Last month, U.K. author Katherine Rundell crossed the Atlantic for a North American tour in celebration of the launch of Impossible Creatures (Knopf, Sept.), the first in her worlds-hopping middle grade fantasy trilogy. Earning comparisons to Pullman and Tolkien, the book was an instant bestseller in Britain—where it was originally published last year—and has since landed on the New York Times bestseller list and been named the 2024 Barnes & Noble Children’s Book of the Year. We’ve gathered photo highlights from her travels.
Barnes & Noble in Paramus, N.J., welcomed Rundell on October 14 for a reading and signing of Impossible Creatures.
That evening, Rundell joined Nancy Siscoe (l.), her editor at Knopf, for a conversation about the intricacies of world-building and telling stories that honor children’s curiosity and bravery. The event was hosted by the Strand Bookstore in New York City.
During a school visit at P.S. 183 in Manhattan on October 15, Rundell introduced the world of the Archipelago, a secret island chain that is home to the magical creatures of legends and myths. The book features maps and illustrations by Ashley Mackenzie.
The following day, Wellesley Books in Wellesley, Mass., organized school visits with Field School, Sunita Williams Elementary, and Riverbend School. Here, Rundell speaks with young readers at Sunita Williams Elementary in Needham, Mass.
Rundell made appearances at Boyer Elementary School and Liberty Junior High in Frisco, Tex., for events facilitated by B&N Frisco. A life size cut-out featured text and art from the book.
Signing the wall at Blue Willow Bookshop in Houston. The store also set up visits with nearby Hogg Middle School and The Village School. Later that day, Rundell appeared at Brazos Bookstore.
During the California leg of her journey, Rundell stopped by Barnes & Noble in Montclair, Calif., on October 20. The store facilitated school visits with Terra Vista Elementary and Etiwanda Intermediate in Rancho Cucamonga, Calif.
On October 22, the author delivered a masterclass at the Vancouver Writers Fest in British Columbia on crafting magical realms filled with dragons, sphinxes, griffins, and more.
An October 24 event took place with Copperfield’s Books at Valley Vista Elementary School in Petaluma, Calif. In addition, the bookstore organized appearances at area schools Mary Collins School and Bolinas-Stinson Elementary School.
Bookshop Santa Cruz arranged school visits at Gault Elementary School and Live Oak Elementary in Santa Cruz, Calif., on October 25. Here, Rundell works the room at Live Oak Elementary.
