Children's Lit Newsletter 4/2/26

I'd love to do an Earth Day column with reviews and giveaways on April 22nd. If you have an Earth Day title, please do reach out. I will confess that I am hard copy only, I truly do not like reading books (particularly picture books) on line. TIA!

Over the years, parents have said that they wish they had a book club like their children/teens do, so I’m thinking about having occasional Book Clubs for Grown Ups.

Right now I’m figuring out interest and timing. If you have time/energy/spoons (#SpoonTheory) please let me know what you think/if you’d like to attend.

Book Club would be a one time meeting on either Sunday July 12 or July 19 from 4-6 at Reach and Teach in San Carlos. My lovely colleagues there (Craig and Derrick) will supply treats, yum!!

And, you can stroll around San Carlos after and have a delicious dinner at one of the many amazing restaurants. :-)

The book would be DEAR MEDUSA by Olivia Cole, which was one of the finalists when I was on the LA Times Young Adult Book Award Committee. It’s an INCREDIBLE book!!!

Participants would read the book ahead of time (which is different from the multiple week book clubs I do with the students).

Cost would be $40 and include a paperback copy of the book, which could be picked up at Reach and Teach. If you’d like the book shipped to you, there would be an additional shipping cost.

I think this would be SO MUCH FUN!!! Please let me know what you think. Also, please feel free to share this.

Thanks for considering this!!

CALIBA, the California Independent Bookseller Association had its Spring Fest yesterday and we were treated to a fabulous Keynote by our own Local Legend, Mac Barnett!!! He talked about his new book and it sounds perfect for every grown up I know!! Please pre-order from your LOCAL INDIE BOOKSTORE!!!!

Celebrate our tenth PLCAF and our fifth Small Press Comics Expo, opens a new window by meeting amazing local creators and our inspirational keynote speakers! As always, SPCE and all our PLCAF events are FREE. Visit our artist alley exhibit hall and peruse prints, plushies, zines, comics and more!

The Expo is BARTable, opens a new window and accessible via SamTrans! Additional parking is available across El Camino Real at 33 Arroyo Drive below the Municipal Services Building.

RSVP on Eventbrite, opens a new window for a special gift while supplies last.

THERE ARE SO MANY GREAT SPEAKERS INCLUDING:

I just read this and LOVED it!!! Maia Kobabe is also very well known as the author of one of the most banned books of our time, GENDER QUEER

We're doing a special show in the Bay Area next month! On Saturday, April 18 at 12:30 pm at the Rockridge branch of the Oakland Public Library
(5366 College Ave.), we're doing a FREE screening of some of the BEST 90-Second Newbery movies we've received over the past 15 years of the film festival. Get your FREE tickets here!

You definitely want to see this! Charlotte's Web as a horror movie, Mrs. Frisby and the Rats of NIMH in the musical stylings of "La La Land," Last Stop on Market Street in the style of a zombie apocalypse . . . it's all killer, no filler! And you might even be inspired to make a movie for next year's film festival. Anyone can enter, and adult help is okay! We've got lots of helpful tips on how to make a 90-Second Newbery movie on our website.
I'm excited to bring the 90-Second Newbery back to the Bay Area! We've been featured in SF Gate and Oakland North before. If you're on this list, you know how much fun these screenings can be!

Full details about the film festival here. I hope to see you at the Rockridge branch of the Oakland Public Library on April 18 . . . remember, get your free tickets here!

Check out what your local indies are doing that day!! All kinds of great events, swag, and special products ONLY available on April 25!!

FROM STEPH:

Happy March! This newsletter (which is longer than usual due to a mix of procrastination + publishing being slow) includes:

• Medusa cover reveal + pre-order links!

• Abominable launch recap + musings on impostor syndrome

• A buttload of publicity stuff, including my 1st podcast, 1st illustration class, and a revision deep-dive

More details in her fabulous newsletter:

https://mailchi.mp/9ef730a3934d/steph-news-q2-newsletter-4953799?e=12c13f1e9b

AND: An interview with the incredible Betsy Bird just dropped!!

https://afuse8production.slj.com/2026/03/18/hiss-terical-a-cover-reveal-and-discussion-with-steph-lau-on-medusas-pet-rock/

I try (when I have time/energy/spoons) to visit store websites and pull event information. However, the best way to get your events in is to e-mail me directly with FOR THE NEWSLETTER as the subject line. There are over 2000 subscribers to this newsletter - plus it gets posted on Facebook, Twitter (I said what I said), BlueSky and my local NextDoor. I am happy to spread the word, it's just easier if 'the word' (not the religious one) comes directly to my inbox

I'm only as good as my sources, so please do feel free to share events, good news, etc.! Please e-mail me at sharonlevin at mindspring dot com and put For the Newsletter as your subject line.

I'm always happy to feature giveaways. There is NO paid advertising in this newsletter - I do not require anything to feature a giveaway. I'm just happy to do it.