Above: This month’s virtual author series includes special K-12 events for summer reading. (images edited from library flyers and promos on library website)
The virtual author talk series offered through the Southborough Library has ramped up for summer reading. Not only are there more frequent talks in July, but many are targeted to kids on school break (Pre-K through high school).
One of the authors is holding two events (one in English and one in spanish) with a “draw along” for young ones tomorrow. On the other end of the young reader spectrum, the library is promoting a viewing party for teens to enjoy a talk with a popular YA author.
The virtual author talk series was launched in January, thanks to a grant from the Southborough Community Fund. The grant paid for the library’s subscription to the Library Speakers Consortium. That allows them to make available to patrons the virtual author talks including Q&A with:
bestselling, award-winning, and highly acclaimed authors from around the world. The featured writers and thought leaders will cover a wide range of fiction and nonfiction genres.
It also allows patrons to tap into the many previously recorded talks.
As with all library events, participation is free to the public. Anyone can take advantage of the opportunity, but registration is required for the live talks.
The series usually features 2-3 live events per month. This month, there are five talks scheduled.
If you can’t make the live events, you can still watch the recordings afterwards, which will be added to the existing library of streaming videos.
The following events are scheduled for July:
Drawing Your World with Raúl The Third (PK-2nd Grade)
Tuesday, July 8th at 4:00 pm (plus an earlier session at 2:00 pm in Spanish)
The events feature the New York Times Bestselling and Three-Time Pura Belpre Award-Winning Illustrator, Author, and Artist whose works include the ¡Vamos! picture book series .
Focusing on ¡Vamos!: Let’s Go Read, he’ll encourage kids “to explore their world through a creative lens”. Be prepared with drawing supplies and paper to “draw along”.
(To learn more and register, click the links for the English session and Spanish session.)
YA Author Viewing Party!
Thursday, July 17th at 4:00 pm — in person at the library
To make the most of the virtual talk below with popular Young Adult author Marie Lu, the library is hosting an in person event at the library for teens to zoom into the virtual chat as a group. Snacks will be provided.
(Click here to learn more and register)
Discerning the Truth with Marie Lu (9th-12th Grade)
Thursday, July 17th at 4:00 pm
The event features the #1 New York Times Bestselling Author of the YA trilogies “Legend” and “The Young Elites”.
The talk will focus on Legend, “a dystopian novel where two unlikely characters, June and Day, cross paths in search for the Truth.” The book is promoted as exploring “the depths of deceit, battle for power, and the lengths characters will go to unmask the Truth.”
(Click here to learn more and register)
Illuminating Hope and Grace in the Face of Hardship with Rex Ogle (5th-8th Grade)
Wednesday, July 23rd at 4:00 pm
The event features the winner of the YALSA Excellence in Nonfiction for Young Adults Award. He’ll talk about “his struggles to navigate sixth grade as written about in his book” Free Lunch. The book is “a story of hardship threaded with hope and moments of grace”.
(Click here to learn more and register)
On the Strangeness and Wonder of Our Brains with Pria Anand
Thursday, July 31st at 2:00 pm
The event features the Neurologist, Professor of Medicine, and author of The Mind Electric: A Neurologist on the Strangeness and Wonder of Our Brains. She’ll discuss the book in which she uses “case study, history, fable, and memoir” to reveal “the vast gray area between sanity and insanity, doctor and patient, and illness and wellness, each separated from the next by the thin veneer of a different story.”
(Click here to learn more and register)
If you’re noting that the above sessions covers every age group except 3-5th graders, it appears, that was covered by a virtual event geared towards 3rd-6th graders that was held a couple of weeks ago with Katherine Applegate, author of Odder. You can find that video and links to related materials, here.
Plus, six more are already scheduled for August and September. Those appear to all be geared to adult readers:
- Tuesday, August 5th at 2:00 pm – The Stories, Science, and History of Birds with Smithsonian Biologist Jay Falk
- Wednesday, August 20th at 7:00 pm – Returning to Romance Through Food and Flirty Fun in Fiction with Casey McQuiston
- Thursday, August 28th at 2:00 pm – How to Thrive in a World of Constant Chaos with Organizational Psychologist Dr. Tasha Eurich
- Wednesday, September 3rd at 7:00 pm – On Writing Darkly Charming Villainous Love with Hannah Nicole Maehrer
- Wednesday, September 10th at 2:00 pm – Argue Less and Talk More with Communication Expert Jefferson Fisher
- Wednesday, September 17th at 2:00 pm – Our Failed Attempts to Make English Eezier to Spell with Author Gabe Henry
For more information or to register for any of the author talks, visit bit.ly/sbliblsc. There you can also find links for the following talks that took place over the past 3 years. They cover a diverse array of subjects and genres including children’s author talks appropriate for kids
