It’s stroller gridlock on South Lawn.

Kids and parents from Park Slope to the Upper West Side have gathered in front of Butler for the New York Times‘ “Sunday of free fun for book-loving families.” It’s a day of book signings, giveaways, readings, and performances and toddlers have gathered en masse in inappropriately autumnal apparel.

Throughout the day, “notable New Yorkers” will be reading from beloved children’s book, including Stacy London (host of What Not to Wear) reading Clementine, NYPD Commissioner Raymond Kelly reading Green Eggs and Ham, and Blues Clues host Steve Burns reading Bud, Not Buddy. Bwog was kind of hoping for a Giuliani reading of The Lorax, but alas.

There will also be live performances from musicians and entertainers. Upon Bwog’s arrival to the fair, a man and a women took the stage in train conductor uniforms and shouted, “We’re all the same when we listen to music!” The kids nodded robotically. Bwog was slightly alarmed. We asked a little boy who the uniformed Marxists were. “Um. Choo Choo Solar,” he advised. “No, no that’s not right,” his mother interrupted. “It’s um, here,” she said as she pulled out the schedule. “Choo Choo Soul.”

Bwog began walking back towards Broadway, but Choo Choo Soul made an announcement that Cheech Marin, of Cheech and Chong, would be reading from his new children’s book Bus Driver Cheech. “You may not know who this guy is,” female member of Choo Choo Soul cautioned. “But your parents do! He’s wacky!” Perhaps the same could be said about the following act, They Might Be Giants?

– JNW