March Connecticut Children's Literature Calendar

Clearly the independent booksellers in this state think we're having an early spring with clear roads ahead. They've booked plenty of author visits for readers. Note two books are launching (one started last month) and a writing class is starting. And there is an author fest.

Sun., Mar. 1, Janet Lawler, River Bend Bookshop, Glastonbury 10:30 AM

Tues. Mar. 3, Leslie Connor, R.J. Julia Booksellers, Madison 6:00 PM

Wed, Mar. 4 thru April 1, Dawn Metcalf, How To Get Traditionally Published, The Storytellers' Cottage, Simsbury 6:30 PM to 8:30 PM Fee; Can register for individual sessions or the entire set.

Sat., Mar. 7, Jeanne Zulick Ferruolo, Barnes & Noble UConn, Storrs 1:00 PM

Sat., Mar. 7, Briana Webber, Fairfield University Bookstore, Fairfield 10:30 AM

Sun., Mar. 8, Jeanne Zulick Ferruolo, R.J. Julia Booksellers, Madison 2:00 PM

Tues., Mar. 10, Chris Babu, R.J. Julia Booksellers, Madison 6:30 PM

Wed., Mar. 11, Jeanne Zulick Ferruolo, Wesleyan R.J. Julia Booksellers, Middleton 6:30 PM

Thurs., Mar. 12, Leslie Bulion, Durham Public Library, Durham 6:30 PM

Sat., Mar. 21, Leslie Bulion, R.J. Julia Booksellers, Madison 10:30 AM

Sat., Mar. 21, Jeanne Zulick Ferruolo, Barnes & Noble, West Hartford Noon

Sat., Mar. 21, Joyce Lapin, The Storytellers' Cottage, Simsbury 1:00 PM

Sun., Mar. 22, Leslie Bulion, Byrd's Books, Bethel 2:00 PM

Sat., Mar. 28, Katie L. Carroll, Patrick Scalisi, and possibly others,  The Public Library of New London's Local Authors' Fest, New London 11:00 AM to 2:00 PM


Sun., Mar. 29, Leslea Newman, River Bend Bookshop, Glastonbury 10:30 AM

February Connecticut Children's Literature Calendar

This month we have a Connecticut author making appearances to support a new book, as well as an author appearance in support of a bio of a Connecticut historical figure. That's Flo Griswold, I'm talking about. 


Sat., Feb. 1, Connie Bombaci, Storyteller's Cottage, Simsbury 1:00 PM   


Fri., Feb. 7, Jason Tharp, That Book Store, Wethersfield 4:30 PM


Sat., Feb. 8, Deb Adamson, Bank Square Books, Mystic 1:00 PM

Sat., Feb. 8 Jeanne Zulick Ferruolo, River Bend Bookshop, Glastonbury 3:00 PM

Tues., Feb. 11, Janae Marks, R. J. Julia Booksellers, Madison 6:30 PM

Wed., Feb. 12, Liz Braswell, Wesleyan R. J. Julia, Middletown 6:00 PM

Sat., Feb. 29, Jeanne Zulick Ferruolo, Tolland Public Library, Tolland 1:00 PM

*Sat., Feb. 29, Susan Hood, Lizzy Rockwell, and Abdul-Razak Zachariah, Picture Book Panel, Pequot Library, 12:00 to 2:00 PM Books available for purchase and signing. 

*Edited to add this event 7:00 PM 1/29/20

January Connecticut Children's Literature Calendar

At this point in the year, I am tired of holiday prep and excited for January and new things. The endings and beginnings of units of time (like a year, say) are hugely important. It turns out, beginnings and endings of cycles of time are temporal landmarks, special occasions and calendar events that "create numerous “fresh start” opportunities at the beginning of new cycles." I have come to like the end/beginning of the year temporal landmark more than I like Christmas, which carries a big burden of "BE JOYFUL!"

Thus, I am happy to be able to share the first Connecticut Children's Literature Calendar for the year 2020. Whatever is going on in your life this minute, remember that you have a brand spanking new year to look forward to in just four days.  

Sat., Jan. 4, Susan Cooper, R. J. Julia Booksellers, Madison 10:30 AM

Tues., Jan. 7, Ryan La Sala, Wesleyan R.J. Julia Booksellers, Middletown 7:00 PM

Sat., Jan. 11, Janet Lawler, R. J. Julia Booksellers, Madison 10:30
AM

Sat., Jan. 11, Bob Shea, Wesleyan R.J. Julia Booksellers, Middletown 10:30 AM

Sun. Jan. 12, Karen Romano Young, Byrd's Books, Bethel 2:00 PM

Sat., Jan 18, Bob Shea, R. J. Julia Booksellers, Madison 10:30 AM

Sat., Jan. 25 Colleen Brunetti, Storytellers' Cottage, Simsbury 1:00 PM

December Connecticut Children's Literature Calendar

We're expecting a calm childlit December in Connecticut.

