Kids Heart Authors Day, Smashing Success

By on February 16, 2009 | Add a Comment

The Kids Heart Authors day was a tremendous amount of fun. With 30 kids in attendence and 25 adults, the authors took turns presenting their books while kids sat and listened (captivated) or worked on books of their own at the craft table. Our eight authors came with all sorts of unique talents. 

Calef Brown, whose work has appeared in Time, Rolling Stone (among many others), and in galleries in New York.  He read from his cool and whimsical poems for kids.  Annette Cate was the art director and head illustrator for the popular Comedy Central cartoon, Dr. Katz.  Her book, The Magic Rabbit was filled with magic and humor.  Kirsten Merinda, a RiverRun Bookstore returning author, read from her beautifully self-published and self-promoted book that is dedicated to her mother about the four seasons.  She is working on her second.  Also, Maren Tirabassi, the former poet laureate of Portsmouth was in attendence to read from her book.  Denise Ortakales read from her book on The Old Man in the Mountain, capturing the history of that rock formation for kids.  Ryan Higgins, an independent author and illustrator who started his own publishing company Cocklebury Books, read from his book about a town of mice who decide to get into the cheese business and the situations that ensue.  Mark Karlins, who runs workshops and is available to present at libraries and schools, shared stories of Manhattan through his celestial books about the city. Terry Farish, whose book The Cat Who Loved Potato Soup is popular here at RiverRun, gathers resources on literature from many cultures for children and young adults, literacy, and global media.

Along with grapes, cupcakes, balloons, crafts and stories, the event was a smashing success and we look forward to hosting it again next year.  This event was created as a New England wide event by these folks.

To see photos of the event, check out our photo gallery.