This week, Rebecca Stead and Jeff Kinney join forces for a virtual celebration; Debbi Michiko Florence keeps it together on Instagram; Susan Verde has a doggone good launch; and Adam Rex and Bob Shea lend their talents to a worthy cause.
An Unlikely Launch
Recently, bestselling authors Rebecca Stead and Jeff Kinney convened virtually to discuss Stead’s latest novel, The List of Things That Will Not Change (Random House/Lamb). Originally planned as an in-person launch at Kinney’s bookstore, An Unlikely Story in Plainville, Mass., the conversation was moved to the digital space in light of the novel coronavirus. Pictured here, a young viewer “attends” the event, which was followed by a q&a.
Together Forever
On Tuesday, May 5, Debbi Michiko Florence honored the release of her middle grade debut, Keep It Together, Keiko Carter (Scholastic). Florence’s daylong celebration, held on her Instagram account, included a variety of events. Tagging pet tricks on social media with #KeikoCarter gave fans a chance to win a signed copy of the novel, and Florence also revealed the winner of her pre-order campaign with Bank Square Books in Mystic, Conn. Pictured here, fellow middle grade authors Christina Soontornvat (top l.) and Supriya Kelkar (bottom) join Florence for a chocolate quiz.
Downward Dog
On the KidLit TV YouTube channel this past Tuesday, Susan Verde announced the birthday of her newest picture book, Three Little Yogis and the Wolf Who Lost His Breath (Abrams), illustrated by Jay Fleck. Verde began by discussing her books and background, followed up with centering breathing exercises and a short yoga session, and concluded with a read-aloud of the book. Here, her dog Gizmo plays the part of yogi.
Art as Activism
On May 1, author-illustrators Adam Rex (On Account of the Gum, Chronicle) (l.) and Bob Shea (Unicorn Is Maybe Not So Great After All, Little, Brown) took to Zoom for a charitable drawing demonstration, hosted by Maggie Tokuda-Hall (The Mermaid, the Witch and the Sea, Candlewick). Part of the #WeLoveBookstores series for children and adults supporting Bay Area independent bookstores, last Friday’s event benefited Charlie’s Corner Bookstore in San Francisco. More than $20,000 has been raised thus far with #WeLoveBookstores; the proceeds are directly deposited into the PayPal accounts of the beneficiaries.
