It’s that time of year again—time for fantastic fun, crazy costumes, and massive sleep deprivation at Phoenix Comicon 2013, May 23–26, Phoenix Convention Center! Check out our schedule of Kids Need to Read-sponsored youth programming, book giveaways, fundraising games, and of course, the unbelievably geektastic 4th Annual KNTR Geek Prom, sponsored by Bookmans!
Kids Need to Read Pavilion 459, 461, 558, 560
Exhibitor Hall
KNTR Build-a-Book Project for Kids (See times and description below)
Author & Illustrator Steven Riley
Goodie Backpacks for Kids
Highlights & Cricket Magazines for Kids
Project Hero
Peace Packs Book List
Handmade Peace Merchandise
Geeksages, Geekonnieres & Geek Blinkies
KNTR 2014 Wall Calendars & Fine Art Prints
KNTR Literacy T-Shirts & Buttons
Friday – Sunday
KNTR Build-a-Book Project for Kids with Steven Riley
11:00 AM, 1:00 PM and 3:00 PM; Kids Need to Read Pavilion
Author/illustrator Steven Riley will lead daily creative sessions for children of all ages in the Kids Need to Read pavilion. Children will build a book page by page and can watch the book progress on the pavilion’s Reading Wall. After signing a reading pledge, all Build-a-Book participants will receive a Kids Need to Read goodie backpack sponsored by Bookmans and filled with a hardcover book, magazine, & other goodies.
Phoenix Comicon Charity Art Auction Benefiting Kids Need to Read
Booths 465 & 564, Exhibitor Hall
The Phoenix Comicon Charity Art Auction features unique one-of-a-kind creations by many guest artists. Pieces will include single artist and multi-artist jam pieces. The auctions will be silent and all proceeds will benefit Kids Need to Read this year.
Frank Beddor Charity Book Drive for Kids Need to Read
Booth 436
Author Frank Beddor will be conducting a book-raiser throughout the convention. For every book sold by Beddor at his booth, he will be donating one to Kids Need to Read.
Dune Sea Garrison Blast-a-Trooper Benefiting KNTR
Friday, 2:00–4:00 PM
Saturday, 4:00–6:00 PM
Sunday, 1:00–3:00 PM
Star Wars Neighborhood, Exhibitor Hall
We know Star Wars fans have a Rebellious streak . . . are you ready to test your marksmanship on a servant of the Empire? The Blast-a-Trooper target range arms participants with NERF blasters and pits them against characters from the Star Wars universe! All funds go to Kids Need to Read, so take pride in sticking it to the Empire for a small donation!
James A. Owen Pendant Fundraiser for Kids Need to Read
Table 2522
Author James A. Owen will be conducting a fundraiser throughout the convention. For every pendant sold at his booth, he will be donating $1.00 to Kids Need to Read.
Kids Reading Corner in Youth Art Room, courtesy of Bookmans and Kids Need to Read
Kids can find a quiet corner to read and ignite their imagination.
Friday Only
Kids Need to Read Presents: Poetry for the Movie Generation with Charles “Fig” Newton—Storyteller
1:30 PM–2:30 PM, West Building, Room 102A
Dynamic storytelling meets classic poetry as this veteran of the stage brings the power of poetry to life for children of all ages, including the child in each of us.
From Bullying to Harmony: Understanding and Dealing with Bullying
6:00 PM–7:00 PM, West Building, Room 103
Please join Denise Gary of Kids Need to Read, author Tom Leveen (Party, Zero, manicpixiedreamgirl), and Sgt. Darren Burch of Silent Witness as they help families learn to deal with the pervasive menace of bullying. One free copy of Jay McGraw’s Life Strategies for Dealing with Bullies provided to the first 100 families in attendance, courtesy of Kids Need to Read!
Second Annual Texas Hold ‘Em Charity Poker Tournament Benefiting Kids Need to Read
7:00 PM, Phoenix Ballroom, Hyatt Regency
No Limit Hold ‘Em Celebrity Charity Tournament, with 100% of proceeds benefiting Kids Need to Read. There is a $10 donation to enter, with additional cash options available for players to refresh their poker chip stack during the first hour of play. Tournament-related prizes will be raffled. Cash only. Seating will be provided on a first-come, first-served basis, so arrive early to make sure you get a place at a table.
Saturday & Sunday
Justice League Arizona “Arkham Escape” Interactive Game Benefiting KNTR
2:00 PM–3:00 PM, Justice League Arizona Booth
“Escaped Arkham Asylum inmates” (identified by special badges) will be hunted down by Gotham City heroes and villains, escorted back to the Arkham Cell, and have their mug shots taken with their captors. Play yourself or rat out your friends for a $5 donation to Kids Need to Read. Participants will receive a keepsake Arkham Escape lanyard and an inmate tag.
