Nine great events for a fun-filled summer.
Because actually
(Shh! Not too loud!)
BOOKS ARE FUN!

A Book For All Seasons, Beckie Peterson and other Delta Society PetPartners^® volunteers, and Leavenworth and Wenatchee libraries bring you a series of family authors and events. Fun-loving authors and attentive dogs invite your child into the world of books this summer!

Buy a SIGNED Copy of Ann Drew Jackson by Joan Clark - $17.95
Buy a SIGNED Copy of Jackson whole Wyoming by Joan Clark - $16.00
Buy a SIGNED Copy of Running for My Life by Ann Gonzalez - $16.95
Buy a SIGNED Copy of Harmony by Sarah Conover - $19.95
Buy a SIGNED Copy of Kindness by Sarah Conover - $19.95
Buy a SIGNED Copy of Ayat Jamilah by Sarah Conover - $19.95
Buy a SIGNED Copy of In the Shadow of the Mammoth by Patricia Clark - $14.95
Buy a SIGNED Copy of The Magic Warble by Victoria Simcox - $16.95
Buy a SIGNED Copy of The Fetch by Laura Whitcomb - $17.00

ABFAS's ReaderKidz Series Schedule
Wed, Jun 17 -  Thu, Jun 18 -  Reading with Rover 1:00 - 3:00 PM, Wenatchee Library Reading with Rover 11:00 AM - noon, Leavenworth Library Hesitant readers open up to specially-trained dogs. Genre: Animals Click here to learn more...
Wed, Jun 24 -  Joan Clark, 1:00 - 3:00 PM, Wenatchee Library (activity and book-signing) Thu, Jun 25 -  Joan Clark, 11:00 AM - noon, Leavenworth Library (activity) Joan Clark, 1:00 - 3:00 PM, A Book For All Seasons (book-signing) Joan is the author of Ann Drew Jackson and Jackson Whole Wyoming, heart-warming depictions of an exceptional (autistic/Asperger's) 5th-grader, and his blossoming friendships with neuro-typic children. Genre: Educational Click here to learn more...
Wed, July 8 -  Ann Gonzalez, 1:00 - 3:00 PM, Wenatchee Library (workshop and book-signing) Thu, July 9 -  Ann Gonzalez, 11:00 AM - noon, Leavenworth Library (workshop) Ann Gonzalez, 1:00 - 2:00 PM, A Book For All Seasons (book-signing) The author of the newly-released young-adult novel Running for My Life, will present her well-received workshop "You're never too young to start a writing career." Now is the perfect time for young writers to step forward and claim their own stories. Let's talk about how to begin! Genre: Fiction Click here to learn more...
Wed, July 15 -  Thu, July 16 - Reading with Rover 1:00 - 3:00 PM, Wenatchee Library Reading with Rover 11:00 AM - noon, Leavenworth Library Hesitant readers open up to specially-trained dogs. Genre: Animals Click here to learn more...
Wed, Jul 22 -  Sarah Conover, 1:00 - 3:00 PM, Wenatchee Library (activity and book-signing) Thu, Jul 23 -  Sarah Conover, 11:00 AM - noon, Leavenworth Library (activity) Sarah Conover, 1:00 - 3:00 PM, A Book For All Seasons (book-signing) Sarah's award-winning, multi-cultural spiritual books, including Harmony, Kindness, and Ayat Jamilah: Beautiful Signs broaden children's knowledge of world traditions of wisdom and spirituality. Genre: Cultural Click here to learn more...
Wed, Aug 5 -  Patricia Clark, 1:00 - 3:00 PM, Wenatchee Library (activity and book-signing) Thu, Aug 6 -  Patricia Clark, 11:00 AM - noon, Leavenworth Library (activity) Patricia Clark, 1:00 - 3:00 PM, A Book For All Seasons (book-signing) Patricia Clark, author of In the Shadow of the Mammoth, takes us 12,000 years back into pre-history as eleven-yr-old Zol struggles to be true to his heart, yet gain acceptance by his tribe. Genre: Adventure Click here to learn more...
Wed, Aug 12 -  Victoria Simcox, 1:00 - 3:00 PM, Wenatchee Library (activity & book-signing) Thu, Aug 13 -  Victoria Simcox, 11:00 AM - noon, Leavenworth Library (activity) Victoria Simcox, 1:00 - 3:00 PM, A Book For All Seasons (book-signing) In Victoria's The Magic Warble, dwarfs, gnomes, fairies, talking animals, an evil queen and a harrowing journey come to life in an enchanting tale of adventure and friendship. Genre: Sci-fi/Fantsy Click here to learn more...
Wed, Aug 19 -  Thu, Aug 20 - Reading with Rover 1:00 - 3:00 PM, Wenatchee Library Reading with Rover 11:00 AM - noon, Leavenworth Library Hesitant readers open up to specially-trained dogs. Genre: Animals Click here to learn more...
Wed, Aug 26 -  Laura Whitcomb, 1:00 - 3:00 PM, Wenatchee Library (activity & book-signing) Thu, Aug 27 -  Laura Whitcomb, 11:00 AM - noon, Leavenworth Library (activity) Laura Whitcomb, 1:00 - 3:00 PM, A Book For All Seasons (book-signing) Set in Imperial Russia, this award-winning author's latest release is the young adult love-story The Fetch, a sweeping combination of history, religion, and the supernatural! Now on 2009 Children's Indie Next List. Genre: Sci-fi/Fantsy Click here to learn more...

