Please note: This event has been postponed due to concerns for the health and well-being of our community. For updates on this event and for additional event information, please subscribe to our e-newsletter.

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Ready to Fly is the true story of Sylvia Townsend, an African American girl who falls in love with ballet after seeing Swan Lake on TV. Although there aren’t many ballet schools that will accept a girl like Sylvia in the 1950s, her local bookmobile provides another possibility. A librarian helps Sylvia find a book about ballet and the determined seven-year-old, with the help of her new books, starts teaching herself the basics of classical ballet. Soon Sylvia learns how to fly—how to dance—and how to dare to dream.

Lyrical, and easy-to-read text paired with bright, appealing illustrations make Ready to Fly perfect for aspiring ballerinas everywhere who are ready to leap and to spread their wings.

Includes a foreword from Sylvia Townsend, a brief history of the bookmobile, an author’s note, and a further reading list.

Lea Lyon always wanted to create children’s books when she was a little girl. Now, after several other careers, Lyon is living out her dream. Ready to Fly is the first children’s book she’s written. She has illustrated six award-winning picture books, including Say Something by Peggy Moss and Keep Your Ear on the Ball by Genevieve Petrillo. Her book Lailah’s Lunchbox by Reem Faruqi was named an ALA Notable Book. You can visit her at www.lealyon.com.

Please note: This event has been postponed due to concerns for the health and well-being of our community. For updates on this event and for additional event information, please subscribe to our e-newsletter.

Druk & Mita

As Mita falls asleep beneath the familiar stars of Bhutan, she meets the young dragon, Druk. Druk and Mita explore the universe, aging side-by-side, always expanding their ability to love. The simple, yet profound story and enchanting illustrations bring to life the flora, fauna, and Buddhist traditions of the Himalayas. Readers’ hearts will open along with Druk and Mita’s on this journey of love and transformation. Illustrated by award-winning artist, Cara Bevan.

Moonwitch of Crushtide Island

Cunning moonwitch, Impolara, has discovered that cats really do have nine lives. She’s convinced that she does too, but to live them and rule Dream, she needs rare Dreamdancer, Rose. Can a handful of friends—feline, human and magical—save Rose and stop Impolara’s plot to rule Dream forever? In Moonwitch of Crushtide Island, they’ll risk everything to find out. Leap into Book II of the Dreamhaven Series. Illustrated by award-winning artist, Cara Bevan.

Tracy Tandy is the author of Dreamhaven, Moonwitch of Crushtide Island, Druk & Mita, Alphabet Dreams, Alphabet Dreams Coloring Book, and the award-winning sci-fi short story, Deadline. Ms. Tandy believes dreams and love arrive on our doorstep in remarkable (sometimes furry) packages. Whether writing for children or adults, she consults with her opinionated feline characters, extraterrestrial detectives, a wily witch and a Bhutanese dragon. Her life is never boring. Read more at tracytandy.com.

Please note: This event has been postponed due to concerns for the health and well-being of our community. For updates on this event and for additional event information, please subscribe to our e-newsletter.

The award-winning Hello!Lucky team brings their bold style and surefire laughs to a picture book about an exuberant tiger tackling life’s challenges and coming out on top. Go Get 'Em, Tiger is perfect for celebrating any big milestone, from the first day of preschool to college graduation, and every goalpost in between.

Hello!Lucky is all about using creativity to spread joy, fun, and kindness. Founded by sisters Eunice and Sabrina Moyle in 2003, Hello!Lucky is an award-winning letterpress greeting card and design studio working with dozens of partners to create products, including Abrams’s pun-derful children’s books: My Mom Is Magical!, My Dad Is Amazing!, Super Pooper and Whizz Kid: Potty Power, Kindness Rules!, and Christmas Is Awesome!. They also offer bedding, ceramics, socks, stationery, custom photo albums, and more. Hello!Lucky is based in San Francisco.

Please note: This event has been postponed due to concerns for the health and well-being of our community. For updates on this event and for additional event information, please subscribe to our e-newsletter.

When both grandpas, Abuelo and Opa, visit at the same time, they can't understand each other's language and there is a lot of silence, but their grandson's clever thinking helps find a way for everyone to share the day together as two cultures become one family! Accordionly includes a bonus fold-out and a note from the author sharing the true story of his own family.

Michael Genhart, PhD, is a licensed clinical psychologist in private practice in San Francisco and Mill Valley, California. He received his BA in psychology from the University of California, San Diego and his PhD in clinical and community psychology from the University of Maryland, College Park.  He is also the author of several picture books including: Ouch! Moments: When Words Are Used in Hurtful Ways, illustrated by Viviana Garofoli; So Many Smarts!, illustrated by Holly Clifton-Brown; I See You, illustrated by Joanne Lew-Vriethoff; a series about nourishing friendships, illustrated by Steve Mack; Peanut Butter & Jellyous; Mac & Geeeez!; Cake & I Scream!; and Rainbow: A First Book of Pride, illustrated by Anne Passchier, as well as Love Is Love, illustrated by Ken Min. Love Is Love is a 2019 ALA GLBT Round Table Rainbow Book List selection as well as a 2019 Notable Social Studies Trade Book. His work was recently featured in the San Francisco Chronicle, BookTrib, KidLit411, and BookRiot. Several of his books have been translated into different languages. He has been a member of APA for thirty years, SCBWI since 2011, and is a book reviewer for the New York Journal of Books. When he is not in his office treating patients or writing books for kids, he is outdoors gardening, hiking, reading, traveling, and enjoying time with family and friends. He and his husband are proud parents of a recent college graduate who now teaches marine science, her dream job!. He lives with his family in Marin County. Visit him on his website www.michaelgenhart.com, Facebook (@picturebookauthor), and Instagram (@michaelgenhart). 

