This week, the spotlight shines on Sophie Blackall's Hello Lighthouse; Dean Robbins commemorates the 1969 lunar landing; Sonia Antaki plans for her book launch; and the D.C. community shows its love for canine heroes.
Lighting the Way
On July 23, Caldecott Medalist Sophie Blackall read from her picture book Hello Lighthouse (Little, Brown, 2018) and shared her book-inspired diorama at The River’s End Bookstore in Oswego, N.Y. The author-illustrator spoke with more than 150 people, and also taught a workshop at the Children’s Museum of Oswego. The local school district encouraged all grade levels to participate in a lighthouse drawing contest in advance of Blackall’s visit, and the winning entries were on display at the museum. The honorable mentions were showcased at local shops, including The River’s End.
Over the Moon
Author Dean Robbins met with stargazers young and old at the Hurst Planetarium in Jackson, Mich., on July 20. Robbins discussed his two Apollo-focused picture books, in celebration of the 50th anniversary of the Apollo 11 moon landing, as well as the planetarium’s own 50th anniversary. The presentation featured his picture books The Astronaut Who Painted the Moon: The True Story of Alan Bean (Orchard) and Margaret and the Moon: How Margaret Hamilton Saved the First Lunar Landing (Knopf), with images projected on the planetarium’s 30-foot dome. Robbins’s next appearances will be in Chicago on August 5, at the Arlington Heights Memorial Library, The Book Stall in Winnetka, and the Evanston Public Library.
Making Plans
Sonia Antaki (r.), author and advocate for the arts and Native traditions, consulted with cultural advisors Mary Puthoff (l.) and Linda Sixfeathers on July 22 at Bear, Crow and Pony Trading Post in Half Moon Bay, Calif., to prepare for the launch of her new novel, Red Dove, Listen to the Wind (One Elm, Oct.). The book follows a 13-year-old girl who feels caught between her Lakota and white identities.
Dogs to the Rescue
National Geographic hosted its annual Family Day, in which the public was invited to explore the company’s headquarters in Washington, D.C. In addition to watching award-winning films, visiting the museum, and hearing live talks by National Geographic Explorers, children had the chance to meet three of the dogs featured in the publisher’s Doggy Defender series (launching this month): Willow the therapy dog, Stella the search dog, and Tiger the police dog. Kids received copies of the Doggy Defender books, signed by the animal handler and “paw-tographed” by the canines (using a stamp of each dog’s paw).