Project Hero Raffles for Kids Need to Read
Hero Comics Booth 378
Dredd Pig helmet, badge, and buckle; two pictures of Snake Eyes and Darth Maul signed by Ray Parks; tickets to Arizona Science Center; “X” belt buckles; original art by Andy Bohn of the Hulk signed by Lou Ferrigno; mystery helmet.
Saturday Only
KNTR Geek Prom Fashion Geektacular Prejudging
2:00 PM, Sundance Room, First Floor, Hyatt Regency
Prejudging for the Fashion Geektacular; winners will be announced at the KNTR Geek Prom. Judges: Lori Cothrun – Bookmans, Wynter Holden – Phoenix New Times, James A. Owen – Author, Illustrator, Jonathan Simon – Lightning Octopus
Kids Need to Read Presents: Build-A-Hero with Tom Leveen
3:00 PM–4:00 PM, West Building, Room 103
Taking a page from fellow YA author and comic book writer Cecil Castellucci (Year of the Beasts; Boyproof; http://castellucci.wordpress.com/), Tom will guide writers through a fun and revealing exercise building a hero and villain (and sending them into combat!) to illustrate how conflict is necessary for every genre of fiction.
Kids Need to Read Presents: How to Write & Draw Riley Style with Steven Riley
4:30 PM–5:30 PM, West Building, Room 102A
Steven Riley entertains with this interactive exploration of creation, storytelling, and illustration suitable for kids of all ages with active imaginations. Come be a part of the hilarity while experiencing your story springing to life before your eyes!
Kids Need to Read Presents: Finding Your Way PLOT Workshop with Sara Fujimura
4:30 PM–5:30 PM, West Building, Room 103
Learn how to create an easy but thorough plot map for your fanfic, book, manga, anime, screenplay. Or even plot-heavy videogame. **This is a hands-on, interactive writing workshop.**
KNTR Geek Prom, Sponsored by Bookmans
9:00 PM–1:00 AM, Hyatt Regency Ballroom
TICKETS ($15 online now or $20 onsite during the convention)
The theme for Geek Prom 2013 is BRIT GEEK. New this year: Judging for the Fashion Geektacular will take place prior to the Geek Prom on Saturday, May 25th, starting at 2:00 PM in the Sundance Room on the first floor of the Hyatt.
Don’t miss the fourth annual Kids Need to Read Geek Prom, sponsored by Bookmans Entertainment Exchange and made possible by Phoenix Comicon. As a signature event of the convention, an entire ballroom is devoted to the KNTR Geek Prom, enabling throngs of Geekanoids to attend this quirky soiree. Due to the Geekerosity of our Geektabulous friends at Bookmans, all proceeds benefit Kids Need to Read, a foundation that does not discriminate against Geeks, Dweebs, or Nerds. This is the Big Bang Party! Expect Geektastic music and dancing, tons of prizes, live auction of a full-scale T.A.R.D.I.S. replica, Geek-themed decorations, photos under the Geek Arch and/or T.A.R.D.I.S., Fashion Geektacular, and crowning of the 2013 KNTR Geek Monarchs.
The theme for Geek Prom 2013 is BRIT GEEK. Dress in your Geeky best and enter the Fashion Geektacular to vie for the titles of Geek King, Geek Queen, Geek Prince, and Geek Princess! Any appropriate Geek attire may be modeled during the Fashion Geektacular, including the themes of CLASSIC GEEK (dweeb, nerd, etc.), CONTEMPORARY GEEK (superhero, video game character, etc.), or BRIT GEEK (Doctor Who, Sherlock Holmes, Shaun of the Dead, Austin Powers, etc.). Judging for the Fashion Geektacular will take place prior to the Geek Prom on Saturday, May 25th, starting at 2:00 PM in the Sundance Room on the first floor of the Hyatt. Contestants will participate in a final strut on the catwalk during the prom, followed by the crowning of the winners as the 2013 Geek Monarchs. Event rated PG-13.
To learn more about this event, including ticketing information, see our Kids Need to Read Geek Prom page. Or, go straight to ticket purchasing.
Twitter Feed: #KNTRGeekProm
Presenting Sponsor
Bookmans Entertainment Exchange
Hosting Sponsor
Phoenix Comicon
Prize Sponsors
ThinkGeek
Threadless
Hosts
Denise Gary—Kids Need to Read
Gus Matos—Arizona Avengers
Deejay
DJ s.alien Aaron Moore—Post Mortem Creations
Fashion Geektacular Judges
Lori Cothrun—Bookmans Entertainment Exchange
Wynter Holden—Phoenix New Times
James A. Owen—Author, Illustrator
Jonathan Simon—Lightning Octopus
Singer: Geeks of America
Steven Riley—Author, Illustrator