Sun., Dec. 1, Jessica Bayliss, Barnes & Noble, Milford 9:00 AM

Sat., Dec. 7, Jeanne Zulick Ferruolo, River Bend Bookshop, Glastonbury 10:30 AM

Wed., Dec. 11, Todd Harrington, Barrett Bookstore, Darien 6:30 PM

Wed., Dec. 11, Jessica Bayliss, Barnes & Noble, Milford 3:00 PM

Sat., Dec. 14, Jessica Bayliss, Barnes & Noble, Milford 9:00 AM

Sat., Dec. 21, Greg Wolf, Storyteller's Cottage, Simsbury 1:00 PM

November Connecticut Children's Literature Calendar

November is usually Connecticut Children's Book Fair month. Not this year. This is what a November without the fair looks like. Not that bad. I've seen months with less going on.

Sun., Nov. 3, Amanda Banikov, Bank Square Books, Mystic 12:00 PM

Sun., Nov. 3, Josh Funk, River Bend Book Shop, Glastonbury 10:30 AM

Tues., Nov. 5, Neal Shusterman, R. J. Julia Booksellers, Madison  7:00 PM

Tues., Nov. 5, Eoin Colfer, The Mark Twain House, Hartford 7:00
PM

Sat., Nov. 23, Liz Delton and M. Wednesday, That Book Store, Wethersfield 2:00 PM

October Connecticut Children's Literature Calendar

This is a big, big month for Connecticut children's literature. Since there will be no Connecticut Children's Literature Fair in November, I'm guessing #CTchildlit activity will peak in October.  

Tues., Oct. 1, Jennifer Thermes, R. J. Julia Booksellers, Madison 6:00 PM

Thurs., Oct. 3, Elizabeth Eulberg, R.J. Julia Booksellers, Madison 6:30 PM

Sat., Oct. 5, Jenna Grodzicki, Barnes & Noble, Canton 11:00 AM          


Sat., Oct. 5, Michael Belanger,  Pegi Dietz Shea, Sarah Darer Littman, Marilyn Nelson, Chandra Prasad, Cindy Rodriguez, Connecticut Literary Festival, Real Art Ways, Hartford  Scroll this page to check times and learn of other presenters.

Sun., Oct. 6, Jeanne Zulich Ferruolo, That Bookstore, Wethersfield 2:00 PM

Mon., Oct. 7, Kwame Alexander, Sea Tea Theater, Hartford 5:30 to 8:00 Registration now closed

Thurs., Oct. 10, Jake Burt, R. J. Julia Booksellers, Madison 6:30 PM

Fri, Oct. 11, Raj Haldar, Wesleyan R.J. Julia Bookstore, Middletown 4:00 PM

Wed., Oct. 16, Katie Melko, Avon Free Public Library, Avon  11:30 AM

Wed., Oct. 16, Beth Vrabel, Wesleyan R.J. Julia Bookstore, Middletown 6:00 PM

Sat., Oct. 19, Wendell Minor, Hickory Stick Bookshop, Washington Depot  2:00 PM

Sun., Oct. 20, Connecticut Book Awards Ceremony, Reception, Book Signing with finalists as well as winners, Hartford Public Library 3:00 to 5:30 PM Registration and fee

Sun., Oct. 20, Jeanne Zulich Ferruolo, Bank Square Books, Mystic 4:00 PM

Fri., Oct. 25, Brendan Wenzel, Wesleyan R. J. Julia Bookstore, Middletown 6:30 PM

Sat., Oct. 26, Jerry Craft, Bank Square Books, Mystic 4:00 PM

Sun., Oct. 27, Jenna Grodzicki, River Bend Bookshop, Glastonbury 10:30 AM

Tues., Oct. 29, Grace Lin, R. J. Julia Booksellers, Madison 5:30 PM

Wed., Oct. 30, Rebecca Behrens, Wesleyan R. J. Julia Bookstore, Middletown 6:30 PM

