Recently, a local community came together to support a school visit, a publisher commemorated a late writer’s birthday, graphic novelists discussed a new release, the CBC hosted a panel, an author took a quick tour, and a middle grade novelist celebrated a launch.
All Together Now
Students at Running Brook Elementary School in Columbia, Md., gave Jen Calonita a warm welcome for her school visit on March 25 as part of Isle of Ever book tour. The middle grade series starter follows Benny, who must solve a mystery using clues left behind by her late grandmother. With schools struggling to afford to buy books, Melody Wukitch, owner of local bookstore Park Books on Main (formerly A Likely Story), enlisted the help of the community, and residents purchased more than 500 copies of Isle of Ever for every student. Here, Running Brook Elementary students show their new books.
An Enchanted Birthday
Enchanted Lion celebrated what would have been the 100th birthday of American novelist Flannery O’Connor with a trip to the writer’s hometown of Savannah, Ga., and her adult residence of Andalusia. On March 25, Ping Zhu, illustrator of the picture book The Strange Birds of Flannery O’Connor: A Life (Enchanted Lion), gave a presentation in Andalusia with author Amy Alznauer, where they were also able to meet O’Connor’s first cousin, Louise Florencourt. Here, Zhu spreads her wings before speaking to guests.
Sing a Song
Portland, Ore. bookstore Powell’s City of Books welcomed Maria van Lieshout (l.) for an event on March 17 presenting her graphic novel Song of A Blackbird (First Second). Set in Amsterdam in two time periods—2011 and the Nazi occupation of the Netherlands in 1943—the story follows the lives of women across generations. Here, van Lieshout was joined in conversation by fellow graphic novelist Vera Brosgol (r.).
Getting Graphic
On Tuesday, April 8, the Children’s Book Council hosted a Zoom panel with the recipients of the inaugural Graphic Novel Advocate Award, given to individuals who are dedicated champions of graphic novels for young people. The discussion featured (clockwise, from top l.) Robin Brenner, head of reference and programming, Woburn Public Library in Woburn, Mass.; Eva Volin, supervising children’s librarian, Alameda Free Library in Alameda, Calif.; Meg Lemke, graphic novels/comics reviews editor, Publishers Weekly, and editor in chief of MUTHA magazine; and Whitney Leopard, executive editor, Random House Graphic/Ink Pop. Mel Schuit, assistant marketing and publicity director, children’s, at the Quarto Group, moderated.
Dino’s Big Day
For the release of his new young graphic novel series starter, Dino Poet (Abrams), Tom Angleberger hit the road for a three-city book tour. Here, Angleberger at BBGB Books in Richmond, Va., signs copies ahead of the event on March 25. In the first book in the series, the titular writer plans to eat a frog for lunch, but when he learns his poem isn’t good, he decides instead to take an adventure to find inspiration.
On the Case
On March 20, Cindy Jenson-Elliott made an appearance at La Jolla, Calif., bookstore Warwick’s for the launch event of her middle grade book The Doomsday Detectives (Tu Books). The book follows father-and-son duo Luis and Walter as they investigate how dinosaurs went extinct. Here, Jenson-Elliott (second from l. in the front row) with attendees after the event.
