Bring your kiddos to Fort Collins Nursery on July 13 for some summer-reading fun!

We’re excited to bring back our Storytime event as a three-part series. Three wonderful groups of local children’s book authors and illustrators will be on-site to read the fabulous stories they have created. We’ll gather on our outdoor patio, nestled along the banks of Dry Creek and the Cache la Poudre River and surrounded by beautiful plants, trees and wildlife. These FREE events will also feature fun crafts and activities for the children and a fundraiser for Children’s Speech & Reading Center. Books will be for sale by The Crowded Bookshelf and can also be purchased in advance here.

 Participants are encouraged to bring lawn chairs for additional seating. Well-behaved pets on leashes are welcome!

July 13 Event Features

Presenters:

Beth Anderson

Beth Anderson, a former educator, is the award-winning author of THOMAS JEFFERSON’S BATTLE FOR SCIENCE, CLOAKED IN COURAGE, FRANZ’S PHANTASMAGORICAL MACHINE, REVOLUTIONARY PRUDENCE WRIGHT, TAD LINCOLN’S RESTLESS WRIGGLE, “SMELLY” KELLY AND HIS SUPER SENSES, LIZZIE DEMANDS A SEAT!, and AN INCONVENIENT ALPHABET, with more historical picture books on the way. Driven by curiosity and a love for words, she writes untold tales, hoping to inspire kids to laugh, ponder, and question. Learn More Here

Featured Story:

THOMAS JEFFERSON’S BATTLE FOR SCIENCE: BIAS, TRUTH, AND A MIGHTY MOOSE!  Written by Brooke Beth Anderson & Illustrated by Jeremy Holmes. 

Did you know Thomas Jefferson, one of the most famous founding fathers, always had his mind on science? This STEM/STEAM picture book tells how Jefferson’s scientific thinking and method battled against faulty facts and bias to prove that his new nation was just as good as any in the Old World.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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Brooke Boynton-Hughes

Brooke grew up in Loveland, Colorado, where she spent her childhood days drawing cats, mermaids, and treehouses.  When not drawing she could be found making shoe box dioramas, building snow forts with her brother, or watching anything by Jim Henson.

In 2001 she earned a BFA in Printmaking from Colorado State University.  After a brief move to Austin, Texas, she headed to New York City where she attended the New York Academy of Art and earned an MFA in Figurative Art with a concentration in drawing and relief printmaking.  Brooke has been a member of the Society of Children’s Book Writers and Illustrators since 2005.

She lives in Colorado with her husband, their 5 year old twins and 1 year old baby, and two goldfish.  Learn More Here

Featured Story:

Heart String. Written & Illustrated by Brooke Bounton-Hughes. 

“…delivers a positive and unified vision of the world to which readers may aspire…. This heartwarming narration will provide readers with reassurance as well as opportunities to explore social-emotional health and global citizenship.” -School Library Journal

“The notion that our humanity connects us is a worthy message, as is the idea that even when separated from loved ones, something binds us.” -Kirkus Reviews

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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Tara Dairman

Tara writes middle-grade novels and picture books about kids with strong passions and big questions about the world. Tara’s books include The Girl from Earth’s End, the All Four Stars series, The Great Hibernation, and Desert Girl, Monsoon Boy (illustrated by Archana Sreenivasan). These titles have been named to best-of-the-year lists by A Mighty Girl, Kirkus Reviews, Bank Street College of Education, and CCBC. Tara holds a BA in creative writing from Dartmouth College and has traveled to more than 90 countries. After a few years of adventuring around North America in an RV, Tara and her family now live in Colorado.  Learn More Here

Featured Story: 

THE GIRL FROM EARTH’S END. Written by Tara Dairman.

Gifted gardener Henna embarks from her island home to search for the plant that might save her papa’s life in this vibrant story of love, grief, and growth. This tender tale, blossoming with moments of joy, is a story of hope, grief, and learning to flourish with a little help from those around you.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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Ellen Javernick

Ellen Javernick has taught 1-3 grade classes for over 20 years. Her B.A. is from DePauw University. Her M.A. in Early Childhood Education is from the University of Northern Colorado. She has completed classes with Barbara Wise and is Lindamood-Bell trained. In addition to being a teacher, Ellen has written more than 20 books for children. She currently teaches second grade in Loveland, CO. Learn More Here

Featured Story: 

The Birthday Pet. Written by Ellen Javernick and Illustrated by Kevin O’Malley

“It was Danny’s birthday and his folks said he could get any kind of animal he wanted for a pet. Danny thought it over before he went to bed. ‘All I really want is a turtle,'” he said. But instead, his family gets him a dog, a kitten, a rat, and a bird. Danny shakes his head after each gift is offered until finally he receives the present he’s wished for all along. Accompanying each amusing stanza are Kevin O’Malley’s cheerful illustrations using design markers and colored pencil.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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Claudia Mills

Claudia Mills is the author of over 60 books for young readers, including most recently the verse novel The Lost Language and the middle-grade novel The Last Apple Tree, as well as two chapter-book series: “Franklin School Friends” and “After-School Superstars.” Her books have been named Notable Books of the Year by the American Library Association and Best Books of the Year by the Bank Street College of Education; they have been translated into half a dozen languages. Claudia is also a professor emerita of philosophy at the University of Colorado and a faculty member in the graduate programs in children’s literature at Hollins University. She has written all her books in her faithful hour-a-day system while drinking Swiss Miss hot chocolate. Learn More Here

Featured Story: 

The Last Apple Tree. Written by Claudia Mills.

Twelve-year-old Sonnet has just moved to Indiana to live with her recently widowed grandfather; Sonnet worries about his deep grief for his dead wife. Fellow seventh-grader Zeke has been home-schooled until this year by his father, whose ardent environmental activism constantly embarrasses him.

For a school oral history assignment, Sonnet and Zeke interview Sonnet’s grandfather, whose memories center on his beloved heirloom apple tree, lone survivor of a now-vanished orchard. In the course of the interviews, painful family secrets are revealed that lead Sonnet to realize the healing power of even the saddest stories and lead Zeke to a new, closer relationship with his father.

Just as an old apple tree can be grafted onto a young tree for new life, an old man’s stories can help the next generation reach a new understanding of each other . . . and themselves.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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The Crowded Bookshelf

The Crowded Bookshelf is a pop-up bookshop offering a curated selection of books for all ages that aren’t likely to be found on the bestseller lists. They also carry an assortment of gift items for readers including bookmarks, notebooks, literary prints, and more. Follow them on Instagram to see where they’ll be popping up next or visit their website where you can shop anytime. Instagram: @thecrowdedbookshelffc

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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Children’s Speech & Reading Center

Children’s Speech & Reading Center is dedicated to developing and providing innovative, high quality, affordable speech-language services to all children in Northern Colorado who experience speech, language, or reading delays. The Center’s services for communication disorders improve the independence, self-respect, and quality of life of children and their families. Their therapists are certified to provide treatment that builds communication skills affected by a variety of childhood disorders including autism, Down Syndrome, dyslexia, apraxia, articulation disorders, hearing impairment, learning disabilities and other development disorders.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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Information and a list of authors and illustrators for all events is posted here. 

Originally published on May 10th, 2024. Updated on June 4th, 2024.