MIDDLEBURY — It’s a Bear-A-Palooza at the Henry Sheldon Museum on Sunday, Oct. 8 from 2-4 p.m. Head to the Sheldon for a fun, free family afternoon full of bear-related activities.
Those who bring their favorite bear  can have their photo snapped with it in a special photo station. Artist and author Ashley Wolff will be on hand to read from some of her books, and a number of hands-on projects, such as making a bear puppet, creating an original print and illustrating one’s own bear story will be on tap. For the mathematically minded, a prize will go to the person who correctly counts the bears in a jar.
The Sheldon’s exhibit Draw Me a Story – Tell Me a Tale, featuring  art and books by 20 Vermont children’s book illustrators/authors, will be on view during the event. Many of the illustrations capture the imagination with animal characters. Two of the authors prominently feature bears in their stories. The exhibit has been extended through January 13, 2018.
Phoebe Stone colorfully portrays themes of friendship among angels and animal characters — especially bears in her book “When the Wind Bears Go Dancing” and Baby Bear counts wild animals as they prepare for the long winter to come in Ashley Wolff’s book “Baby Bear Counts One.”