This week, Kate DiCamillo inaugurates a lecture series; Little, Brown toasts Caldecott Medalist Javaka Steptoe; David Baldacci is on the news; author Jack Cheng receives a warm elementary school welcome; Joyce Sidman makes the “rounds” at her book launch party; and author Will Walton meets a fan.
A Speech to Make a Curious Monkey Proud
On March 9, Kate DiCamillo spoke at the first annual Margret and H.A. Rey Curious George Lecture series at the Cambridge Public Library. The series is sponsored by the Curious George Fund and is intended to give readers an opportunity to connect with an author or illustrator, chosen in honor of Curious George creators Margret and H.A. Rey. Shown here (from back l.): DiCamillo; Julie Roach, manager of youth services, Cambridge Public Library; Maria McCauley, director of libraries, city of Cambridge; and (in front) Lay Lee Ong, literary executor of the Reys’ estate.
Radiant Author
Little, Brown honored 2017 Caldecott winner Javaka Steptoe with a toast at its offices on March 13. Steptoe won for his picture book biography Radiant Child: The Story of Young Artist Jean-Michel Basquiat. In addition to staff members, in attendance were editors, librarians, and Javaka’s agent, Edward Necarsulmer IV.
Good Day, David Baldacci
While on tour for The Width of the World, the latest book in his Vega Jane series. David Baldacci visited schools, bookstores, and libraries in cities he hadn’t ever been to or hadn’t visited in years, including St. Louis, Wichita, Tulsa, and Houston. He also appeared on the morning show Good Day Tulsa to discuss the series.
From Out of This World
Author Jack Cheng visited Hoffman Elementary School in Glenview, Ill., as part of the book tour for his debut novel See You in the Cosmos, about a boy who is fascinated by space and has a dog named Carl Sagan. Here, Cheng is greeted by the school’s welcoming committee of students and fans.
Well Rounded
“Round” was the word of the day at Joyce Sidman’s launch party for her book of the same name. The event was held at Red Balloon in St. Paul, Minn., on March 11. Here, Sidman shows an example of a round object (a grapefruit) to the young attendees. Seen behind Sidman in a round red balloon T-shirt is Red Balloon co-owner Holly Weinkauf. In keeping with the “round” theme, attendees sang songs in rounds, colored pictures of balloons, and ate donuts.
A Meeting of Minds
Will Walton (Anything Could Happen) was one of the featured guest authors at the NoVa Teen Book Festival, which was held at Washington Lee High School in Arlington, Va., on March 11. The festival featured young adult authors, including Nina LaCour, Robin Talley, and Brendan Kiely, who spoke on panels, attended signings, and led small group breakout sessions for attendees. Here, Walton chats with a fan who clearly got the blue shirt memo.