Put Reading with Rover on your kid's calendar this summer.
Wenatchee-Wednesday and Leavenworth-Locals-Thursday.

Hesitant readers open up, reading to specially-trained dogs. Genre: Animals
Join A Book For All Seasons, and Beckie Peterson and other Delta Society Pet Partners^® volunteers:
June 17 & 18; July 15 & 16; Aug 19 & 20
Wenatchee library, Wednesday, 1:00 - 3:00 PM
Leavenworth Library, Thursday, 11:00 AM - noon.

Reading With Rover's mission is to inspire children to discover the joy of reading while developing literacy skills and confidence in a safe environment. Research has shown that reading to a dog can: lower blood pressure; draw attention outward; reduce stress, anxiety, anger and depression; create safety and intimacy; and increase positive expectations. Reading with Rover turns the reading environment into a non-threatening place where children can read for the fun of it, with no risk of being embarrassed.

Parent comments from the Reading With Rover website:

"Wow, was it a hit!!! Nate had a blast. Read to 5 dogs and finished 2 whole books. He was so proud of himself. He talked about the dogs all the way home." — Shay H.

"In the 40 years that I've been involved with education, I don't think I've experienced a more exciting and rewarding program. I had tears in my eyes as I walked around and watched the various children read to these wonderful dogs! I have told anyone who will listen about it! I applaud all of your special efforts to make this so magical!" — Jennifer C.

"I would recommend this program to any parent whether their child loves to read or not, it is just a great experience all around." — Eve P.

Visit http://www.readingwithrover.org to learn more.

Author and licensed speech and language pathologist, Joan Clark's two children's books are about a fifth-grade boy with Aspergers Syndrome, a type of autism.

Joan Clark offers readers a wonderful, often humorous pair of books about understanding and acceptance. Genre: Educational

With Ann Drew Jackson and Jackson Whole Wyoming, Joan Clark brings us heart-warming depictions of an exceptional (Asperger Syndrome - autistic) 5th-grader, and his blossoming friendships with neuro-typic children. Perceptive, sensitive, and optimistic, these books will engage children from both sides of the spectrum. Joan is a licensed speech and language pathologist living in central Illinois.

"Gripping from the very first word, Joan Clark treats the reader to a charming, heartwarming story of a young man 'coming of age' in terms of people with differences ... and ultimately, himself." — Stephen Shore, board president of the Asperger's Association of New England.

"Jackson Whole Wyoming delivers ... hope with a dose of humor and a dead-on depiction of daily school life for a student with Asperger Syndrome. Joan Clark demonstrates that while communication comes in many packages, friendship remains the universal language." — Leanne Brooks, Richland Community College instructor and parent of a child with Asperger Syndrome.

Buy a SIGNED Copy of Ann Drew Jackson - $17.95
Buy a SIGNED Copy of Jackson whole Wyoming - $16.00

Ann Gonzalez presents "You're never too young to start a writing career."

Now, while the publishing world searches for new young-adult titles, is the perfect time for young writers to step forward and claim their stories for themselves. Let's talk about how to begin! Genre: Fiction

Ann's heartwarming, encouraging, breakthrough novel, Running for My Life, portrays the challenges teens confront when they have to protect themselves from a guardian. Fourteen-year-old Andrea struggles to accept that her previously loving mother has vanished into a disease, schizophrenia, possibly forever. With courage and the support of friends and family, Andrea searches for salvation through running, overcoming the unimaginable in this frank and fearless story.

