On Saturday, April 15, from 2:00-4:00pm, An Unlikely Story Bookstore and Café will be partnering with the Society of Children’s Book Writers and Illustrators* to present “An April Shower of Books,” a special event featuring ten authors and illustrators of children’s books.
Young readers and their parents, as well as aspiring writers and illustrators, are invited to meet authors and artists who represent a range of genres from fiction to nonfiction, picture books to young-adult novels. The event will include a scavenger hunt for young readers. Authors’ books will be available for purchase and autographing. This event is free and open to the public. For more information, contact An Unlikely Story at (508) 699-0244.
*The Society of Children’s Book Writers and Illustrators (www.scbwi.org) is the professional organization for writers and illustrators of children’s literature. Its mission is to support the creation and availability of quality children’s books around the world.
Featured Authors/Illustrators:
M.P. Barker www.mpbarker.net Barker is the author of two young-adult historical novels: A Difficult Boy (winner of awards from PEN New England and the International Reading Association) and Mending Horses (a 2015 Massachusetts “Must-Read” Book).
Sarah Brannen www.sarahbrannen.yellapalooza.com Brannen is the author and illustrator of the Madame Martine books and Uncle Bobby's Wedding. She has illustrated over 17 books including the award-winning Feathers: Not Just for Flying by Melissa Stewart
Joan Duris www.joanduris.com Author, nurse, ski patroller: Duris enjoys discovering new places tucked away in the corners of New England. She lives in central Massachusetts, where she occasionally chases black bears away from her birdfeeders.
Josh Funk www.joshfunkbooks.com Josh is a local New England native who writes code during the day and creates silly, goofy, humorous picture books like Lady Pancake & Sir French Toast, The Case of the Stinky Stench, Pirasaurs!, and Dear Dragon at night
Ruth Horowitz www.ruthhorowitz.com Horowitz has written about bats, cockroaches, horseshoe crabs…and baby brothers. In her latest picture book, Are We Still Friends?, a beekeeper and an apple grower almost forget how to be friends. She lives with her husband in an old house in Rhode Island overlooking Narragansett Bay.
Deborah Kops www.deborahkops.com Kops is the author of many nonfiction books for young adults and children, including Alice Paul and the Fight for Women's Rights and The Great Molasses Flood. She lives in Greater Boston.
Heather Lang www.heatherlangbooks.com Lang writes picture books about real women who overcame extraordinary obstacles and never gave up on their dreams.
Cheryl Lawton Malone www.cheryllawtonmalone.com Attorney, author, dog-trainer: Malone is all about doing what you love. Her first picture book, Dario and The Whale, explores the friendship between an immigrant boy and a migrating whale. Her second, Elephants Walk Together, looks at elephant best friends.
Anna Staniszewski www.annastan.com Anna is the author of several tween novels, including The Dirt Diary and Once Upon a Cruise, and the picture book Power Down, Little Robot. She lives outside of Boston and teaches at Simmons College. When she's not writing, Anna spends her time reading, eating chocolate, and challenging unicorns to games of hopscotch.
Jean Taft www.jeantaft.com Taft is a New England writer who loves weather! She grew up in Vermont and now lives in Rhode Island with her family and one very happy dog.