A New Connecticut Appearance For Sara Levine With A Book Giveaway!

You will, of course, remember that New England children's writer Sara Levine made an appearance at my local library this summer. Well, she's going to be in Connecticut again this next week, Thursday, October 6 at the Guilford Public Library in Guilford. Time--4:15. 

For those of you in the area who can get there, this appearance is around her picture book The Animals Would Not Sleep, which is part of the Storytelling Math series from Charlesbridge Publishing. 

Also note that free signed copies of the book will be given to each child who registers. But, remember, separate preregistration is required for each child coming in order for each of them to get a book. You can find the registration form at the Guilford Public Library link above, but, heck, to make this easy, I'm going to link it again. Here. 

A great opportunity.

In-person Author Appearances Coming Back To Connecticut

In-person childlit author appearances are slowly coming back in a number of places. Here are a couple of interesting ones here in Connecticut, because they're outdoors.

Sept. 10 and 11 Children's writers are among the authors featured at the River Bend Bookshop Author Stage, Glastonbury. 

Part of the Arts on the Green Art and Craft Show.  

 

 

 

 

Sept. 26 Linda Zajac, Hartmann's Pavillion, Henry Park, Vernon 2-5

I think I heard there's going to be cake at this one, but I'm not sure.

Linda Zajac is another one of my writers' group colleagues who has done well.
 

2020 Tassy Walden Awards

Connecticut’s 2020 Tassy Walden Awards winners and finalists have been announced. This is a significant award in this state, because so many winners and finalists were later published.

The Winners Are

• Picture Book Text--Natasha Garnett for Daniela Makes Her Way   
• Illustrated Picture Book Writer/Illustrator--Gabriella Svenningsen for What Is A Memory?
• Middle Grade Novel--Paula Kay McLaughlin for Renala: Sydney Parks & the Bayab Tree
• Young Adult Novel--Katie Tietjen for In a Nutshell: The Case of the Lady in the Bathtub 
• Illustrator Portfolio Finalist--Tessa Griffin

A virtual awards reception will be held on May 27 at 7 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

Another Connecticut Bookstore Closes

While working on next month's Connecticut Children's Literature Calendar, I noticed that the website for Jack and Allie's, A Children's Bookstore in Vernon is gone. What do you suppose that means, Gail? I thought.

I did a little hunting, and, as I suspected, the store has closed. The lease was up at the end of May, and the owner is looking for another site.

In addition to selling books, Jack and Allie's hosted events such as birthday parties, baby showers, fundraisers, and reading camps.

This is the second Connecticut bookstore to close this summer. 

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. 

Connecticut Bookstore Closing

According to its website, Book Club, Bookstore & More in South Windsor will be closing July, 30, 2019. (In roughly a week and a half.)

Grand Opening For New Bookstore In Central Connecticut

For months I've been hearing about a new bookstore coming to Wethersfield, Connecticut. That Bookstore opened on July 15th, and it's grand opening will be this Friday, August 3.