This week, Tim Burton and Ransom Riggs share a stage; a hardware store observes “Monkey Day”; Nandana Dev Sen celebrates Kangaroo Kisses; authors and educators have a big night out; Julie Kagawa looks for dragons in Sweden; and Mike Wohnoutka and David LaRochelle get catty in Minnesota.

It’s Mighty Peculiar...

Tim Burton and Ransom Riggs spoke in conversation about the film adaptation of Riggs’s Miss Peregrine’s Home for Peculiar Children at Barnes & Noble Union Square on September 27. The pair also discussed writing, reading, and the creative influences that have meant the most to them. Fans enthusiastically greeted Burton and Riggs, with one guest even showing off her tattoo of Tim Burton’s face.

Monkeying Around

Marshall Hardware in Duluth, Minn., organized its fourth annual “Monkey Day” on September 17. The event honors Chris Monroe (standing at the end of the table), author of the Monkey with a Tool Belt series. Monroe, who lives in the neighborhood, used to work at the store. Attendees enjoyed hot dogs, muffins, and root beer, and bought their copies of the latest book in the series, Monkey with a Tool Belt and the Maniac Muffins.

A Night to Remember

More than 160 teachers and librarians were in attendance at Hicklebee’s Bookstore in San Jose, Calif., on September 15 for the annual Educators Night. The event is designed for educators to meet authors and get the latest book buzz – and books – to bring back to their classrooms and libraries. This year’s author guests included (from l.) Jim LaMarche, Paul Fleischman, Pamela S. Turner, Marissa Moss, co-owner Valerie Lewis, Kate Schatz, Judd Winick, Barney Saltzberg, and Mike Jung.

What Happens in Gothenburg…

While on a Nordic tour, Julie Kagawa paid a visit to the Gothenburg Book Fair. At the fair, Kagawa chatted with HarperCollins Nordic employees (l.) Anna Svedbom, publishing director, and Sarah Wallskog Lindvall, PR and marketing manager.

Ceci n’est pas un chat

Illustrator Mike Wohnoutka and author David LaRochelle signed copies of their picture book, This Is Not a Cat (Sterling) at the 17th annual Minnesota Children’s Book Festival on September 17. The Minnesota Children’s Book Festival is co-sponsored by Anderson Center, Mackin Educational Resources, and the Red Wing Public Library.

Kissing Kangaroos

Book of Wonder sponsored a launch party for Nandana Dev Sen, author of Kangaroo Kisses (Otter-Barry Books). Attendees enjoyed a custom Kangaroo Kisses cake, balloons, games, and animal masks. Dev Sen read the book to the group, with some help from (seen here) the six-year-old daughter of Dev Sen’s longtime friends.