Thanks to everyone who participated in our reading-related events last week. 

I haven't heard yet whether we helped Jumpstart set a new world record for the most people reading the same book on the same day, or whether we just had a fun day of reading Ladybug Girl with friends on Read for the Record Day.  Either way, those who read with a child that day (or any day!) made a difference in that child's life, which is what really matters.

Thanks to Davisson Furniture Center for the use of the comfy chair and to the St. John CDC for the fun ladybug craft kit.  Here are a few photos from the event. 

 

I wasn't able to be there, but Cheryl said the Reading Invasion on the Courthouse lawn was a hit.  Sounds like everyone had fun visiting with other readers and even read a few pages.  It was a good reminder during Banned Books Week that we shouldn't take our "freadom" to read for granted.  It was a beautiful day to be outdoors, too.  We have to take advantage of those this time of year!  Watch for the Friends of the Seward Library and Chapters to host more reading invasions in the future.

I missed both of those events because I was in Minneapolis for the Heartland Fall Forum, sponsored by the Midwest Independent Booksellers Association.  I attended educational sessions, had breakfast with four fantastic children's and YA authors, and browsed the exhibit hall for ideas.  I picked up a few autographed books which we'll use as prizes during the coming weeks and a few ideas that will help Chapters meet our customers' needs in exciting new ways.

The biggest news from the Fall Forum is that independent bookstores will soon be able to provide our customers with e-reading devices and e-books.  By about November 1, you'll be able to purchase a Kobo Mini or Kobo Glo e-reader at Chapters.  Our online store already makes e-books available for reading on a variety of devices, but soon you'll be able to purchase them for your Kobo and support both a local business and your desire to read books electronically at the same time.

Read for the Record and Reading Invasion and Books

We're gearing up for another event-filled week to start October, and my stack of books that I want to read right now is getting taller!  JK Rowling's first book since Harry Potter, Casual Vacancy, went on sale at 6 a.m. yesterday, and I haven't had time to open it yet.  The other book I can't wait to read is Lois Lowry's companion to The Giver, one of my top three all-time favorite books.  Son goes on sale October 2.  Maybe on the way to Minneapolis next week for the Heartland Fall Forum, hosted by the Midwest Independent Booksellers Association, I'll have some reading time.

Meanwhile, instead of spending my days at the store reading as my kids accuse me of doing, I'm filling boxes with books for a bookfair at St. Vincent de Paul School.  So far we have 21 boxes ready to go!  That bookfair will be October 6-16 and coincides with the Seward County Bridges' Family Night event Oct. 16, featuring author Jim Aylesworth.  It's exciting to have such a big name author in town!

Now that the boxes are mostly ready to go, I'm focusing on next week, which is Banned Books Week.  Check out the list of the most frequently challenged books of 2011 and previous years here.  http://www.ala.org/advocacy/banned/frequentlychallenged/21stcenturychallenged

We're celebrating our "freadom" to read in Seward by working with the Friends of the Seward Library to sponsor Seward's first ever "Reading Invasion."  Pull up a blanket or lawn chair to read together for a half hour on October 3 from 5:00-5:30 on the Seward County Courthouse lawn.  All you need is a book--a banned book, maybe--and a chair.  We're hoping that we have enough readers to cover the courthouse lawn.  Cheryl is closing Chapters at 5:00 so she can go.

October 4 is Jumpstart's annual "Read for the Record" day.  Bring your favorite child(ren) to Chapters anytime from 9 am-5 pm October 4, and read together in our big comfy chair (courtesy of Davisson's Furniture) to be counted for the world record-breaking effort to get as many people as possible reading the same book on the same day all across the world.  You'll receive a photo of yourselves reading, a FREE ladybug craft kit (courtesy of St. John CDC), and other fun items--and you'll be sharing the joy of reading with a child you love.  To learn more about Jumpstart or to make a donation, click on this link. http://www.jstart.org/campaigns/read-record

Live Streaming

I just put a link on our website for the live streaming video of tomorrow's Local Authors' Event.  Click here, and this link will also take you there.

Link to Live Streamed Video

If you watch it, let us know what you think!

Busy week!

What an exciting week it's been in Seward!  On top of Seward High's Homecoming (did you see what the freshmen did to our windows?) and Dish Network's decision to drop Big Ten Network and reinstate it just in time for today's game, there were thousands of kids in town yesterday to hear the authors who were participating in the Plum Creek Children's Literacy Festival at Concordia.  We were thrilled that Clare Vanderpool, Ted Scheu (rhymes with "poetry guy"), and Gary Schmidt were able to stop by the store and sign books while they were in town.  Clare has a great story about the call from the Newbery committee notifying her that Moon over Manifest was the winner of the 2011 Newbery Medal!

Now we're ready for writers, aspiring writers, and friends from the Seward area to continue the excitement through tomorrow's Local Authors' Event here at the store.  The event is from 1:00-3:00 p.m. and features a panel discussion of the business aspects of a writing career.  The panel will convene about 1:30, with time for networking and refreshments before and after.  See blog entries from the past few days for details.  Hope to see you here!