Guest Authors, Special Storytimes, Therapy Dogs, Poetry Reading & Open Mic, Give-Aways, Book Drive
Independent Bookstore Day is a one-day national party that takes place at indie bookstores across the country on the last Saturday in April. Every store is unique and independent, and every party is different - with authors, live music, art tables, artists, kids events, readings, give-aways, and other fun stuff. It was created in 2015 to show support for local booksellers and a special time for them to reach out to their communities. Approximately 500 bookstores throughout the country have exciting events planned for this celebration.
Flintridge Bookstore & Coffeehouse celebrates Independent Bookstore Day with activities for all ages, including a reading in conjunction with National Poetry Month and author appearances in conjunction with Earth Day, plus other author signings and special story times with visits from therapy and rescue dogs. We are also having a book drive for La Cañada Flintridge elementary school libraries, lots of give-aways, and a drawing to win a tote bag full of books!
HERE IS OUR SCHEDULE FOR THE DAY (subject to change):
10:30-Noon: Storytime with Brenda Scott Royce, author of Champion’s New Shoes and Bailey the Rescue Dog (ages 6-8 titles from the Pet Rescue Club, American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals). Royce is joined by Ernie the Wonder Dog, a certified therapy dog, and Jack, a rescue dog.
11 AM-1 PM: Retired La Cañada Unified School District teacher Ellie Wildermuth shares the wisdom she learned from losing her house in a fire in her informational booklet PREPARE: Life Goes On! Be Ready for Life’s Unexpected Challenges - A step by step HOW-TO-GUID
Noon-2 PM: Environmentalists Michael Peevey and Diane Wittenberg sign California Goes Green: A Roadmap to Climate Leadership. Bill Nye says, “Read it; get all your politicians to read it, and we can change the world."
Noon-2 PM: Author/illustrator Gillian Cameron and publisher Tara Avery (Stacked Deck Press, founded in 2015 to cultivate diversity and excellence in LGBTQAIU comics publishing) are here to sign the first three books in the graphic novel series Calogrenant, the tale of a knight of King Arthur’s round table who is transformed into a maiden.
12:15-2 PM: Storytime with Julie Berry, author of The Emperor’s Ostrich (ages 9-12), about which Kirkus Reviews says, “Cheeky commentary about class and feminism, giggle-inducing wordplay, and jokes about the ridiculousness of imperial overindulgence round out this story." She also signs The Passion of Dolssa (ages 9-12).
2-3:30 PM: Author Tim DeRoche and illustrator Daniel Gonzales present their new book The Ballad of Huck & Miguel, a retelling of The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn set in contemporary Los Angeles on the LA River. Original linocuts from the book by Gonzalez are on display. “Channels the timeless voice of Huck Finn to tell an engrossing and amusing adventure story for our times.” --Dan Greaney, writer for The Simpsons and The Office
JUST ADDED! 2-3:30 PM: Author Karin Esterhammer signs So Happiness to Meet You: Foolishly, Blissfully Stranded in Vietnam. After job losses and the housing crash, the author and her family leave L.A. to start over in a most unlikely place: a nine-foot-wide back-alley house in one of Ho Chi Minh City's poorest districts, where neighbors unabashedly stare into windows, generously share their barbecued rat, keep cockroaches for luck, and ultimately help her find joy without Western trappings.
2:15-3:30 PM: Storytime with Bethany Barton, author of Give Bees a Chance (pre-school-3). A mom of two boys says the book is “a great balance of fun and science.”
3-5 PM: Kim Dower reads selections from her poetry book Last Train to the Missing Planet and hosts a Poetry Open Mic. Dower’s poetry has been described by The Los Angeles Times as "Sensual and evocative . . . seamlessly combining humor and heartache," and by O Magazine as "unexpected and sublime." Come early to sign up!
3:30-5 PM: Author and Indie Bookstore Day volunteer bookseller Cat Jordan offers her recommendations on Young Adult (YA) titles we have in stock. She is also available to sign her recent YA release, Eight Days on Planet Earth, “a heart-wrenching romance full of twists that are sure to bring tears to readers’ eyes”.
We are also having a book drive for our community’s public elementary schools. Paradise Canyon, Palm Crest, and La Cañada Elementary schools are providing wish lists of books they would like for their libraries. Please consider purchasing a book to donate.
Other offerings throughout the store include a WHERE’s WALDO contest, give-aways, and a drawing for tote bags full of books. And, have a seat and write a poem which, with your permission, may end up on our facebook page or in our e-newsletter; and/or join others of all ages to enjoy the zen of coloring.