Area children are invited to participate in free children's bookmaking workshops on Saturday, Sept. 4, in the Cultural Corridor in downtown Las Vegas. Making your own book and other writing-inspired activities will be presented during hands-on workshops at the Lied Discovery Children's Museum, Las Vegas Natural History Museum, the Old Mormon Fort and the Las Vegas Library. The event is sponsored by the Vegas Valley Book Festival and the city of Las Vegas, with support from Eurie Creative. 

Workshops include:

• "Create-your-own Discovery Book" workshop for children ages 6-12 with the author of the "Discovery Day" storybook/color book, Edra Gayle Radke, from noon to 2 p.m. at Lied Discovery Children's Museum, 833 Las Vegas Blvd., North. The museum daily admission fee of $8.50 for adults, $7.50 for children, will apply. Call (702) 382-5437 for more information.

• "Making a Bilingual Book" workshop for ages 6-11, featuring Jorge Belancourt Polanco, author and illustrator of "Dreamygirl's Field of Wishes" (Stephens Press), written in English and Spanish. From noon to 1:30 p.m., the author will read his book and then help children make their own books at the Las Vegas Library, 833 Las Vegas Blvd., North. Call (702) 507-3500 for more information.

• "Create a Nature Journal" workshop led by museum science specialist Monica Modesitt for children ages 3-12 to create a personal journal about being in the natural environment. The workshop will be offered at 11:15 a.m. and 1:15 p.m. at the Las Vegas Natural History Museum, 900 Las Vegas Blvd., North. Museum daily admission fees of $10 for adults; $8 for students ages 12+, seniors 55+ and military; and $5 for children ages 3-11 will apply. There is no charge for museum members or children ages 2 and younger. Call (702) 384-3466 for more information.

• History comes alive for children of all ages as they act as "couriers" to Jim Edwards and Evie Ward, dressed in period costumes, who will read Civil War love letters delivered by the youth. Children then will participate with Ward and local artist Noelle Garcia in writing letters and preparing drawings to send U.S. troops in Afghanistan and Iraq. It all happens at the Old Mormon Fort, 500 E. Washington Ave., from 1 to 3 p.m. Museum daily admission of $1 for ages 13 and older will apply. Admission is free for ages 12 and younger. Call (702) 486-3511 for more information. 

Supplies, paper and other workshop materials will be provided.

This program is one of many pre-festival events planned for the next several months by the Vegas Valley Book Festival, scheduled for Nov. 3-7, with most events taking place at the Historic Fifth Street School. The Vegas Valley Book Festival is produced by the city of Las Vegas; Las Vegas-Clark County Library District; UNLV's Black Mountain Institute; Las Vegas Review-Journal; Las Vegas chapter of AIGA, the professional association for design; and Nevada Humanities, a festival founder. For more information about this project and the Vegas Valley Book Festival, please call (702) 229-5431.