimgill.com/> is a musician and author with unique credentials among children's artists. Jim is a child development specialist, completing his graduate studies in child development at the Erikson Institute of Chicago with a special emphasis on the study of play. For this reason, each of Jim's recordings and books is created as an opportunity for playful interactions between a child and a caring adult. Anyone who has experienced one of Jim's family concerts knows that rather than performing for the children and parents, Jim leads them to sing and play together. Jim has released seven award-winning CDs of music play for young children that are favorites in family rooms, classrooms and playrooms. Jim is also the author of two children's books. His latest, A Soup Opera, is a sing-along opera inspired by concerts that Jim performs with symphony orchestras. The book received an American Library Association award in 2010. ####