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I am so excited to announce that author Jonathan Auxier will be visiting our school on Friday, October 28! Jonathan is the author of Peter Nimble and His Fantastic Eyes, one of my favorite books of the summer.

He will be making a presentation to fourth grade (8:45~9:40) and fifth grade (10:45~11:30). The fourth graders are already becoming familiar with Peter Nimble because I am reading it aloud to them during library time. They love it and don't want me to stop reading it!

We will not be selling the book through school but if you would like to purchase a copy you can get it at the following stores. Whatever store you choose to go to, I suggest calling ahead to make sure there are copies in-stock.
If you purchase a book and would like Jonathan to sign it, please bring me your book by Thursday afternoon (October 27). I will mark your book with a Post-It so that Jonathan can sign it to your child and so that I can return your child's book by the end of school on Friday. Unfortunately, because of time constraints, we are not able to have Jonathan sign books while students wait.

Jonathan will also be signing his book at Mysterious Galaxy Redondo Beach that afternoon at 3pm.

 
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Bridge to Books is at it again! They're hosting another fantastic event with a great lineup of authors.

So much attention has been given to why boys stop reading, but what about the boys who continue to love reading (my son is one of them)? What about the boys (whether readers or non-readers as youngsters) who grow up to be fantastic authors? They're bringing them all together at The Why Chromosome: Why Boys Do Love Books event on Sunday, October 30 at Mrs. Nelson's Toy and Book Shop in La Verne.

Six authors will be presenting and signing. Half are Middle Grade (MG) authors and the others are Young Adult (YA) authors: Andrew Smith (YA: Stick), Greg Van Eekhout (MG: Kid Vs. Squid), Allen Zadoff (YA: My Life, the Theater and Other Tragedies), Jonathan Auxier (MG: Peter Nimble & His Fantastic Eyes), John Stephens (MG: The Emerald Atlas), and G. Neri (YA: Ghetto Cowboy). Click here to read short bios about the authors. This is a great opportunity to talk to them about their own experiences as readers and then as writers.

You can still purchase tickets ($17.50 each for admission, a swag bag, and snacks), and I hope you do -- I'll be there as one of the photographers, and I know that Mrs. Snively from the Grand View Library and Mrs. Jones from the Pacific Library will also be there.

 
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Without fail, the second we change the calendar page to October, the students are clamoring for Halloween books. I try to pull out as many Halloween and scary books as possible; please see the display under the bulletin board in the reading rug area.

Here are a few of the new Halloween-themed books I purchased this year:
  • Shadow by Suzy Lee (E LEE)
  • Zen Ghosts by Jon J. Muth (E MUT)
  • Vunce Upon a Time by J. Otto Seibold (E SEI)
  • Candy Fairies, Halloween Special: Gooey Goblins by Helen Perelman (PB PER)
  • The Ghost of Crutchfield Hall by Mary Downing Hahn (PB HAH)
  • Guys Read: Thriller edited by Jon Scieszka (PB SCI)
One of my favorite authors, Neil Gaiman, is a master of creepy storytelling. (He wrote Coraline, The Graveyard Book, and The Dangerous Alphabet.) He recently started a Halloween reading tradition: All Hallow's Read. Instead of -- or in addition to -- giving out candy on Halloween, give away a scary book to a friend, family member, or stranger. Share the scare!