PickyKidPix just turned 11-years-old recently. Part of her birthday celebration was to meet one of her favorite authors who happens to live one town over. PickyKidPix became a fan of her mystery chapter books in 3rd grade but continues to read them — insisting on buying her own copy — even though the books are now a quick read for her.
After her soccer game, we brought a friend of hers, Abby, who claims to hate reading to meet the author as well. What’s interesting is that Abby loved The Lemonade War series and is a strong reader. She just doesn’t like reading. Ah, I think I can change that!!
PickyKidPix was similar to Abby; a strong reader who only read for school assignments. Abby says she doesn’t even do that. It just took a small fix to get PickyKidPix reading:
1) Meeting authors makes her want to read their books.
2) Peer recommendations and teacher recommendations persuade her. Mine barely count, by the way.
3) Identify genre and area of interest. My daughter likes award-winning chapter books and realistic fiction. Special needs characters are a big draw. Historical fiction works too. She likes strong characters, drama from the get-go, and a happy ending.
Abby really liked The Lemonade War series so this event was a good match. We got her a signed copy; always more enticing I think! And the result? PickyKidPix said that she finished it the very same day! A victory for reading!
Now, onto the mysteries!
Mystery #1: Who is This Woman?
Clue … notice where we are.
Was that too easy? Yes, it’s author Jacqueline Davies. She lives one town over from me in Needham, MA. You guys are good. My next mystery has to be tougher …
Mystery #2: Why Are There Candy Hearts?
Just to let you know, we went to this book event in Mid-March not February, so the candy hearts are not because it’s Valentine’s Day. Good guess though!
Here’s a clue …
Did you guess correctly? Yes, Jacqueline Davies has a new book out and it has to do with candy. She talks about her latest book in the video here. I have more of her author event on my YouTube Channel including how she got the idea for The Lemonade War.
With four books in this series, the final mystery is …
Mystery #3: Will There Be More?
Clue: How many Percy Jackson book and the Olympians are there? How many books in the second Heroes of Olympian series? Jeanne Birdsall’s Penderwicks series will have how many books?
Did you guess five? I think that is correct or at least that is what Jacqueline Davies thinks at the moment. You never know though, her editor says, “Never say never!”
This is the book trailer for The Candy Smash, the 4th book in The Lemonade War series.
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My books:
BEST #OWNVOICES CHILDREN’S BOOKS: My Favorite Diversity Books for Kids Ages 1-12 is a book that I created to highlight books written by authors who share the same marginalized identity as the characters in their books.
Uh… Harry Potter has 7 I think… Percy Jackson is in a total of 8 books… and I have never heard of the Penderwicks. I’ll check it out!
I hope Abby likes to read now!
Hi Erik,
Oh, I am off for Harry Potter. I’m thinking Percy Jackson and the Olympian first series which is 5. Penderwicks is 5 too.
Candy and reading for kids…a winning combination. Who would not want to read? The trailer was very cleverly done!
Hi Barbara,
Her trailers are fun. She’s really popular where I live because it’s so fun for the kids to read local authors. My daughter’s friend, the one who doesn’t like to read, read her new book that same day! My daughter liked it as well though it took her a few days to finish it.
Mia, would boys like this book, too? Are there any pictures? After devouring the Wimpy Kid series, I’ve struggled to find a series to capture Dylan’s attention. He’s sort of reading the Infinity Ring, but he’s only reading as much as he has to (whereas he was staying up at night to read Wimpy Kid). He liked Origami Yoda, but forgot it at school and now that he has it again, he seems to have lost his momentum for it. Wimpy Kid was exciting because I was having to run to the bookstore to get him another. He just couldn’t wait!
Hi Dee,
By the way, I am going to mail Square Pegs to you. I just got it back. YES! My 7th grade reluctant reader boy likes this series too. It’s also not too intimidating too read. It’s not a really think book, for example, and the action moves along nicely. Yes, it’s best to read in order though. (The author recommends that!). I’m sure the first few books are at your library too.
Aw, nuts. We were going to go meet Laurie Keller next Thursday but we have a school open house instead…. I’m actually going to keep my eyeballs open for more author visits in the area. Great idea so kids can actually see that there are real people behind those books.
Hi Jeanette,
It’s hard to fit the author visits in, I know. We are trying to figure out if we can make the Mo Willens one which actually requires tickets and costs $5 a head. I think we probably won’t but we are gearing up to meet Jarrett Krosoczka. He’s local and will be nearby for the launch of his new chapter book, Platypus Police Squad: The Frog Who Croaked. My son and I are reading it now.
I love bringing my girls to author events. It really is such a powerful way to hook readers! And my oldest loves the Lemonade series. Glad to hear that there are more coming!
Hi Stacey,
She says 5 books in all but never say never. It was really fun to meet her. She’s really nice!!
Am gonna have to check it out.
Thanks Viren,
Let me know what you think please!
How wonderful that you all got the chance to meet the fav author!
Hi Roshni,
It is always such a treat to meet an author. My kids love it!
How very lucky for you to meet the author and for your children too. Looks like a book I should get for mine to read…thank you
Hi Gaz,
We love meeting authors and there are a few independent bookstores nearby that have great author events for kids. We are now tracking them to try to catch as many as possible. They are always wonderful!
What a fun post! We were just at the library yesterday and my daughter was perusing the shelves having trouble finding a book she wanted to read. Then, I spied The Lemonade War – I grabbed it and handed it to her saying, “Here, read this!” I’ll have to let you know what she thought of it. Thanks for linking your post in the Kid Lit Blog Hop!
I love the way you are always taking your kids to meet authors!
This was such a cool post and awesome to meet her fav author. Thanks for linking in to the kid lit blog hop
I would love to take my children to meet authors I would say these are special moments that a child remembers. I need to keep my eyes open for authors in our bookstores etc
We’ve read The Lemonade War, but not the others. I knew there was to be another Penderwicks, when I heard Birdsall talk at a salon, but 5? That would be great! Thanks for sharing at The Children’s Bookshelf.
Thanks Erica! My kids get so excited when the author is local that everyone seemed to be reading her series around here. It was fun to meet her. She’s really nice! I’m excited for two more Penderwicks too! It’s one of my favorite series!