Special Event: FREE Second Annual Pajama Rama Bedtime Stories and a Teddy Bear Workshop

Sunday, September 8, 2019  Kids, parents, grandparents, and teddy bears are invited to don their jammies and come to the Alcazar Theatre for the second annual Pajama Rama Bedtime Stories event with internationally-acclaimed bestselling author Hal Price and Walt Disney illustrator Michael Bayouth.

This event kicks off the official launch of their newest Eli Benjamin Bear book, “The Bear Essentials,” on Sunday, September 8 at 12 PM.

(A SPECIAL PRE-SCREENING of silent auction items will be hosted at 11:30 at the Alcazar Theatre by Hal and his staff. Photos and description of items will be posted tomorrow by Hal Price here on Facebook)

Proceeds of this event will go towards the Teddy Bear Cancer Foundation for pediatric cancer.

The Pajama Rama falls on a special day: not only is September 8 National Teddy Bear Day, but it’s also National Grandparents Day, and it kicks off National Pediatric Cancer Month and National Literacy Month. Hal intended for the event to coincide with these national celebrations.

“My vision was always that grandkids would invite their grandparents to put on their pajamas and their bathrobes and their bathroom slippers, and they would walk in hand-in-hand holding their bears and their blankets into the Alcazar Theatre,” Hal said.

He hopes that this event gives an opportunity to build a bridge between children and the parents and grandparents in their lives and “talk about why stories are so important to share with each other, generation to generation.”

The Pajama Rama will feature special guests alongside Hal and Michael, including Kirsten McIntyre Stuart, community engagement manager for Teddy Bear Cancer Foundation

Parents will also be invited on stage to read “The Bear Essentials” to their children.

There will also be a silent auction, raffles for surprise one-of-a-kind prizes with proceeds going towards the Teddy Bear Cancer Foundation, including sales of Eli Benjamin Bear plushies, 50 first-ever signed copies of “The Bear Essentials,” art by the book’s illustrator, and more!

Aside from Eli Benjamin Bear plushies, there will also be refurbished teddy bears on sale.

Over the past year, Hal has scoured local thrift stores for well-loved teddies in need of care. After tending to their tears and sewing patches on them like Eli’s heart, they are brand new and are in search of new homes. Proceeds for these bears will also go towards the Teddy Bear Cancer Foundation.

For kids attending the Carpinteria Arts Center’s Arts and Crafts Faire on Sep. 7, they are encouraged to bring their teddies to the faire to draw and write stories about their teddy bears with Hal at the Teddy Bear Story Workshop. He will choose the top five stories, and those lucky young writers will get to read their stories at the Pajama Rama. Submissions are also open on the days leading up to the faire at the gallery’s lobby.

Hal is excited to be back at the Alcazar to launch his newest book with a pajama party and celebration of family and literacy. Hal said, “I love doing anything with, at, and for the Alcazar.”

Be sure to come early for this free event, as space is limited. For more information, visit our website or email info@thealcazar.org.

About “The Bear Essentials”

“The Bear Essentials” a 32-page book with full-color illustrations for young readers. It takes a chapter from “The Adventures of Eli Benjamin Bear” and expands the letter that Eli’s father wrote him before Eli goes to stay in the hospital for his under-developed heart.

Papa Bear’s letter is meant to inspire children to listen to their hearts, and know that their heart will always connect them to those they love, no matter the distance.

Price said the message of the story is also intended for parents who have forgotten their dreams and imagination. “The Bear Essentials” was inspired by Price’s own life during his children’s formative years. Before writing children’s books, he ran the sports marketing department for the Coca Cola Company and was away from home most weekends.

In “The Bear Essentials,” Eli’s father is leaving home right before a major event in Eli’s life. Price included a line in the book drawn from what his children would say to him before leaving for work, saying “If I had your job, I’d quit.”

“(The Bear Essentials) is going to remind (parents) how precious their life is and how they’ve gotten lost doing what they think they’re supposed to do in life, but they’ve abandoned their imagination, their creativity, and their childhood ability to create amazing things to change the world,” Hal said.

If you want to get your paws on the first-ever copies of “The Bear Essentials” be sure to bring your cubs to the free Pajama Rama on Sunday, Sep. 8 at 12 PM.

Archived Events

Book Signing at Chaucer’s Bookstore

Sunday, March 17, 2019  -Book signing with author Hal Price from 1:30 to 4:30 pm at:  Chaucer’s Bookstore, 3321 State St, Santa Barbara, CA 93105, (805) 682-6787

HB Rhames 3rd Grade

Friday, January 11, 2019 – Hal spoke to the entire Third Grade Class at HB Rhame Elementary in Columbia, SC about the magic of following their heart (and in practicing the very special talent that makes their heart smile the biggest!)

Horrell Hill Elementary

Thursday, January 10, 2019 – Hal spoke to 82 Third Grade Students and their teachers at Horrell Hill Elementary in Hopkins, SC about the super power of the HEROIC HEART.

Hal Price Visits Hyatt Park Elementary

Wednesday, January 9, 2019 – Hal spoke to over 240 Second Grade students and their teachers at Hyatt Park Elementary in Columbia, SC about the super power of BEEing Kind to others. Eli Bear also received wonderful coverage from the Richland One District Media Department for a brief feature on their website.

Author Presentation at HB Rhames

Monday, January 7, 2019 – Hal Price spoke to over 60 students and their teachers at H.B. Rhame Elementary in Columbia, SC about the super power of the HEROIC HEART.

Book Signing and Pajama-Rama

Saturday, November 10, 2018 – Book signing and Pajama-Rama on the lawn at:
Tecolote Book Shop, 1470 E Valley Rd #52, Montecito, CA 93108 (805) 969-4977

All-Family Event and Book Signing 

Saturday, October 28, 2018 – Come celebrate life and family with author and storyteller Hal Price and his characters at the Antioch Community Center and Flea Market, 1591 Bishopville Hwy, Camden, SC 29020, (803) 427-1930, from 3 to 5pm.

Author Session and Pajama-Rama

Monday and Tuesday, October 22-23, 2018  – Columbia native and children’s book author Hal Price, will conduct author sessions on Monday, Oct. 22 and Tuesday, Oct. 23, at H.B. Rhame Elementary, his alma mater from 50-years ago. His visit will kick off the school’s activities at the beginning of Red Ribbon Week. Monday Price will host his popular Pajama-Rama party for PreK-1 grade where children will wear red pajamas and listen to him read from A Heart’s Journey Home. Grades 2 – 5 will have an author’s writing session the next day where Price will read his new children’s book and talk about the process of writing. Events both days begin at 9 am.

Book Signing Benefit at Lizard’s Thicket

Sunday, October 21, 2018  – Join author Hal Price for a public Q&A, book signing, and story-telling  event, including discussion on the importance of bedtime stories. The event will take place at Lizard’s Thicket Restaurant, 7569 St, Andrews Road, Irmo, South Carolina, from 2 to 4pm.