September Connecticut Children's Literature Calendar

The beginning of units of time are important to humans, and I've read that September has become as important as January as the beginning of a "year." The beginning of this one sees Mike Lupica, Scott Westerfeld, and Jan Brett coming here and R.L. Stine serving as keynote speaker at the Saugatuck StoryFest

Tues., Sept. 10, Mike Lupica, Wesleyan R. J. Julia, Middletown 6:30 PM

Sat., Sept. 14, Jennifer Thermes, Elm Street Books, New Canaan 12:30 to 2:30 


Sun., Sept. 15, Josh Funk, R. J. Julia Booksellers, Madison 10:30 AM

Sun., Sept. 15, Scott Westerfeld, R. J. Julia Booksellers, Madison 4:00 PM

Mon., Sept. 16, Jan Brett, Mystic Congregational Church, Mystic 5:00 to 7:00 PM Sponsored by Bank Street Books Ticketed event.

Sat., Sept. 21, Stacy DeKeyser, Books on Pratt Street Book Fair, Hartford 11:30 AM to 1:00 PM Tentative

Mon., Sept. 23, Rebecca Podos, Ryan LaSalla, Rebecca Kim Wells,  R. J. Julia Booksellers, Madison 6:30 PM

Sat., Sept. 28, Saugatuck StoryFest, Westport Library, Westport:

• Emily Easton, Karlin Gray, Bats Langley, Kyle Lukoff, David O'Neill, Ed Shankman, Gregg Shiegel, StoryFest Kids, The Roz and Bud Siegel Family Children's Library, 10:00 AM to 3:00 PM 
• R.L. Stine, Keynote Speaker, The Forum Stage, 1:00 PM
• Sona Charaipotra, Jerry Craft, Tiffany Jackson, Kyle Lukoff, The Forum Stage, 2:30 PM
• Jessica Bayliss, L.L. McKinney, The Forum Stage, 3:30 PM
• Jake Burt, Susan Hood, Geoff Rodkey, Ibi Zoboi, Brooks Place, 12:00 PM
• Mike Belanger, Eric Bell, Janae Marks, Rhiannon Navin, Susan Ross, Brooks Place, 2:00 PM

August Connecticut Children's Literature Calendar

Summers are always slow for childlit/YA appearances store appearances in Connecticut. Maybe shoppers are all reading at their beach cottages and lake houses? Sure, that's it. For eleven years, though, the Connecticut Authors' Trail has been bringing Connecticut writers to libraries in eastern Connecticut during the summer. We have two children's writers on the Connecticut Authors' Trail this month.
 
Sat., Aug. 3, Toni Buzzeo and Sara Levine, R. J. Julia Booksellers, Madison 10:30 AM

Sun., Aug. 4, Amanda Bannikov, Storyteller's Cottage, Simsbury 3:00 PM Book Launch

Mon., Aug. 5, Katie L. Carroll, Voluntown Public Library, Voluntown 6:00 PM Part of the Connecticut Authors' Trail

Thurs., Aug. 22, Jessica Bayless, Scotland Public Library, Scotland 6:30 PM Part of the Connecticut Authors' Trail. 

July Connecticut Children's Literature Calendar

Sun., July 7, Kati Mocker, The Storytellers' Cottage, Simsbury 3:00 PM


Sat., July 13, Abdul-Razak Zachariah, R.J. Julia Booksellers, Madison 10:30 AM 

Sat., July 13, Culliver Crantz, Barnes & Noble, West Hartford  12:00 PM

Fri., July 19, Joyce Lapin, Talcott Mountain Academy, Avon 7:30 to 9:30 PM Ticketed Event

Sat., July 20, Joyce Lapin, Elm Street Books, New Canaan 12:30 PM to 2:30 PM

Sun., July 21, Theresa Pelham, River Bend Bookshop, Glastonbury 10:30 AM

June Connecticut Children's Literature Calendar

Sat., June 1, Clare Pernice, The Toy Tree, Newtown 10:00 AM

Sat., June 1, Amanda Bannikov, The Storytellers' Cottage, Simsbury 12:00 PM Story time

Sun, June 2, Barbara Gervais Ciancimino, That Book Store, Wethersfield 1:00 PM Story time  

Fri., June 7, Jen Blecher, River Bend Bookshop, Glastonbury 6:00 PM


Sat., June 8, Joyce Lapin, The Hickory Stick, Washington Depot 12:00 PM Story time

Sun., June 9, Katie L. Carroll, 17th Annual Pirate's Day, Milford 9 AM to 3 PM

Wed., June 12, Martha Seif Simpson, Avon Free Public Library Pop-up Book Fair, Avon 6:30 PM to 8:30 PM 22 local authors

