A Farmer’s Market Grows in Dedham
Earlier this week Susan Lendroth, author of Old Manhattan Has Some Farms (Charlesbridge), illustrated by Kate Endle, visited The Blue Bunny, Books & Toys in Dedham, Mass., where she sang her book. She even added a verse about the town of Dedham having a farmers’ market, which takes place down the street from the bookstore once a week. “This is our kind of child-friendly event,” says Blue Bunny assistant manager Margie Leonard. The store set up a composting bin at the front of the store, so kids could learn about worms and composing. it also had a planting activity in the toddler room. Children decorated pots and planted chives. Pictured here (l. to r.): Alyssa Pusey, Charlesbridge; Cheryl Doucette, Blue Bunny; Donna Spurlock, Charlesbridge; Margie Leonard, Blue Bunny; Susan Lendroth; Ginny Leclair, environmental coordinator for Dedham; and Holly Perry with the Massachusetts Master Gardeners Association. Photo: Stephanie Pessolano.
A Big Aloha
Debut author Austin Aslan (l.) signed copies of his ecologically minded YA novel, (The Islands at the End of the World) on August 23 at Basically Books in Hilo, Hawaii. It was a fitting location for the author to visit, as the book takes place in Hawaii and Aslan was inspired to write the story by his time spent living on The Big Island and in Hilo. Basically Books owner Christine Reed (r.) said the event was the store’s “most successful signing ever.”
Trivial Pursuits
Five middle-grade authors took part in a panel discussion and trivia event held at The Book Spot in Round Rock, Tex., on August 18. The authors were (from l. to r.): Tara Dairman (All Four Stars), Rebecca Behrens (When Audrey Met Alice), Nikki Loftin (Nightingale’s Nest), K.A. Holt (Brains For Lunch), and Jennifer Ziegler (Revenge of the Flower Girls). The authors talked about their books and writing processes before quizzing audience members about presidential trivia, fairy tales, space facts, and food in middle-grade books.
