This week, a bookstore celebrates National Doughnut Day; a famed children’s book author is honored; an author’s hometown devotes a day to his latest picture book; writers channel their authentic selves at a bookstore event; fans are all grins at an author’s launch party; and summer reading starts off with a bang.
Do-nut Miss It!
Schuler’s Books & Music in Grand Rapids, Mich., celebrated National Doughnut Day on June 5 with Laurie Keller, author of the Adventures of Arnie the Doughnut series. Keller read from her books, while readers enjoyed doughnuts and doughnut-related activities. Here, Emily Stavrou of Schuler’s dresses up as Arnie.
Honored Guests
Ezra Jack Keats was one of seven writers inducted into the NYS Writers Hall of Fame on June 2. The sixth annual ceremony took place at the Princeton Club of New York. Deborah Pope, executive director of the Ezra Jack Keats Foundation, accepted the award. Pictured at the award gala are, front row (l. to r.): Shadra Strickland and Tonya Cherie Hegamin, Ezra Jack Keats Book Award winners; Deborah Pope; illustrator E.B. Lewis, who presented the award to Pope; Arthur Jacobs and John Burleigh, attorneys. Back row (l. to r.) are: Patricia Bayer Troup, Ezra Jack Keats board of directors; Deborah Hallen Zelinsky, educator; Fran Manushkin, author; and Paul O. Zelinsky, author and illustrator.
Gesundheit!
June 9 was declared ”Billy’s Booger Day” in William Joyce’s hometown of Shreveport, La., after Joyce’s picture book Billy’s Booger (S&S/Atheneum), which portrays Joyce’s school experience at A.C. Steere Elementary in Shreveport. Joyce spent the day meeting local residents, including Mayor Ollie Tyler, seen here with Joyce, holding her signed copy of the book at the store ToyFair.
Somethin’ Fierce
Macmillan authors (from l.) Jennifer Mathieu (Devoted); Courtney Alameda (Shutter); Anna Banks (Joyride); and Emmy Laybourne (Sweet), posed in costume at Boulder Bookstore in Boulder, Colo., on June 1 as part of their Fierce Reads Spring Fling Tour. Readers in attendance enjoyed a pizza party, games of bingo, and mingling with the authors.
Don’t Presume
Anne Heltzel appeared in conversation with fellow author Marie Rutkoski at NYC’s McNally Jackson on June 2, to celebrate the release of Heltzel’s Charlie, Presumed Dead (HMH). Here, Heltzel signs books for several of her adult fans (from l.) Barb Palette, Jessica Palette, Lauren Palette, and Marielle Spangler.
Powered Up
Staff from Scholastic, Bryant Park, and Energizer hosted a summer reading event on June 6 in Bryant Park in Manhattan to support the Scholastic Summer Reading Challenge and Bryant Park’s “Word for Word” events. Hundreds of kids came out for the occasion. Also in attendance were the Energizer Bunny and Ms. Frizzle, who invited readers to climb aboard the Magic School Bus mobile science museum parked nearby for the day.
