Simon Malls Bring Books to Life Through Simon Kidgits Club Book Blast Event at Rockaway Townsquare

Simon Malls® are welcoming families to experience the magic of reading at the mall. On Saturday, March 8, Simon Kidgits Club® at Rockaway Townsquare is hosting its free annual Book Blast event and inviting parents and children to bring books to life through special read-aloud sessions, giveaways and story-inspired activities.

Simon Kidgits Club’s Book Blast will provide families the chance to make reading a fun, social experience with various kid-focused offerings. Scheduled from 1 to 3 p.m., Book Blast event activities will kick off with an exciting read-aloud session of Tacky the Penguin, by Helen Lester, and the one and only Tacky the Penguin costumed character will meet and greet children.  Participants will be treated to story time sessions throughout the event featuring other favorite classic books.  Children are also invited to bring a new or gently used book to the event to be donated to a local charity, helping families give back to their own communities. Participants will also be able to spin the prize wheel, make a craft, enjoy a photo op with Tacky the Penguin, and more!

“Because Simon Malls are destinations for families and friends to do more than just shop, Simon Kidgits Club is giving children the chance to experience all that books have to offer in a social setting,” said Jayne Stilson, assistant vice president of business development for Simon Brand Ventures, the business-to-consumer division of Simon Property Group. “We’re combining education with fun and allowing kids to simply have a blast with reading.”

Additionally, Simon is teaming up with Better World Books to provide each child that attends the event a pre-loved book and bookmark to take home.   

The Simon Kidgits Club is a fun and informative program that focuses on health, wellness, education, safety and entertainment for children ages 3-8. Since 2003, the Simon Kidgits Club has kept children and parents alike amused with various events and activities while providing incentives for club members, such as special offers, rewards and games.

Simon Kidgits Club members receive a variety of goodies, including a Simon Kidgits Club T-shirt, membership card, birthday card and gift, discounts and scheduled activities. For more information about the Simon Kidgits Club, visit http://www.simon.com/kidgits/.

Rockaway Townsquare

Rockaway Townsquare is located at Route 80 and Mt. Hope Avenue in Rockaway, New Jersey, and is managed by Simon Property Group Inc., headquartered in Indianapolis, Indiana. A two-level, super-regional mall, Rockaway Townsquare is anchored by Macy’s, Lord & Taylor, Sears and jcpenney and has more than 180 specialty stores. Adding to Rockaway Townsquare’s diverse mix of retailers is its plaza-style shopping environment, which includes Rockaway Town Court, Rockaway Commons and Rockaway Town Plaza, and features AMC Theatres, Best Buy, The Christmas Tree Shops, Target, Pier 1 Imports, Panera Bread, Dick’s Sporting Goods and much more. For additional Simon Property Group information, please visit www.simon.com. Visit www.shoprockawaytownsquare.com for the latest mall events and retailer updates. Rockaway Townsquare also is on Facebook, at www.facebook.com/RockawayTownsquare, and @ShopRockaway on Twitter.

Simon Property Group

Simon Property Group, Inc. (NYSE: SPG) is an S&P 100 company and a global leader in the retail real estate industry.  The Company currently owns or has an interest in more than 325 retail real estate properties in North America, Asia and Europe comprising approximately 243 million square feet. We are headquartered in Indianapolis, Indiana and employ approximately 5,500 people in the U.S.  For more information, visit the Simon Property Group website at www.simon.com.

About Simon Brand Ventures

Simon Brand Ventures (SBV), Simon's business-to-consumer arm, is pioneering the transformation of shopping centers into a medium where consumer brands can build relationships with Simon shoppers who make over 2.8 billion visits each year.  Simon's vast franchise of market-leading shopping centers nationwide provides SBV the foundation to monetize the distribution system through numerous consumer ventures. SBV and its affiliates have engaged in a number of consumer business initiatives, including the Simon Visa Giftcard® and the American Express®/Simon Giftcard; launch of Simon platform programs such as Simon dTour Live® and Simon Kidgits Club®; a national media delivery channel including static, digital and experiential marketing and advertising vehicles; and multiple national and local marketing alliances with Coca-Cola and Visa U.S.A. among others.

About Better World Books

Better World Books (www.BetterWorldBooks.com) is a for-profit social enterprise that collects and sells books online matching each purchase with a donation, book for book, and with each sale generating funds for literacy initiatives in the U.S. and around the world. One of their key programs which helps consumers contribute to supporting global literacy is through their Drop Box book collection program. By participating in the Drop Box program, both the host of each site and their non-profit literacy partner of choice will receive a portion of the sale of the collected books. Those books that can't be sold are donated or recycled. Not one book will ever see a landfill.