The Downers Grove Area Council of PTAs welcomes families and community members to the Author Fest’s Author Event and Book Signing on Friday, April 26.
Come early to hear from each author at an Author Event from 5:45-6:45 p.m. at Anderson’s Bookshop in Downers Grove. Stay late for the Book Signing and photo opportunity from 6:45-8 p.m at the Downers Grove Public Library. The events will feature five children's authors – Brianna DuMont, Jill Esbaum, Liesl Shurtliff, Patricia Toht and Allan Woodrow.
The Book Signing will conclude the 2019 Author Fest. The annual Author Fest event is sponsored by the Downers Grove Area Council of PTAs and alternates each year among the District 58 schools. This year, El Sierra, Fairmount, Indian Trail, Kingsley, Hillcrest and Belle Aire will welcome authors into their schools on April 24-26. The authors will share fun, hands-on insights about the writing/illustration process with students.
Support Author Fest! Anderson’s Bookshop will donate 20 percent of Author Fest author book proceeds back to the Downers Grove Area Council of PTAsl Books must be purchased from April 15-26 at the Downers Grove location. Please note: there will not be book sales at the book signing. All book purchases should be made before arriving at the event.
About the authors:
Brianna DuMont writes “The Changed History” non-fiction intermediate book series. This series puts a creative spin on history, enticing even the most reluctant readers to delve in and read. Book titles include “Famous Phonies,” “Fantastic Fugitives” and “Thrilling Thieves,” and each features true and intriguing stories about famous historical figures. She has also written “National Geographic Weird But True: U.S. Presidents.”
Jill Esbaum has authored several fiction and non-fiction primary books. Her most recent fiction books include “Frankenbunny” and “How to Grow a Dinosaur,” the latter of which was named to Brightly’s “Best Children’s and YA Books of January 2018” list. On the non-fiction side, Esbaum has written many National Geographic Kids books, including the award-winning “Little Kids First Big Book of How.”
Liesl Shurtliff re-imagined the world of fairy tales, which resulted in her exhilarating and New York Times bestselling “True Story Of” book series, which presents a different view on Rumpelstiltskin, Jack & the Beanstalk, and Red Riding Hood. Last year, she launched the new “Time Castaways” book series, which follows three children on magical mystery adventures throughout time.
Patricia Toht is a children's author and poet, middle school library associate, reader and traveler. She has written many insightful elementary books, including “Dress Like a Girl,” “Pick a Pine Tree” and “All Aboard the London Bus” with a fourth book “Pick a Pumpkin” coming in July! Kirkus Reviews said of “Dress Like a Girl” - "...this book encourages girls to broaden their horizons beyond princesses and fairies." Her poetry has appeared in several children’s magazines, including “Highlights for Children” and “Spider.”
Allan Woodrow writes humorous children’s novels with heart. They include “Field Tripped,” “Unschooled” and “Class Dismissed.” He also uses the pen name Fowler DeWitt for his books, “The Contagious Colors of Mumpley Middle School” and its sequel “The Amazing Wilmer Dooley.” Allan’s next book, “The Curse of the Werepenguin,” will be released in August.