M.E. Friedman

A Meet & Greet with

M.E. FRIEDMAN

Saturday, September 12

11:30 am - 1 pm at The Book Stall

Meet  M.E. Friedman,  a first-time author whose personal experience moved her to write  Farfel the Magic Bunny, a children's book about the transcending power of love.

The book, featuring photos of the real Farfel, is a story of comfort for those who have lost a loved one. The little bunny brings healing, hope and the realization that the spirit of those we love remain with us always.

Judy Schachner

JUDY SCHACHNER Thursday, September 10 7 pm, Vernon Area Public Library 300 Olde Half Day Road, Lincolnshire

It's worth a trip to Lincolnshire to meet popular children's author Judy Schachner, creator of the Skippyjon Jones picture book series. She'll be talking about her newest book, Dewey Bob, the story of a clever racoon whose collection of wonderful objects is missing just one thing -- a friend! This program is free and open to all children ages 5-8 with a caregiver, but registration is required. Register online here, by telephone at 224 543-1486, or in person at any service desk in the library. Click here for a charming video of Ms. Schachner talking about how she comes up with ideas for her books and settled on Dewey Bob for her latest tale.

Children's Book Week - May 4-10, 2015

It's a Kids World!

After Independent Bookstore Day May 2, kids will rule the roost here at The Book Stall. It's national Children's Book Week May 4-10, and in its honor, we're hosting author appearances and parties  Monday-Friday -- all combined with great give-aways.  Here is children's department chief Robert McDonald's run-down of events:

Monday May 4 at 4:30 pm -

Sarah Mlynowksi presents the seventh in her fractured fairy tale "Whatever After" series,Beauty Queen, where siblings Abby and Jonah are transported into the story of Beauty and the Beast. Great for kids ages 8-12 who love fairy tales!

Tuesday, May 5 at 4:30 pm - Total Takeover: A Timmy Failure Party! A Total Takeover event is a party with giveaways, raffles, distinctive red scarves, and a five-foot tall (yes, five-foot tall) inflatable polar bear!  Not only will this be a fantastic family event, it will be a great photo opportunity. If you don't know Timmy Failure, you should, and if you are 8-11 and like funny books, this is the event for you!

Wednesday, May 6 at 4 pm - Celebrate the magic of Where the Wild Things Are by coming to meet a Wild Thing live and in-person!  Don't worry, we'll read the story first so we learn Max's trick of taming the Wild Things. This special storytime is recommended for ages 4 - 6 and will be a great photo-op.

Thursday, May 7 at 4:30 pm - Middle Grade Madness!  Starring Kate Hannigan and friends. Kate introduces us to her new novel set in Chicago, The Detective's Assistant, based on the true story of the first-ever female Pinkerton detective! Joining in the fun will be Brianna DuMont, author of Famous Phonies, Jenny Meyerhoff, (The Barftastic Life of Louie Burger series) and Allan Woodrow, whose hilarious The Pet War is new in paperback! A must-see for ages 9 and up. Refreshments will be served, and great prizes will be raffled!

Friday, May 8 at 7 pm - We are proud to welcome rising YA star Sabaa Tahir.  Her book An Ember in the Ashes is getting HUGE amounts of buzz. PRI Radio compares her work to JK Rowling and Suzanne Collins. Our teen reviewers have loved this book. With overtones of the Roman Empire and a heroine who must find a bravery she did not know she possessed, this is an amazing, book, and I urge you to meet Sabaa before the book's reception sends her into superstar status. Recommended for ages 13 and up.

Linda Booth Sweeny

          Sleepy Storytime with

        LINDA BOOTH SWEENY 

          Friday, April 17

            6:30 pm at The Book Stall

 

Our popular Sleepy Storytime continues with a special guest star, Linda Booth Sweeney, whose beautiful new picture book When the Wind Blows celebrates spring. In it, her poetic text is perfectly paired with lively illustrations containing "I Spy" elements sure to delight young readers ages 3 to 6. As always, we invite our Sleepy Storytime guests to arrive in PJs and bring along a favorite stuffed animal.  

Click here for a classroom guide for When the Wind Blows, designed for students in kindergarten through third grade.

Jarrett Krosoczka

JARRETT KROSOCZKA       Thursday, April 16        4:30 pm at The Book Stall

Author/illustrator Jarrett Krosoczka, the dynamic creator of the beloved Lunch Lady graphic novels, joins us to celebrate the release of Last Panda Standing. It's the third in his popular Platypus Police Squad series and is perfect for readers ages 8 to 11 who like humorous books. Click here for Mr. Krosoczka's website, with more information about the book and great activities for kids, as well as numerous videos.

