This week, an author shares his debut picture book with readers; a writing retreat celebrates its fifth anniversary; an author gets handsy with a paper cut-out; a social media campaign honors beloved stuffed animals; an author and bookstore owner get ready for take-off; and a bookstore event host celebrates her own debut.

Story Time

During his 12-city publicity tour for his first picture book, Thunder Boy Jr. (Little, Brown), Sherman Alexie made a stop at the Southwestern Indian Polytechnic Institute’s Early Childhood Learning Center in Albuquerque, N.M. Here, he reads to preschoolers.

Writers Retreat!

Five years ago, author Alan Gratz organized a week-long writing retreat for children’s book authors in Bat Cave, N.C. Marking the retreat’s anniversary, authors again flocked to Bat Cave. (From l. to r., row by row, beginning at top): Carrie Ryan, Gwenda Bond, Megan Shepherd, Alexandra Duncan, Courtney Stevens, Megan Miranda, John Claude Bemis, Alan Gratz, Gabrielle Charbonnet, and Rebecca Petruck.

Flat Pat

Patrick Dempsey showed up in the flesh... er, cardboard, at Lynn Plourde’s book signing for You’re Doing THAT in the Talent Show?! (Disney-Hyperion) at Barnes & Noble Augusta, Maine, on May 21. The cardboard cut-out was there on behalf of the Dempsey Challenge, which benefits the Patrick Dempsey Center for Cancer Hope & Healing in Lewiston, Maine. Plourde was dressed as Penelope the hippo from the book; Dempsey sported a handsome cardboard blue shirt.

Favorite Friends

In celebration of the release of Ollie’s Odyssey (Atheneum), about a favorite toy named Ollie, William Joyce launched a social media campaign that asks readers to submit their own photographs of their favorite stuffed animals. Joyce, who was inspired to write Ollie’s Odyssey by his late daughter’s own teddy bears, has been creating original portraits of many of the favorite stuffed animals, including “Puppy,” who belongs to Sawyer, who met Joyce at an event at Lemuria Books in Jackson, Miss.

Please Put Your Seats in the Upright Position

Author Lisa Brown read to a standing-room-only crowd at The Booksmith in San Francisco on May 21. In keeping with the aviation theme of The Airport Book (Roaring Brook/Porter), Brown (l.) and Kristin Evans, owner of The Booksmith, donned flight attendant and captain uniforms.

A Role Reversal

Kepler’s Books in Menlo Park, Calif., hosted a launch event for Evelyn Skye (r.) on May 17. She spoke with fellow author Sabaa Tahir (l.) about her debut, The Crown’s Game (Harper/Balzer + Bray). Skye is often on stage at the bookstore, but serving as a host and moderator; the event marked her first time in the limelight.