‘The Earth Book' on Earth Day
Todd Parr made a well-timed Earth Day appearance at California's Menlo Park Library for his latest picture book, The Earth Book (Little, Brown, Mar.), in which Parr's signature cartoon children reveal their favorite things about the planet (and ways to protect it). Parr read from and signed copies of The Earth Book during the event, which was held in cooperation with Kepler's Books.
‘Dreamer' Becomes Reality
Author Pam Muñoz Ryan did several events with Oblong Books & Music in Millerton, N.Y., last week to promote her new novel, The Dreamer, illustrated by Peter Sís (Scholastic Press, Apr.), about the boy who would become poet Pablo Neruda. Ryan did a signing at the store, as well as two school events, which drew 700 children from six area schools. Here, Ryan shows off a copy of The Dreamer with her editor, Scholastic's Tracy Mack, and Mack's daughter, Ruby.
Katz's ‘Dog' Has Its Day (Again!)
Bobbi Katz's new book isn't entirely new—Nothing But a Dog was first published by Feminist Press in 1972; it was reissued in March by Dutton with new artwork by Jane Manning. About the original book, Katz notes, "When I sent the manuscript around in the early '70s, the mainstream publishers wanted me to make the main character a boy. They were too uncomfortable with the story of an active girl, who yearned for a dog from the bottom of her heart." Seen here, Katz celebrated the release of the book with a signing at Inquiring Minds in Saugerties, N.Y., earlier this month. Appropriately enough, plenty of humans and dogs alike turned out.
On the Road with Lindsey Leavitt
Alabama-based author Lindsey Leavitt recently visited the Hutchinson School for Girls in Memphis, Tenn., to discuss her debut novel, Princess for Hire (Disney-Hyperion, Mar.). First in a planned series, the book stars 14-year-old Desi who, thanks to answering a magical help wanted ad, becomes a "princess surrogate," serving as a stand-in for princesses around the world (usually with disastrous results) while they are vacationing. Here, Leavitt and a Hutchinson student show off copies of her new book.
PJ Library Conference Draws Crowd
Nonprofit group The PJ Library hosted a conference outside of Baltimore this past weekend, drawing more than 150 publishing professionals, authors, and representatives from the group's 125 communities across the U.S. The organization donates 60,000 free children's books of Jewish interest to communities in North America and Israel each month. Group discussions included "Why Do Jewish Stories Matter?" and "Going Beyond Hanukkah, Matzah Balls and the Happy Mom and Dad Family." Adult author Wendy Mogel (The Blessing of a Skinned Knee), seen here, delivered the keynote address. Photo: Stu Zolotorow.
Reach Out and Read—in Spanish
Earlier this month, the nonprofit literacy organization Reach Out and Read launched a Spanish-language version of its Web site, as part of its efforts to reach the Latino community. The site features all the book recommendations, literacy research, and other resources already available in English on its site. The organization currently serves more than one million Latino children and families in the U.S.