A native Californian of Hispanic descent, author-illustrator Priscilla Burris counts herself blessed to have grown up across her neighborhood street from the local public library in East Los Angeles, where her love and devotion for children's books was born. Creating characters and images whether in the real world or digitally, Priscilla delights most in bringing out the element of expression and emotion.  She is enthusiastically involved in the Society of Children's Book Writers and Illustrators (www.scbwi.org) as the U.S. Illustrator Coordinator & Advisor, as well as a member of their Board of Advisors.

Special Event for Kids!

High in the mountains of Japan, a snow monkey named Hiro finds a cheerful hat.

"Snow monkeys don't need hats!" his brother tells him, but Hiro's hat does more than keep him warm—it is also a friend. Only a robin understands, and when Hiro's hat disappears, she surprises him, in time, with two more hats, each as playful and full of life as his first.

Elisa Kleven is the author and/or illustrator of over 30 children's picture books, among them Glasswings: A Butterfly's Story, Welcome Home, Mouse, The Paper Princess, The Lion and the Little Red Bird, Sun Bread, as well as Abuela, by Arthur Dorros, De Colores, by Jose Luis Orozco, and The Weaver, by Thacher Hurd. Her books have received awards and honors from the American Library Association, The New York Times, The Junior Library Guild, School Library Journal, and the American Institute of Graphic Arts. She lives in the San Francisco Bay Area with her family and pets.

Special Event for Kids!

She might be small, but she's got it all—she's Kid McGear, Skid Steer! Kid McGear is the newest truck to join the Goodnight, Goodnight, Construction Site crew and she's eager to help with even the roughest and toughest construction work. But when a steep cliff puts the other trucks in danger, can the new Kid on the site prove she's big enough for even this big, big job?

Three Cheers for Kid McGear is a timeless tale of perseverance and overcoming obstacles that will resonate with readers and listeners of all ages.

Sherri Duskey Rinker is the author of numerous #1 New York Times bestsellers. Sherri lives with her photographer husband and two sons in St. Charles, Illinois.

Join our storyteller Clare for a special story time to celebrate Children's Book Week!

She'll read from picture books nominated for the Children's Choice Book Awards including There's a Dragon in Your Book, Julian is a Mermaid, and Down by the River.

Special Event for Kids!

Join us for a special story time with Christie Matheson, the author and illustrator of Bird Watch!

There are treasures hiding in the trees! Can you find them? One, two, three little birds, on up to ten (plus other woodland creatures) are just waiting to be discovered. From the author of the acclaimed and bestselling Tap the Magic Tree, this stunning picture book merges basic concepts of counting with elements of a treasure hunt. With different species of birds and other forest animals hiding in the trees and bushes, there is something new to discover on every page. Patience is rewarded as readers learn to count backward from ten, uncover new birds, and learn about the diverse ecosystem of the forest.

Christie Matheson is a master at creating simple picture books that encourage children to interact with the natural world. Beautiful watercolor and collage art, a playful counting text, and a search-and-find theme will have children and parents returning to Bird Watch again and again.

Everybody Can Dance! shows children of all cultures experiencing the joy of dance together. Children with disabilities tap a beat alongside others swinging to ballroom or bouncing to Bollywood. The fun, rhyming text will have any child asking for a repeat performance. This book can be a springboard for discussing how much we are all the same, how dance is fun for everyone, and how everybody can do it!

Kara Navolio is a children’s book author and freelance writer. Her debut picture book Everybody Can Dance! celebrates the joy of dance with a message of inclusion and shows children that no matter what you look like, your physical ability or style, everybody can dance! When she isn’t writing for children, Kara tells stories of real-life heroes, artists and authors for local newspapers. Kara has been working with children since her college days at UC Berkeley.  When she had her own two children she volunteered in their classrooms and at their schools for 16 years. Currently she is a docent at The Bedford Gallery in Walnut Creek where she takes school children on tours and teaches art in local schools. Kara is a member of Andrea Alban’s Writer’s Tribe and Book Passage’s Path to Publishing program. She loves to read, travel, take photographs, paint, hike, dance, cook, and spend time with her family. She lives in Walnut Creek, California with her husband and every day makes it a goal to learn something new. 

Special Event for Kids!

Join us to celebrate Pride at a special story time for ages 0-8. Our story teller Clare will be joined by guest author Michael Genhart to read picture books for children on the theme of LGBTQ families and Pride. We'll also have rainbow flags to color and make.

Rainbow: A First Book of Pride is a must-have primer for young readers featuring bright colors that celebrate LGBTQ+ pride, rainbow families, and the meaning of each stripe of the rainbow flag.  Readers will celebrate the life, healing, sunlight, nature, harmony, and spirit that rainbows in this book will bring.

Michael Genhart, PhD, is a licensed clinical psychologist in private practice in San Francisco and Mill Valley, California. He lives with his rainbow family in Marin County. He received his BA in psychology from the University of California, San Diego and his PhD in clinical and community psychology from the University of Maryland, College Park.  He is the author of several picture books including Love Is Love and there are more on the way!