More than 120 independent bookstores across the country participated in the inaugural Indies First Storytime Day on Saturday, May 17. Storytime Day, author Kate DiCamillo's kids-oriented riff on Sherman Alexie's Indies First initiative, featured children's book authors and illustrators hosting storytime sessions at their local indies.
|
|
| Kate DiCamillo at Chapter2Books (photo: Jamie Schultz) |
|
DiCamillo herself drew a crowd of some 125 people to Chapter2Books in Hudson, Wis., where she read Mo Willems's Don't Let the Pigeon Drive the Bus! and The Pigeon Needs a Bath before answering audience questions and signing books. Gary Porter, the author of Duffy: The Tale of a Terrier and a Hudson native, also attended and read from Stuart Little. When asked if he would take part in Indies First Storytime Day again, Brian Roegge, co-owner of Chapter2Books, answered without hesitation: "Certainly. I'd do another one as soon as next week."
|
|
|
Audrey Vernick and Liz Scanlon at BookTowne |
|
At BookTowne in Manasquan, N.J., on Saturday, authors Audrey Vernick (Brothers at Bat) and Liz Scanlon (All the World) read each other's books to the children and families in attendance, along with a book each from an author who was not present. "It was lovely," said Rita Maggio, BookTowne's owner. "Audrey and Liz did such a beautiful job. And the kids were just delightful."
Although the turnout was somewhat smaller than Booktowne's normal storytime sessions, Maggio said she definitely would like to participate again in the future. "I think as long as there are authors who want to do it, it would be absolutely wonderful to have them."
At Avid Bookshop in Athens, Ga., families gathered for readings by Dodd and Cameron Ferrelle, the local author and illustrator husband-and-wife team behind the children's book If I Were a Jelly Bean, and Susan Nees, the author of the Missy's Super Duper Royal Deluxe Series.
|
|
| Dodd and Cameron Ferrelle at Avid Bookshop | |
"The timing with this event was perfect," said Rachel Watkins, the events and public relations coordinator at Avid Bookshop. Storytime Day happened to coincide with a community street fair and a used book sale; the combination of events brought in many attendees who were not regular Avid Bookshop customers. "We would absolutely do this again."
Eight authors visited University Book Store's flagship store in Seattle's University District on Saturday, and each author read for a half hour. The group included Kristin Halbrook (Nobody but Us), Arthur Dorros (Abuelo), Kevin Emerson (Exile), Jaime Temairik (Troll...Two... Three... Four), Carly Anne West (The Murmurings), Kim Baker (Pickle), Nina Laden (Once Upon a Memory) and Paul Schmid (Oliver and His Alligator). University Book Store's children's department staff were thrilled, they said, with both the readings the authors gave and the response from the kids in the audience.
At Diesel, A Bookstore in Larkspur, Calif., authors LeUyen Pham (A Piece of Cake), Gennifer Choldenko (Al Capone Does My Homework) and Christie Matheson (Tap the Magic Tree) read. Pham read Caps for Sale by Esphyr Slobodkina and drew the children in attendance as monkeys, while Choldenko read Lily's Purple Plastic Purse and Christie Matheson read both The Pigeon Needs a Bath by Mo Willems and A Visitor for Bear by Bonny Becker. According to Clare Doornbos, children's bookseller at Diesel, there were also cupcakes, lemonade and a very successful Nate the Great scavenger hunt around the mall.
|
|
||||||
R.J. Julia Booksellers in Madison, Conn., welcomed two authors: up first was Bob Crelin, author of There Once Was a Sky Full of Stars, who read Rudyard Kipling's Elephant's Child. Next was Jane O'Connor, who read Officer Buckle and Gloria by Peggy Rathmann as well as her most recent book, Fancy Nancy and the Wedding of the Century. She wore a fuzzy pink tiara while she read, and many in the crowd of more than 60 who came to see her were similarly decked out in fancy attire. She told fans that the inspiration for Fancy Nancy was herself, and kids in the audience had the chance to practice walking with bananas balanced on their heads.
Authors David Ezra Stein and Ryan Sias gathered at Astoria Bookshop in Queens, N.Y. Sias, the author of Zoe the Robot Let's Pretend, read from a few picture books, including his own, to a group of kids, and later in the day Stein did the same for another group. He gave the children in attendance a sneak preview of his next book, Candlewick, I'm My Own Dog, which comes out in August. Lexi Beach, co-owner of Astoria Bookshop, reported that crowds were small, but everyone who showed up had an excellent time.
 |
|
|
Allan Wolf, Jasmine Beach-Ferrara, Alan Gratz, Wendi Gratz and Constance Lombardo at Malaprop's |
|
Malaprop's Bookstore and Cafe in Asheville, N.C., hosted six authors and illustrators: Allan Wolf (The Blood-Hungry Spleen and Other Poems about Our Parts), Alan and Wendi Gratz (Samurai Shortstop; Creature Camp), Kit Grady (A Necklace for Jiggsy), Jasmine Beach-Ferrara (Damn Love) and Constance Lombardo. Lombardo, a writer and illustrator working on a forthcoming graphic novel series, designed T-shirts for Storytime Day that the Malaprop's staff wore. The event lasted from 10 a.m. until noon, with the visiting authors reading a mix of classic children's stories and lesser-known titles.
"Everyone had a great time," said Laura Donohoe, children's book buyer and receiving manager at Malaprop's. "The authors were amazing; they all hung around and supported each other. They did some fabulous interpretations of the stories they read. They were so excited to interact with each other and the audience."
The turnout was just 15-20 people, but Donohoe was not discouraged. "The people who were here were incredibly enthusiastic," she said. "We're really hoping it will continue; it's something we think we can really build on." --Alex Mutter