This week, Jennifer Niven posts a note; Candlewick staffers gear up for Turkey Day; Cassandra Clare talks Shadowhunters; Circus Mirandus comes to Pasadena; Paul O. Zelinsky and Matthew Cordell exchange drawings; and a bookstore creates a unique reading space.
The Writing on the Wall
Author Jennifer Niven contributed her own message to the wall of post-it notes that has popped up at New York’s Union Square subway station. That wall follows the success of a previous wall of “Subway Therapy” post-its that were started by artist Matthew “Levee” Chavez following the election on November 8. The content of the notes varies from pointed reactions to the Trump presidency to more open-ended sentiments. Niven posted the words “You Are Wanted. You Are Loved,” a message from her book Holding Up the Universe, written on All the Bright Places branded Post-its.
Turkey Trotting for a Cause
Candlewick staffers in Somerville, Mass., recently took part in their first annual Turkey Trot, a two-mile run/walk that culminated in donating food to a local shelter. Costumes were strongly encouraged and included a pumpkin, a turkey hat, masks inspired by Shannon Hale’s Princess in Black series, and bibs from Judy Moody and Stink: The Wishbone Wish activity kit.
Out from the Shadows
Barnes & Noble Tribeca hosted an event for the release of Cassandra Clare’s Tales from the Shadowhunter Academy on November 18. Clare (center) spoke in conversation with moderator Crystal Bell (r.) from MTV.com and Alberto Rosende, who plays Simon Lewis on the Freeform series Shadowhunters. The event drew a standing-room only crowd of fans.
A Mighty Love of Reading
Author Cassie Beasley was honored at a November 19 event held at Pasadena Public Library in Pasadena, Calif., in partnership with Vroman’s Bookstore. Beasley’s Circus Mirandus was chosen to be the library’s Young Readers League book selection; the Young Readers League is designed to nurture a love of reading among Pasadena-area kids ages 8 to 14. Leading up to Beasley’s visit, the library offered 30 events tied to Circus Mirandus. In addition to meeting and hearing Beasley speak, readers played circus games, enjoyed face paintings, and winners of the Young Readers League writing contest shared their stories on stage.
Well Drawn!
Paul O. Zelinsky (r.) chatted with author and illustrator Matthew Cordell about writing and illustrating picture books at The Book Stall in Winnetka, Ill., on November 15. The two offered a drawing demonstration, with Cordell drawing Rumpelstiltskin from Zelinsky’s book of the same name, and Zelinsky drawing Sadie and her elephant from Cordell’s book Special Delivery.
A Reading ‘Window!’
Copperfield’s in Petaluma, Calif., has installed a “Reading Window” with the assistance of artist Antonia Kai, who has also been a long-time customer of the store. Kai worked with kids in the community to help paint the backdrop of the store’s window space to look like a treehouse and filled the space with pillows and stuffed animals. Readers are being invited to read out loud in the window, while a wireless mic transmits their readings out to the sidewalk so passersby can hear. The window has been up for two weeks and runs through the holiday weekend.
