A Moving Tribute
In observance of the one-year anniversary of the tragedy at Sandy Hook Elementary School in Newtown, Conn., author Patricia MacLachlan and illustrator Steven Kellogg were on hand at the Newtown Public Library on December 8 to meet members of the community and sign copies of their picture book Snowflakes Fall (Random). MacLachlan (shown here giving a high five to an attendee) and Kellogg wrote and illustrated the picture book in tribute to the Sandy Hook victims and their families. More than 140 people attended the signing, with many purchasing multiple copies of the book to give to Sandy Hook alumni.
The Golden Ticket
Gearing up for the 50th anniversary of Roald Dahl’s Charlie and the Chocolate Factory in 2014, actor Paul Giamatti (shown here performing a dramatic reading from the book) headlined A Splendiferous Afternoon of Roald Dahl, an event at Symphony Space in New York City celebrating the life and works of the author. Joining Giamatti were Amy Ryan (The Office), James Naughton and Mara Wilson (both from Matilda the movie), as well as Broadway actors Jenny Powers (Grease) and Matt Cavenaugh (West Side Story), who performed a song from Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory; author Jarrett J. Krosoczka hosted. Roald Dahl’s grandson Luke Kelly also made an appearance, speaking about his grandfather and reading excerpts from his stories. All proceeds from the event – which totaled more than $25,000 – went to First Book-Manhattan.
Out-Foxed
Comedians, brothers, and now authors Bard and Vegard Ylvisaker (known collectively as Ylvis), paid a visit to the Barnes & Noble the Grove in Los Angeles on December 14 while on tour for their debut picture book, What Does the Fox Say? (S&S), illustrated by Svein Nyhus. The book is based on the brothers’ viral YouTube dance and music video “The Fox: What Does the Fox Say?” At the event, Ylvis signed copies of the book for fans like the two shown here, who came dressed in What Does the Fox Say? T-shirts, hats, and foxtails.
Paying It Forward
Boston Celtics forward Kris Humphries took time away from the court to read to children from the local John F. Kennedy School, in an event sponsored by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt and held at the Four Seasons Hotel Boston. Humphries read from Tacky and the Winter Games by Helen Lester, illustrated by Lynn Munsinger, and also discussed his favorite books with the children in attendance. Following a craft project, the attendees each received a copy of Tacky and the Winter Games.
A Presidential Pick
On December 14 (from l. to r.), authors Margi Preus (Heart of a Samurai, Abrams/Amulet), Mary Casanova (Frozen, Univ. of Minnesota), and Sheryl Reque-Peterson (The Best Part of a Sauna, Raven Productions) visited Fitgers Bookstore in Duluth, Minn., to sign copies of their books. Customers who purchased a copy of Heart of a Samurai from Fitgers over the weekend received a presidential seal to attach to the book jacket, to commemorate President Obama’s recent purchase of the novel at Politics & Prose in Washington, D.C. on Small Business Saturday.
