Oh, the ‘Places’ You’ll Go!
Twins Paul A. Reynolds (l.) and Peter H. Reynolds recently celebrated the launch of their first picture book collaboration, Going Places, (S&S/Atheneum) at Blue Bunny Books & Toys in Dedham, Mass., which Peter co-owns. Store assistant manager Margie Leonard said there was a “huge” turnout for the event; among those in attendance was the brothers’ high school social studies teacher, Dan LeClerc, to whom the authors dedicated the book.
No Fear
On March 17, Tor Teen authors (l. to r.) Mindee Arnett, Jenna Black, and Kristen Simmons wrapped up their week-long group tour, Three Nightmares You Can’t Resist, for the latest installments in their series featuring brave protagonists: Arnett’s The Nightmare Dilemma; Black’s Resistance; and Simmons’s Three. The tour included stops in Cincinnati and Dayton, Ohio, and Louisville, Ky. The authors stopped outside the Joseph-Beth Booksellers store in Lexington to pose with a sign that they felt captured the spirit of the tour: “We thought it was appropriate based on the title of the tour, the theme of our books, and that we were all doing things that were new to us, like speaking to groups and doing school visits,” Simmons said.
Three Little Birds
While on tour in Arizona for Mama Built a Little Nest (S&S/Beach Lane), Jennifer Ward paid a visit to the City of Chandler Environmental Education Center. Ward read from her book about birds, which is illustrated by Steve Jenkins, as part of the center’s Southwest Story Time program. Readers in attendance also took part in a hands-on nest-building activity, using sticks, straw, and other materials. Here, Ward is joined by a pair from her own family tree – her niece and nephew.
A River Runs Through It
The Hudson River may play an ominous role in Aaron Starmer’s novel The Riverman (FSG), but it served as an idyllic setting for Starmer’s recent book launch celebration, which was attended by friends, family, Macmillan employees, and others. The boat departed from New York City’s Pier 62 and cruised downriver, providing guests with views of the city skyline and the Statue of Liberty. Starmer (shown here with Joy Peskin, his editor) read the first chapter of The Riverman during the cruise.
A Long-Anticipated Visit
Jennifer Wilcutt, the librarian at Olmstead School in Kentucky, worked for two years to bring one of her favorite children’s book authors, Kirby Larson (Duke), to the school for a visit. Thanks to a grant from Target, the school was able to host Larson this month. The author (center) spent the day sharing her reflections on writing and reading with students, and also met two Olmstead School fathers (shown here with their children), who had just returned from serving in Afghanistan.
Listening (at the) Library
Author and kindergarten teacher Burleigh Muten met young readers at the March 22 launch for her middle-grade novel in verse, Miss Emily (Candlewick), which features a playful depiction of Emily Dickinson. The event took place at the Jones Library in Amherst, Mass., the town in which Dickinson lived for much of her life. During the event, Muten read from her book and an actress dressed as the 19th-century poet interacted with the audience.