Special selection of children's books

We're only a week away from Easter and Passover. Check out our special shelf of children's books for these occasions. Books are such a fitting way for young readers to celebrate these holidays.
we're only a week away from Easter and Passover. Check out our special shelf of children's books for these occasions. Books are such a fitting way for young readers to celebrate these holidays.

The Very Hungry Caterpillar Day

Join us to celebrate 

The Very Hungry Caterpillar Day

with

The Very BIG Wiggle

Monday, March 16

4 pm at The Book Stall

Join us as we anticipate the arrival of Spring with Special Guest Star The Very Hungry Caterpillar, live in the store for a special storytime. Eric Carle's beloved character is 46 years old this year, and we are delighted to celebrate that fact! We look forward to the arrival of spring with a party welcoming the sweetly voracious butterfly larva--live and in-person in the store. Join us for a reading of the story, Hungry Caterpillar activities, a fruit snack, and photo ops with the Caterpillar! This event is recommended for ages 3 to 5, and is free and open to the public.

Part of the fun will be the arrival of this VW Bug that is making the national VHC tour and will be parking on Elm Street.

Since its publication in 1969, Eric Carle's The Very Hungry Caterpillar has been translated into over 40 languages and become a modern classic. You can learn more about Eric Carle and his work by clicking here for his website.

Barney Saltzberg

BARNEY SALTZBERG

Saturday, March 7

3 pm at The Book Stall

 

We'll wrap up our busy ScreenBreak week activities with a special appearance and performance by artist and musician Barney Saltzberg, the author of the ever-popular Beautiful Oops!  He'll bring his guitar and also introduce his new series of board books for toddlers, starring his new character, Redbird. The first two titles are Redbird: Friends Come in Different Sizes  (click here for a video) and Redbird: Colors, Colors, Everywhere (and here for another one). 

The Cat in the Hat... Live and In Person!

Saturday, February 28

2 pm at The Book Stall

Join us as we welcome the beloved Cat in the Hat (live and in person) to the store. We'll listen to the original story, play some Seuss-inspired games, and then meet the Cat himself!

In 1957, Theodor Geisel (Dr. Seuss) wrote The Cat in the Hat. Many years and millions of copies later, the book continues to delight young people, and we are delighted to host the famous feline in our store. 

This event is recommended for ages 3 and up, and is free and open to the public.

 An awesome ps: What Pet Should I Get?, a new Dr. Seuss book based on a recently discovered manuscript and Seuss sketches, will be published by Random House Children's Books this summer. Click here for the story in USA Today.

Mac Barnett and Jory John

MAC BARNETT and JORY JOHN

Thursday, February 5

4:30 pm at The Book Stall

Meet comedic authors Mac Barnett (right) and Jory John as they discuss and sign copies of The Terrible Two, their new collaboration for readers ages 9-12. Says The School Library Journal of the book: "Co-authors and friends Barnett and John have created a fast paced, laugh-out-loud novel sure to appeal to those who appreciate a good prank and have a sense of justice...a good candidate for reluctant readers and a natural next read for fans of Jeff Kinney's Diary of a Wimpy Kid series."  In fact, Kinney endorses the book on its cover, calling The Terrible Two "a double helping of fun and mischief."
Click here for a fun introduction to the book on its very own website.

Creston Books author event

Independent Publisher Meets Independent Bookstore

A Showcase from Creston Books

Saturday, January 31

2 pm at The Book Stall

 

Meet the authors and illustrators of the new independent publisher Creston Books, founded by author Marissa Moss. Learn about their work and discover their latest books for picture book and middle fiction readers. There will be prizes and the chance to meet author Marcia Goldman  and her Yorkie Lola, just about the cutest therapy dog ever, featured in her lovable Lola series, including the latest, Lola and Tattletale Zeke. Click here for a video introduction to Lola.

And there will be other special guests! Check out the Creston Books website here.

Gary Karton

Meet & Greet       GARY KARTON         Saturday, December 13            10-11:30 am at The Book Stall Glencoe native Gary Karton is on hand to sign and discuss his award-winning first book, The Last Akaway: An Animal Spirit Adventure. It's the first book in his Brody Boondoggle adventure series for kids that will continue next year. Karton, who grew up with dyslexia, frequently speaks to kids who are currently struggling with a learning disability and shares how he grew into the realization that "different is good."  Click here to hear Gary speak on the subject and his new book.

