Joy will reign at the annual Teddy Bear Picnic on May 16, noon to 2 p.m. in the Patio Garden of the San Juan Community Theatre.

This is the annual free event for all San Juan children sponsored by the theater’s CATS organization. There will be face painting, crafts projects … and teddy bears. There will also be storytelling with Melina Lagios, youth services librarian at San Juan Island Library, accompanied by puppets.

The refreshments will include PB&J or grilled cheese sandwiches, cookies in the shape of bears, fruit and juice.

To assure the event is even better than before, each child will take home a brand new book — and a bear. The books are donated by the Early Learning Consortium in honor of National Children’s Book Week.