Everywhere Book Fest

I just flipped my calendar to May. The first event highlighted, circled and starred was happening tomorrow: The Hudson Children's Book Festival.  Sigh. The past few years I hadn't been able to make for one commitment or another and was excited that this year my calendar was clear.  I just didn't know how clear it would be.

BUT...we're ALL in luck. The Everywhere Book Festival is about to begin! I will try and keep this brief (ha! not my forte as you know) so you can actually clear your calendar, watch with kids and get pumped for #kidlit.  I heard that one of my 7th grade English teacher friends will be watching with students because a panel happens to occur at the same time as her regularly scheduled meet.  That's cool! Thanks for the idea. I will plan to do the same with my Reading Ambassador lunch today at 12:30.

"So publish this blog post already, Stacey," I say to self.

Here. Jump straight to this link for the schedule.  Or check out their YouTube channel for videos and more read alouds.

I know. I know.  I'm busy, too.
I'm already "booked" with meets with kids (lol--all puns intended) to watch Kwame Alexander's reading of his Acoustic Rooster (got your jazz keyed up?) at 10:30 on Facebook Live and Jacqueline Woodson's Pecan Pie at 11:15. The Festival's events will be recorded so we can watch on our own time (so are the Facebook events) but isn't it so much more fun to watch live? I always hope for a shoutout.

So many authors. So many illustrators. So little time. Really, not a bad problem to have. Today all I wish for you is that at least one person (I bet more!) inspires you. And you find time to listen to the birds, take a walk, bake bread and dance. That's my plan. (as soon as I find some bread flour). Happy Friday. xo

One Last Word

Speaking of dancing, last Saturday was #IndieBookStoreDay and I wrote this post.  Now more than ever Indie bookstores need you.  Please, if you hear about a book that you would like to read and purchase, I encourage you to get it from an Indie bookstore.  We all thank you. 😊

Finally, on that same note (more puns this Friday!) I leave you with this video that I promise will get you dancing, smiling, and tapping your feet.  I apologize in advance if the song is stuck in your head for the rest of the weekend.

Dance for the Indie Bookstore TODAY

The wall outside Literati Bookstore in Ann Arbor, MI

Northshire Bookstore*

Thanks, Lindsay Lackey and friends.  I didn't get my first cry in yet today.  Were these just tears of joy? sadness? frustration because I just want to hug you all? I don't know but I want to watch it over and over again. Thank you for this video. It is SO good, SO inspiring, SO uplifting and full of SO SO SO much fun love. xoxo

I want EVERY SINGLE INDIE BOOKSTORE TO MAKE IT. I am trying to do my part (buying books for  myself and kids every week) and hope everyone who can, is.  And, oh, every single one of these book creators. I love you and thank you for your dance. I want to dance WITH YOU when we can all be together again! Plus, It was great to see so many familiar faces and friends! Love your sock dance, Sarah 😉

So, it's a sunny Saturday. I need to get outside.  I need to clock in my 10,000. But I also I know I couldn't support #IndieBookStoreDay #IndependentBookStoreDay in just 240 characters. A brief blog post was in order.  

I could just say, "Please support your local bookstore today," but that doesn't seem like enough.  Maybe it is, but I have never been one for few words. 

Need help finding a store? Don't forget bookshop.org and libro.fm.

Last Sunday's New York Times Book Review published an editorial that gave me my first cry of that day.  It's hard to think of everyone behind the making of one book and beyond. The other day, I reached out to someone who's business coordinates author and illustrator school visits and he told me he had to let all his staff go. My heart sank.

I searched for the link on the NYT website and could not find it.  Hope you can read it this way. You might notice my notes from the week.

I read this tweet last night.  Follow the whole thread. Maybe throw in a t-shirt with your book order.

I want to buy indie bookstore t-shirts. Can anyone point me to indies that have 'em?

— Mike Jung (THE BOYS IN THE BACK ROW, 10/6/20) (@Mike_Jung) April 24, 2020

Speaking of t-shirts, I'm excited that Jarrett Lerner will be posting new t-shirt designs later this week!

I’ve gotten lots of requests recently to reopen sales of some of my T-shirt designs.

First of all, THANK YOU!

Also: I plan to launch new fundraisers for these designs next week, and will also be sharing a brand-new design on Friday of next week.

More soon! 💛💛💛 pic.twitter.com/bTNiCWRniR

— Jarrett Lerner (@Jarrett_Lerner) April 25, 2020

Jerry Craft Spring 2019*

There you go. Could I have said it all in 240 characters? Maybe, but that's just not me.  I'm a wordy gal and I like stores with lots of words in them.  I have always dreamed of going on a Indie Bookshop Tour. Let's add that to my #BookIt travel agency (Don't know what I'm referring to? Check out this post.)

To begin, can I get the list of all the stores mentioned in the video, Lindsay?  I'll start planning my route tomorrow with the Bookhouse in Albany. 💕

Today in my Literati t-shirt!

*Shout out to Northshire Bookstore in Saratoga Springs, NY where the photos were shot and the Manchester store who have been so accommodating to my current needs. Thank you.