Events and Programs

Events for Kids and Families

Feathers, Furs, and Tepees
Join storyteller Debra Morningstar-Oneida as she shares Native American stories of “How Chipmunk Got His Stripes,” “How Turtle Cracked His Shell,” and more!  Debra’s lively presentation includes an Indian Story Basket, Hand-drums, Rattles and her Traveling Museum – as she invites children to accompany her on a “magical” and “educational” journey called – “Feathers, Furs and Tepees!” Register online at www.mononalibrary.org or call 222-6127.

Kashmira Sheth: Monsoon Afternoon.
Author Kashmira Sheth presents an affectionate, sensitive story which provides a look into Indian life and the shared moments and memories that bind generations together. Learn to make the three different kinds of paper boats that are in her beautiful new picture book, Monsoon Afternoon.

View books by Sheth available through the Madison Public Library

Kids’ Book Extravaganza
For tweens, toddlers, and everyone in between, the Second Annual Book Bash at the Madison Children's Museum is sure to be another smash. Kids will want to stop in to meet Lewis Buzbee, author of Steinbeck's Ghost, a new mystery/haunted library story receiving rave reviews. Catherine Gourley, prolific author of several "American Girl" books, will celebrate the launch of her lively new series on women in the 20th Century, from Gibson Girls and Rosie the Riveter to Gidget, Material Girls, and beyond. Wisconsin's own Marcia Henry presents her multi-tasking Madeline Island ABC Book, a delightful journey through the alphabet and a kid-friendly guide to the island and its wonders. And no one should miss the perfect grandpa: illustrator Richard McFarland, who used himself as the model for Grandfather's Wrinkles, a picture book journey through his life history, and the joyous events that caused each smile-wrinkle.

Ken Waldman, Alaska’s Fiddling Poet
9:30 a.m., 11:00 a.m. & 1:00 p.m.
Ken Waldman brings his wondrous energy back to Madison with three "Kids in the Rotunda" sessions at Overture Center. Ken has traveled America for over a decade, reading and performing at venues as variable as his talents: schools, coffee houses, concert halls, bookstores, and bars. His performance combines traditional music with storytelling and poetry, and he often composes original poems on the spot for his luckiest audiences.

Celebrating the World of Children: An event for kids and families
Prolific writers Patricia and Fred McKissack Sr., authors of numerous best-selling children books, join Sundee Frazier, author of the best-selling Brendan Buckley’s Universe and Everything In It, winner of the ALA 2008 Coretta Scott King/John Steptoe New Talent Award. The authors write stories for and about children of today, featuring both famous and everyday heroes from past and present, focusing on the world of African American and biracial children. Designed for children of all ages, the authors will read from their latest books and sign copies.

View an author profile of Patricia McKissack

Kimberly Jo Simac: American Soldier Proud and Free
American Soldier Proud and Free is the newest book from children’s author Kimberly Jo Simac, a mother of nine who values the importance of teaching young people patriotism. A native of Eagle River, Wisconsin, Simac wrote the book as a tribute to soldiers throughout the years. Conveying the value, importance, and pride the military plays in our country and culture, this is the third book in Simac's "You Can Be a Star" series.

Baba Wague Diakite’s Storytelling for Kids
When he was growing up in Mali, West Africa, Baba Wague Diakite’s grandmother would tell stories in the dark of the night that seemed so real, he felt as though he was one of the characters in the story. Today he combines elements of his own cultural traditions with his artistic talents by creating award-winning children’s picture books, including The Hunterman and the Crocodile, The Hatseller and the Monkeys, and The Magic Gourd. He recently illustrated a book written by his daughter Penda Diakite, I Lost My Tooth in Africa, published in 2006.

Events for Adults on Children's and Teen Literature

Judy Blume: 2008 Charlotte Zolotow Lecture
Judy Blume is the author of Are You There God? It's Me, Margaret; Blubber; Just as Long as We're Together; and the five book series about the irrepressible Fudge. She has also written three novels for adults: Summer Sisters, Smart Women, and Wifey, all of them New York Times bestsellers. In 1996, the American Library Association honored her with the Margaret A. Edwards Award for Lifetime Achievement, and in 2004 she received the National Book Foundation's Medal for Distinguished Contribution to American Letters. Blume will deliver a 45-minute lecture, aimed at adults, based on her writing for children and teens. This event is made possible by the CCBC. Tickets required: Free tickets to the lecture may be picked up at Wisconsin Union Theater box office in the UW-Madison Memorial Union, 800 Langdon Street, after September 8. Limit: 2 tickets per person. more info

View books by Blume available through the Madison Public Library

Henry Drewal and Baba Wague Diakite: Meet Mami Wata.
Commonly known as a water spirit, Mami Wata is a west African mythical figure steeped in much mystery and charm. For centuries, traditional and now contemporary art has been created to celebrate Mami Wata, thus demonstrating the pervasiveness of the water deities, the centuries-long centrality of water and these spirits to the lives of people across many cultures, and the imagery’s relevance and adaptability in an ever-changing world. Henry Drewal is the Evjue-Bascom Professor of African and African Diaspora Arts at the University of Wisconsin-Madison. Contemporary artist Baba Wague Diakite is one who brings Mami Wata to life in the twenty-first century: come and meet him!

Sara Pennypacker and Jacquelyn Mitchard: On Writing for Young People
What kind of stories do children fall in love with? How can kids stay hooked on reading through middle and young adult years? Explore these questions with Sara Pennypacker, creator of the beloved "Clementine" books, and Madison's own Jacquelyn Mitchard, whose recent young adult novels have expanded her vast readership into a new demographic. "Being a reader," says Mitchard, "gives you a portable universe, a way that you'll never be a prisoner." Jump in!

View books by Pennypacker and books by Mitchard available through the Madison Public Library, and an author profile of Mitchard.