"Ann Gonzalez [presents] Andrea's tough story with honesty, grace, hope and even humor. The crisp writing and authentic voice immediately drew me in but it was Andrea herself — as well as her good friends — that captured my heart ... I will be thinking about Andrea for a long, long time." — Kirby Larson, Newbery Honor Book author.

Ann currently teaches the craft of writing to middle- and high-school students. To learn more about Ann's writing classes and publications, visit http://www.anngonzalez.com.

Buy a SIGNED Copy of Running for My Life - $16.95

Sarah's award-winning, multi-cultural spiritual books bring global world traditions of wisdom and spirituality to children.

Her first children's book, Kindness: A Treasury of Buddhist Wisdom for Children and Parents, was recommended by Booklist as one of the five best spiritual books for children of 2001. Her second, Ayat Jamilah: Beautiful Signs, was cited by Newsweek as one of the best multicultural books of 2004, and won the 2004 Aesop Prize. Newly-released Harmony: A Treasury of Chinese Wisdom for Children and Parents, is a collection of traditional stories, beautifully illustrated by one of China's foremost artists, Ji Ruoxiao. Simple, often humorous, and always wise, these tales will delight readers of all ages, making Harmony a book to cherish. Genre: Cultural

Ms. Conover holds a BA in religious studies from the University of Colorado and an MFA in poetry from Eastern Washington University. She has worked collaboratively with students and teachers from Brazil, the Middle East, and around the globe. Prior to her education career, she was the US producer of Agenda for a Small Planet, a series that aired in 33 countries, as well as the producer of many public television programs. Ms. Conover now lives and writes in Spokane, Washington, and teaches at Spokane Valley High School.

Learn more at http://www.sarahconover.com

Buy a SIGNED Copy of Harmony - $19.95
Buy a SIGNED Copy of Kindness - $19.95
Buy a SIGNED Copy of Ayat Jamilah - $19.95

Patricia Clark, author of In the Shadow of the Mammoth, takes us 12,000 years back into pre-history as eleven-yr-old Zol struggles to be true to his heart, yet gain acceptance by his tribe.

Commended for its meticulous research as well as its fast-paced adventure, In the Shadow of the Mammoth, finds eleven-year-old Zol preparing for the ritual that will take him across the threshold into manhood in his clan of ice age hunters. He knows he should be eager for his first mammoth hunt. But Zol is haunted by his belief that animals feel fear and pain, especially after he rescues and tames a young crow. Zol's beliefs set him at odds with his family and tribe. Through a series of dangerous encounters, Zol learns that becoming a man requires more than a ritual hunt: it means claiming who you are, and staying true to yourself. Genre: Adventure

Buy a SIGNED Copy of In the Shadow of the Mammoth - $14.95

In Victoria's The Magic Warble, dwarfs, gnomes, fairies, talking animals, an evil queen and a harrowing journey come to life in an enchanting tale of adventure and friendship.

Twelve-year-old Kristina never seems to fit in. But when Kristina receives an unusual Christmas gift, she finds herself suddenly transported to a magical land. Here she must travel through deep forest, climb a treacherous mountain, and risk capture by zelbocks in a perilous journey that tests not only her strength but her heart. Genre: Sci-fi/Fantsy

"My favorite part was when Kristina rolls the warble to Ramon and the wolf attacks him and Kristina gets it back. My favorite character was Raymond. I loved it. I hope you will like it too." -- Nathaniel Roth, age 11, Marysville, WA.

Born and raised in Canada, Victoria is currently raising a family and teaching elementary school art in Marysville, Washington.

Learn more at http://themagicwarble.com

Buy a SIGNED Copy of The Magic Warble - $16.95

Laura Whitcomb's, The Fetch is getting rave reviews!

When Calder, a ghostly minister of death, falls in love with a mortal, neither things on earth nor things in the spiritual realm will ever be the same. Set in Imperial Russia, this award-winning author's latest release is the young adult love-story The Fetch, a unique combination of supernatural thrills, historical fiction, and sweeping romance, singular and enchanting. Now on 2009 Children's Indie Next List. Genre: Sci-fi/Fantsy

"Fascinating . . . exquisitely imagined." — Booklist

"Ambitious fantasy . . . riveting." — Publishers Weekly

"The Fetch is one of those rare books that took me completely by surprise. An inspired combination of history, religion and the supernatural ... pushes at the boundaries of teen literature, nudging the field in a startling new direction ... gorgeous descriptions of the afterlife are comforting and original, and my heart lifted as almost never before when I read the final few pages" — Reading Rants

Learn more at www.laurawhitcomb.com

Buy a SIGNED Copy of The Fetch - $17.00