Sleepy Storytime

 

MIRIAM BUSCH and LARRY DAY

      Friday, December 5

    6:30 pm, Sleepy Storytime at the store

Kids age 3 - 6 are invited to join us, dressed in their PJs and carrying their favorite stuffed animals, for a Sleepy Storytime with special guests Miriam Busch and Larry Day. This husband-and-wife author/illustrator team will read their picture book, Lion, Lion, a sly trickster tale about a boy looking for his lost cat named Lion and a hungry lion looking for lunch.  

 

Click here for a brief book trailer.

Shannon and Dean Hale, for young readers

Friday, October 24

4:30 pm at The Book Stall

We'll be joined by the award-winning writing team of Shannon and Dean Hale for a lively introduction to their new book The Princess in Black. It's the first in a humorous and action-packed chapter book series for young readers who like their princesses not only prim and perfect, but also dressed in black. Advises our children's book chief Robert McDonald: It's a great story for just-beginning readers.

Mac Barnett and Jon Klassen

MAC BARNETT and JON KLASSEN

Thursday, October 16

4:30 pm at The Book Stall

 

It's a red letter day at The Book Stall! We welcome author Mac Barnett (right) and Caldecott-winning illustrator Jon Klassen as they introduce their new collaboration Sam and Dave Dig a Hole, a deadpan tale full of visual humor. To get the flavor, click here for the book's delightful official trailer. 

Fans of these superstars know well their books well, including Barnett's Count the Monkeys and Extra Yarn (an earlier Barnett-Klassen collaboration) and Klassen's This Is Not My Hat, winner of the 2013 Caldecott Medal.

Educators Day is October 18 @ The Book Stall

Teachers and school librarians, please join us for our annual Educators Day for grades K-5 on Saturday October 18, 2014 at 10:30 am. 

We'll have bookseller recommendations and plenty of giveaways. It's free, but please reserve a space by calling us at 847 446-8880.

Holly Black & Cassandra Clare: Niles Public Library

HOLLY BLACK 

CASSANDRA CLARE

Friday, September 26

7 pm at the Niles Public Library, 6960 Oakton St.

 

 
Our September children's events conclude on a high note, with authors Holly Black (right) and Cassandra Clare telling us all about The Iron Trial, the first volume in the new series they have written together,  called The Magisterium. Her fans will recall that Black is a co-author of The Spiderwick Chronicles and author of the Newbery Honor book Doll Bones, the Curseworker series, and The Coldest Girl in Coldtown. Clare is the author of the acclaimed Mortal Instruments and Infernal Devices series.

Sleepy Storytime with Curious George

Sleepy Storytime

With Curious George on
National Curiosity Day

Friday, September 19

6:30 pm at the store

 

It's National Curiosity Day, and what better way to celebrate--as a kid in your jammies--that at a Sleepy Storytime at The Book Stall. We'll read stories about the little monkey who possesses such irresistible qualities of ingenuity, opportunity, determination, and curiosity in learning and exploring.  

So bring your 3- to 6-year-olds in their PJs, along with their favorite stuffed animal. Free and open to the public. No registration necessary.

And moms and dads, if you're curious about Curious George history, have a look at this Houghton Mifflin page about him and his creators, H.A. and Margret Rey.

Free Summer Fun Event for Kids

Free Summer Fun for Kids

 Write a Story the Rocket Way

Thursday, July 31

3 - 4 pm at The Book Stall

We love the picture book How Rocket Learned to Read, in which a little dog discovers how to read stories. In the sequel, Rocket Writes a Story, our hero learns how to write his own. We'll read the book and then use some of Rocket's ideas to write and illustrate our own story! Recommended for ages 6 to 8.

Limit 15 kids--register in the store or call us at 847 446-8880.

Summer Fun for Kids at The Book Stall

 

Our  Summer Kids Programming starts tomorrow, Thursday, June 19, at 4 pm, when we will Slow...Down...for...Sloths!  We'll read one of our fave new picture books,  Sparky!, the story of a girl who finds out that a pet sloth might not be as boring as you'd think. Recommended for ages 4-6. No registration necessary.

Next Wednesday, June 25, at 6:30 pm, it's time for another edition of our popular Sleepy Storytime, where kids wear their PJs, bring a favorite stuffed toy guest, and hear some great bedtime stories. Reading the stories this time is our own Mr. Robert, who'll also serve our patented Book Stall snack. Recommended for ages 3-5. No registration necessary.