A ‘Sparkling’ Occasion

Mary Jane Begin’s My Little Pony: Under the Sparkling Sea (Little, Brown), made a big splash at its April 27 release event at Barrington Books in Barrington, R.I. The book introduces fans to the new underwater world of Aquastria, home of the seaponies and mermares. In addition to having their books signed by Begin, Pony fans were treated to face painting and Hasbro giveaways. Said event coordinator Anika Denise, “The event was a huge success, with a line of people snaking through the store the entire signing.” Begin signed for more than three hours, and Barrington Books sold upwards of 150 copies to eager young readers (and likely some nostalgic adults).

That’s No Bull!

What happens at Billy Bob’s stays at Billy Bob’s, right? Not necessarily: Disney Publishing’s Clete Smith (the Intergalactic Bed and Breakfast series), Coert Voorhees (In Too Deep), Orpheus Collar (illustrator of Rick Riordan’s The Kane Chronicles: The Red Pyramid graphic novel adaptation), and Bob Shea (Unicorn Thinks He’s Pretty Great) kept it purely G-rated (okay – maybe PG) at an after-hours event following a long day talking shop at the Texas Library Association’s annual conference. The authors lived it up, Texas style, at Billy Bob’s Honky Tonk in Fort Worth. While sources claim that the cow was mechanical, the Billy Bob’s Honky Tonk web site clearly states that “contrary to popular belief, Billy Bob’s has never had a mechanical bull.” Hmm – they seem to be slinging bull of some sort....

On the Road Again

The third annual Magic Tree House: Passport to Adventure bus tour kicked off on March 25, beginning more than a month of visits to bookstores and other venues in 15 cities spanning from Seattle to New Orleans. The tour features live performances by actors portraying Jack and Annie, who act out episodes from Mary Pope Osborne’s Magic Tree House series for Random House. During an April 28th visit to an H-E-B grocery in Austin, Tex., Jack (played by Josey Montana McCoy) and Annie (played by Josie Adams) shared their time-traveling adventures with an audience of 450 children. The spring tour draws to a close on May 6 and 7 with three stops in North Carolina.