Celebrate Young Readers Day with Authors & Illustrators Jamie Michalak, Hayley Rocco, John Rocco, and Marc Kuchner on Saturday, June 22 from 12 to 3 PM
Our very first Young Readers Day features some of Rhode Island’s best children’s book authors to sign copies of their newest releases.
Join us for our very first Young Readers Day featuring some of Rhode Island’s best children’s authors and illustrators, including author Jamie Michalak of the Joe and Sparky books, #1 New York Times bestselling author and illustrator John Rocco of Blackout and illustrator of the Percy Jackson series, author Hayley Rocco (in collaboration with John Rocco) of the Meet the Wild Things series, and author Dr. Marc Kuchner of his debut Cosmic Collisions series.
From 1:30 to 3 PM, we will host Expressions by Julie for free face painting, and we are excited to share that we will be serving Del's Lemonade for a sweet treat.
We will also celebrate the George Hail Free Library’s kids Summer Reading Program Kickoff Party on June 22 from 11 AM to 2 PM. Attend both events and be entered to win prizes! No purchase necessary.
Jamie Michalak’s Frank and Bean: The Stinky Feet Monster is the third book in the series and Booklist writes, “The third amusing volume in the Frank and Bean series offers an imaginative story for monster-loving beginning readers.” With bright comic illustrations, readers are introduced to Frank and Bean, a culinary odd couple who embark on an adventure to track down a very smelly creature before they become its next meal.
Recommended for ages 5 to 8.
Hayley Rocco and John Rocco bring us the show-stopping picture book Wild Places: The Life of Naturalist David Attenborough. An inspiring and accessible picture book biography of the beloved naturalist, broadcaster, and documentarian David Attenborough, it is also the story of our planet, which has changed rapidly over the course of one person’s lifetime, and a clarion call for us to do our part to bring back the wild places and protect the creatures who call Earth home.
Recommended for ages 4 to 8.
Kicking off a series of humorous nonfiction picture books from the points of view of endangered animals, Hayley Rocco and John Rocco’s forthcoming Meet the Wild Things series will be available for preorder. Hello, I’m a Sloth (Book 1) and Hello, I’m a Pangolin (Book 2) introduce young readers to endangered species—and why they need protecting—in this clever, funny, and informative picture book series available beginning June 25.
Recommended for ages 3 to 7.
Dr. Marc Kuchner, an acclaimed science communicator and expert astrophysicist, debuts his first children’s nonfiction book and series Cosmic Collisions: Asteroid vs. Comet about what happens when two massive hunks of hurtling space debris slam into each other. Action-packed with full-color illustrations, and a graphic, comic-book feel, it is a likely bet for reluctant readers and budding scientists. Publishers Weekly calls it “An exuberant book that packs an out-of-this-world punch.”
Recommended for ages 7 to 9.
About the Authors
Jamie Michalak is a former editor and the author of many children’s books. Her titles include the Frank and Bean early reader series, illustrated by Bob Kolar; the multiple-star reviewed Niki Nakayama: A Chef’s Tale in 13 Bites, co-written with Debbi Michiko Florence and illustrated by Yuko Kato-Jones; the Dakota Crumb: Tiny Treasure Hunter and Dakota Crumb and the Secret Bookshop: A Tiny Treasure Hunt, illustrated by Kelly Murphy; the Joe and Sparky early readers series, illustrated by Frank Remkiewicz; and Come On In: There’s a Party in this Book!, illustrated by Sabine Timm. When not writing, she can often be found singing off-key, drinking too much coffee, or hanging out with her two sons. Jamie lives in Barrington. For more info, drop by her website: jamiemichalakbooks.com.
John Rocco is a New York Times bestselling author and illustrator of many acclaimed books for children including Blackout, the recipient of a Caldecott Honor, and How We Got to the Moon, which received a Robert F. Sibert Honor and was longlisted for the National Book Award. Rocco is also known for illustrating the cover art for Rick Riordan's internationally bestselling series Percy Jackson and the Olympians, Magnus Chase and the Gods of Asgard, and The Trials of Apollo. He also created the illustrations for the #1 New York Times bestsellers, Percy Jackson's Greek Gods and Percy Jackson's Greek Heroes. In addition to becoming an ambassador for Wild Tomorrow, he is also co-chair of the Children's Book Creators for Conservation (CBCC) group, which embarked on its first trip to South Africa together in October 2023. He lives in Rhode Island with his wife—and fellow co-founder of the CBCC—author Hayley Rocco.
Hayley Rocco is the author of How to Send a Hug, her first collaboration with her husband, John Rocco. Before dedicating herself to writing for children full-time, she worked as a publicist for several major publishers. She has five books launching in 2024 including Wild Places: The Life of Naturalist David Attenborough; and the first three books in Meet the Wild Things, a new series introducing young readers to endangered animals including: Hello, I'm a Pangolin; Hello, I'm a Sloth; and Hello, I'm a Quokka. In addition to becoming an ambassador for Wild Tomorrow, she is also co-chair of the Children's Book Creators for Conservation (CBCC) group, which embarked on its first trip to South Africa together in October 2023. She lives in Rhode Island with her husband—and fellow co-founder of the CBCC—author and illustrator, John Rocco.
Dr. Marc J. Kuchner is an astrophysicist, author, and science communicator who has published more than 110 professional papers in the peer-reviewed literature on topics including white dwarfs, gamma ray bursts, and supernovae, as well as articles for Astronomy Today, Physics World, and Scientific American. His debut book, Marketing for Scientists: How to Shine in Tough Times, was called by Neil deGrasse Tyson “the first of its kind.” Marc Kuchner is based in Rhode Island.
At the Event
Books will be available for purchase at the event and in store.
Or order/preorder online below.
FRANK AND BEAN: THE STINKY FEET MONSTER Available in paperback beginning June 18.
WILD PLACES: THE LIFE OF NATURALIST DAVID ATTENBOROUGH
HELLO, I’M A SLOTH and HELLO, I’M A PANGOLIN Available beginning June 25.