Sat., June 15, June Hyjek, Book Club Bookstore & More, Windsor 10:30 AM Story time

Sat., June 22, Joyce Lapin, Bank Street Book Nook, New Milford 12:00 PM

May Connecticut Children's Literature Calendar

Sat., May 4, Susan Ross, Westport Library, Westport 3:00 PM

Sat., May 4, Katie L. Carroll, Rick Arruzza, Suzanne Cordatos, Tabitha G. Kelly, Donna Marie Merritt, Christine Pakkala, Torrington Library, Torrington Noon to 4 Author Expo and Book Fair

Mon. May 6, Padma Venkatrama Q&A with blogger Cassi Steenblok, Bank Square Books, Mystic 5:30 PM

Tues., May 7, Erin Jones, Bank Square Books, Mystic 7:00 PM

Sat., May 11, Joyce Lapin, Storytellers' Cottage, Simsbury Noon

Sat., May 18, Joyce Lapin, That Book Store, Wethersfield 1:00 PM

Sun., May 19, Josh Funk, That Book Store, Wethersfield 11:30 AM

Sat., May 25, Joyce Lapin, Barnes & Noble, West Hartford 11:00 AM

Sun., May 26, Joyce Lapin, River Bend Bookshop, Glastonbury 10:30 AM

April Connecticut Children's Literature Calendar

Wed., April 3, Neil Patrick Harris, Morgan High School Auditorium, Clinton 7:00 PM Sponsored by R.J. Julia Booksellers. Tickets sold out.

Sat., April 6, Deborah Freedman, R.J. Julia Booksellers, Madison 10:30 AM

Sun., April 7, Liza McMahon, Jessica Simons, Theresa Mackiewicz, Sara Ann Hofferd, R.J. Julia Booksellers, Madison 2:00 PM

Tues., April 9, Melissa de la Cruz, R.J. Julia Booksellers, Madison 6:30 PM

Wed., April 10, Lana Bennett, The Storytellers' Cottage, Simsbury 10:00 AM Storytime  Fee

Fri., April 12, Amanda Bannikov, The Storytellers' Cottage, Simsbury 10:00 AM Storytime

Sat., April 13, Katie Melko, The Storytellers' Cottage, Simsbury 12:00 PM Storytime

Sat., April 20, Leslie Bulion, Howard Whittemore Memorial Library, Naugatuck 10:30

Sat., April 27, Suzanne Cordatos, The Storytellers' Cottage, Simsbury 12:00 PM Storytime

Sun., April 28, Joyce Lapin, House of Books, Kent 2:00PM

Sun., April 28, Jo Knowles in Conversation With Debbi Michiko Florence, R.J. Julia Booksellers, Madison 3:00 PM

Sun., April 28, Jamie Deeniham, River Bend Bookshop, Glastonbury 10:30 AM    

March Connecticut Children's Literature Calendar

March is bringing three new books to Connecticut, and a major YA author will be here promoting her memoir.

Sat., Mar. 2, Padma Venkatraman in conversation with Cindy Rodriguez, R. J. Julia Booksellers, Madison 2:00 PM

Mon., Mar. 4, Leslie Bulion, Durham Library, Durham 6:30 Launch party

Sat., Mar. 9, Jamie L. B. Deenihan, That Book Store, Wethersfield 2:00 PM

Mon., Mar. 11, Laurie Halse Anderson, Fairfield University Bookstore, Fairfield  7:00 PM Ticketed event for Anderson's adult memoir; children under 13 not admitted.

Sat., Mar. 16, Sara Levine, Wesleyan R. J. Julia Bookstore, Middletown 10:30 AM

Sun., Mar. 17, Joyce Stengel, River Bend Bookshop, Glastonbury 10:30 AM 


Thurs., Mar. 21, Martha Seif Simpson, R.J. Julia Booksellers, Madison 4:00 PM Book launch

Thurs., Mar. 21, Peter Brown, New Canaan Library, New Canaan, 6:30 PM

Sat., Mar. 23, Leslie Bulion, R. J. Julia Booksellers, Madison 10:30 AM

Sat., Mar. 23, 4th Annual Local Authors Fest, Library of New London, New London 11 AM to 2 PM I just learned of this yesterday, and it sounds as if the line-up hasn't been finalized. I don't know if any children's or YA authors will be there.

Sat., Mar. 24, Martha Seif Simpson, Greater New Haven Jewish Community Center, Woodbridge 2:00 PM Purim Party