Celebrating Beginning Readers: A Family Education Event

Are you seeking the best ways to support and inspire your budding reader? We know how daunting the challenge of learning to read can feel, both to child and parent, and we want to help! Join us with your new reader (ages 5-7) at the bookstore for an event with two celebrated authors of beginning reader texts, plus a veteran professional librarian, to help you navigate this new chapter in your child’s life. Kids will be entertained with storytime under the tree while parents head upstairs for a 30 minute conversation with authors Eric Perl and Laura Gehl, moderated by Sylvie Shaffer, to discuss what parents can do outside of the classroom to support this transition, how to choose appropriate beginning reader texts that inspire and delight instead of frustrate and overwhelm, and how to set realistic expectations. Afterwards, we’ll all gather together back downstairs under the tree as Erica, Laura, and Sylvie present some of their favorite beginning reader books. Kids will also have a chance to get books signed!

The cost of this event is $15 per family to be applied to your account as store credit for spending at or after the event.

Sylvie Julie Shaffer is…a children's literature specialist and writer, with 16 years of experience as an elementary school librarian. She is fiercely passionate about literacy, youth advocacy, and student access. She lives in Takoma Park, MD with her wife and son. You can learn more about her here.

Erica S. Perl is…the award-winning author of more than forty books for young readers, including the middle grade novel All Three Stooges (recipient of the National Jewish Book Award) picture books like The Three Little Guinea Pigs and Billy the Kid Makes It Big (with Dolly Parton). She also writes early chapter books (the Arnold and Louise series) and early readers (the Truth or Lie series and the Lucky Dogs series). Erica is on the faculty of Vermont College of Fine Arts’ MFA in Writing for Children and Young Adults program. She loves dogs, guinea pigs, stale red licorice, and visiting schools.You can learn more about her here.

Laura Gehl is…the award-winning author of more than fifty picture books, board books, and early readers including One Big Pair of Underwear (Charlotte Zolotow Highly Commended Title); the Peep and Egg series (Parents’ Choice Recommendation); My Pillow Keeps Moving (Junior Library Guild selection, New York Public Library Best Books of the year selection); Donut (Dolly Parton Imagination Library selection); Odd Birds (Blueberry Honor Book) and Apple and Magnolia (Kirkus best book of the year; Cybils Award Finalist; Charter Oak Children’s Book Award nominee; a White Ravens International Children’s and Youth Literature Selection). She in Chevy Chase, Maryland, with her husband and four children, where 99% of her brain power goes to thinking about family, friends, books, dark chocolate, and ice cream (current favorite flavor: coffee Oreo). You can learn more about her here.