In Brief: November 18

Klassen Wins GG Award

Illustrator Jon Klassen has won the English-language Governor General’s Literary Award for Children’s Literature - Illustration for Caroline Stutson’s Cats’ Night Out (S&S/Wiseman). Of the book, the jury said, “Jon Klassen’s highly imaginative and clever illustrations, with their subdued, delicate colours and their minimal movement, mysteriously transform a smoky New York night into a grooving and pulsating background for his cool dancing cats.” The English-language award for text went to Wendy Phillips for Fishtailing (Coteau). Visit the Governor General’s Web site to see the other winners and finalists.

Last weekend, Sparkhouse Toys and Books in South Orange, N.J., opened its gallery/event space, Sparkhouse Studio, which will display original artwork from children’s book illustrators. The inaugural show featured the artwork of John Rocco, and more than 150 people turned out on Sunday to hear him discuss his artistic process. Rocco created the covers for Rick Riordan’s Percy Jackson and Kane Chronicles books, as well as picture books including Fu Finds the Way (2009) and the forthcoming Blackout, both published by Disney-Hyperion.

The New York Public Library hosted author Darren Shan last week as part of the first season of its TeenLIVE! programming, which aims to “spotlight current cultural trends and important mainstays that inform the lives of today’s teens.” Held to celebrate Shan’s newest book, The Saga of Larten Crepsley: Birth of a Killer (Little, Brown, Oct.), the event featured actors dressed as Cirque du Freak characters and crow puppets made for the occasion. Here, Shan (seated) is joined by the actors and puppeteers as well as Jack Martin (r.) and host Chris Shoemaker, both of the NYPL.

Debut author Beth Revis visited Los Angeles, Seattle, and San Francisco earlier this month during a three-day pre-pub dinner tour to promote her forthcoming YA novel Across the Universe (Razorbill, Jan.). In the book, teenage Amy awakens from cryogenic deep freeze 50 years too early aboard a massive spaceship that has embarked on a 300-year journey to bring Earth colonists to a new planet. In Seattle, Revis (center, standing) met with local booksellers at Volterra Restaurant.

In late October, David Wiesner made an appearance at Kids Ink Children’s Bookstore in Indianapolis in support of his new picture book, Art and Max (Clarion, Oct.). Here, Wiesner is flanked by four brothers who were among the 125 fans who came out to see Wiesner. Following the event, Kids Ink owner Shirley Mullin hosted an “after party” for Wiesner at her home, which featured a bonfire, s’mores, and pumpkin painting.