This week, an author takes a break from the “wild” life; a writer hits the road for an important anniversary; an author considers giving up writing for baton-twirling; fans dress the part at a debut author’s book release party; kids flock to a bilingual book event; and readers line up for the latest in a nonfiction adventure series.
Laid Back
Picture book author and illustrator Peter Brown stopped by Little, Brown headquarters to sign 1,300 copies of his debut middle grade novel, The Wild Robot, for independent bookstores across the country. He’s not one to rest on his laurels, but Brown soaked in the moment by basking on several stacks of The Wild Robot, which releases on April 5.
A Book Milestone
Markus Zusak spoke to a crowd of nearly 1,000 fans on March 9 at the St. Louis County Library in St. Louis, Mo. The author is just wrapping up his 10-city U.S. tour to celebrate the 10th anniversary of The Book Thief (Knopf). This marks the first time Zusak has gone on the road for a major tour since the paperback publication of The Book Thief in 2007. An anniversary edition of the book released earlier this month.
Learning Curve
Kate DiCamillo (l.) was an honored guest at Mackin Educational Resources, a supplier of library and classroom materials, in Burnsville, Minn. While at the offices, DiCamillo took part in a video shoot, a meet-and-greet with the Mackin team, and signed copies of her new novel, Raymie Nightingale (Candlewick), for Mackin’s distribution. Mackin’s Leanne Carver demonstrated how to properly twirl a baton to DiCamillo, and judging by her expression, the author took the lesson very seriously. DiCamillo’s latest novel involves three girls who become friends while taking baton-twirling classes.
Going Medieval
A crowd of 150 people attended debut author Janet Taylor’s launch party for her novel Into the Dim (Houghton Mifflin) on March 12 at Barnes and Noble in Little Rock, Ark. In keeping with the book’s Scottish setting and theme of time travel, the event featured a bagpipe player, Scottish games, and medieval hair braiding. Seniors Cara Lawler (l.) and Anna Bliss Dean (r.) from the drama club at St. Mary’s High School in Little Rock, came dressed as characters from the book and cozied up to Taylor (center).
Busy Birds
Diesel, A Bookstore in Larkspur, Calif., hosted a preview event for the bilingual board book Little Chickies/Los Pollitos by Susie Jaramillo, on March 12. The novelty book is based on a Spanish nursery rhyme and is published by the Canticos imprint of new publisher Encantos, which is based in San Francisco. Pictured here is one of several busy craft tables at the event. Standing (l.) is Clare Doornbos from Diesel, along with (r.) Jaramillo.
Surviving (and Thriving)
With the publication of I Survived: the Hindenburg Disaster, 1937 this month, author Lauren Tarshis kicked off her first national tour for the I Survived series (Scholastic). On the first leg of the trip, she made stops in the New York tri-state area and Milwaukee, Wis. Next month, she continues her tour to California, St. Louis, and Cincinnati. Here, she signs books for students at Munsey Park Elementary School’s Reading Night. Her visit was arranged by Dolphin Bookstore in Port Washington, N.Y.
