events & picture books salon
upcoming picture book salons:
–
Monday, June 8
6:30pm – 8:30pm
Location: Harriet Alexander Nature Center
Address: 2520 Dale St N, Roseville, MN 55113
Speaker: Mary Casanova
Topic: OUTSIDE IN: How a writer’s love of the outdoors finds its way inside picture books
Join Mary Casanova (author of 40 books including 11 picture books) for a nature-immersed evening. She’ll discuss the inspiration and creative process behind her newest book, NORTHWOODS LULLABY, illustrated by Jordan Sundberg. Weather permitting, we’ll get outside for inspiration and some writing. We will have several copies of NORTHWOODS LULLABY to give away to attendees.
FB event page: Facebook.com/events/
Please bring a snack or beverage to share! No alcohol allowed in this venue. Park in the lot and walk up the paved path to the nature center. Please let me know if you have accessibility concerns. Note the earlier start time (6:30)!!
—
Save the date for our next 2 Salons:
Tuesday, August 11 with Lou Aamodt
at Open Book (7-8:30 pm)
Tuesday, October 6 with Art Coulson
at Open Book (7-8:30 pm)
Some recordings of previous Salons can be found on our Facebook group page, or on YouTube with these links:
- May 2026 (Keenan Jones: CELEBRATING COMMUNITY SPACES)
- April 2026 (Emiko Rainbow: NANA & ABUELA)
-
February 2026 (Payal Doshi: CREATING IMMERSIVE WORLDS)
-
December 2025 (Sun Yung Shin: REVOLUTIONS ARE MADE OF LOVE)
- November 2025 (Sarah Warren: BIG FEAR)
-
April 2025 (Magdalena Mora: LIGHT & SHADOW)
- May 2024 (Pat Zietlow Miller: CUT THE FLUFF)
- March 2024 (Colleen Muske: GROWING A BOOK)
- February 2024 (Joyce Sidman: WRITING THROUGH WINTER)
- October 2023 (Kurtis Scaletta: GRANNY REX”: A BOOK SIX(TY MILLION) YEARS IN THE MAKING)
- May 2023 (Zaynab Abdi: GREEN CARD VOICES)
- April 2023 (Tasslyn Magnusson: FIGHTING BOOK BANS)
- March 2023 (Laura Purdie Salas & Yvonne Pearson: CREATING AND PERFORMING LIBRARY STORYTIMES)
- February 2023 (Cori Doerrfeld: “BENEATH” THE COVER)
- April 2022 (Dr. Artika Tyner: WRITING FOR JUSTICE)
- March 2022 (Kayla Harren: STORYTELLING WITH CHARACTER, COLOR, AND LIGHT)
- November 2021 (Stephen Shaskan: GRAPHIC CHAPTER BOOKS & SERIES)
- October 2021 (Phyllis Root, Liza Ketchum, Jackie Briggs Martin & Claudia McGehee: “BEGIN WITH A BEE” COLLABORATION)
- April 2021 (Angela Whited & Kara Forde: BOOKSTORES & THE PANDEMIC)
- November 2020 (Carol Hinz (Editor at Lerner): PICTURE BOOKS & THE PANDEMIC)
- October 2020 (Dara Beevas (Wise Ink): INDIE AUTHOR REVOLUTION)
Picture Book Salon BOOK BASH event, June 2023 – Left to right: Molly Beth Griffin, Loretta Ellsworth, Yvonne Pearson, Billy Thao, Monica Rojas
Picture Book Salon with Lerner Publishing, June 2024 – Speakers left to right: Shaina Olmanson (editor), Ty Chapman (author), Karlyn Coleman (marketing)
upcoming picture book salons:
–
Monday, June 8
6:30pm – 8:30pm
Location: Harriet Alexander Nature Center
Address: 2520 Dale St N, Roseville, MN 55113
Speaker: Mary Casanova
Topic: OUTSIDE IN: How a writer’s love of the outdoors finds its way inside picture books
Join Mary Casanova (author of 40 books including 11 picture books) for a nature-immersed evening. She’ll discuss the inspiration and creative process behind her newest book, NORTHWOODS LULLABY, illustrated by Jordan Sundberg. Weather permitting, we’ll get outside for inspiration and some writing. We will have several copies of NORTHWOODS LULLABY to give away to attendees.
FB event page: Facebook.com/events/
Please bring a snack or beverage to share! No alcohol allowed in this venue. Park in the lot and walk up the paved path to the nature center. Please let me know if you have accessibility concerns. Note the earlier start time (6:30)!!
—
Save the date for our next 2 Salons:
Tuesday, August 11 with Lou Aamodt
at Open Book (7-8:30 pm)
Tuesday, October 6 with Art Coulson
at Open Book (7-8:30 pm)
Some recordings of previous Salons can be found on our Facebook group page, or on YouTube with these links:
- May 2026 (Keenan Jones: CELEBRATING COMMUNITY SPACES)
- April 2026 (Emiko Rainbow: NANA & ABUELA)
-
February 2026 (Payal Doshi: CREATING IMMERSIVE WORLDS)
-
December 2025 (Sun Yung Shin: REVOLUTIONS ARE MADE OF LOVE)
- November 2025 (Sarah Warren: BIG FEAR)
-
April 2025 (Magdalena Mora: LIGHT & SHADOW)
- May 2024 (Pat Zietlow Miller: CUT THE FLUFF)
- March 2024 (Colleen Muske: GROWING A BOOK)
- February 2024 (Joyce Sidman: WRITING THROUGH WINTER)
- October 2023 (Kurtis Scaletta: GRANNY REX”: A BOOK SIX(TY MILLION) YEARS IN THE MAKING)
- May 2023 (Zaynab Abdi: GREEN CARD VOICES)
- April 2023 (Tasslyn Magnusson: FIGHTING BOOK BANS)
- March 2023 (Laura Purdie Salas & Yvonne Pearson: CREATING AND PERFORMING LIBRARY STORYTIMES)
- February 2023 (Cori Doerrfeld: “BENEATH” THE COVER)
- April 2022 (Dr. Artika Tyner: WRITING FOR JUSTICE)
- March 2022 (Kayla Harren: STORYTELLING WITH CHARACTER, COLOR, AND LIGHT)
- November 2021 (Stephen Shaskan: GRAPHIC CHAPTER BOOKS & SERIES)
- October 2021 (Phyllis Root, Liza Ketchum, Jackie Briggs Martin & Claudia McGehee: “BEGIN WITH A BEE” COLLABORATION)
- April 2021 (Angela Whited & Kara Forde: BOOKSTORES & THE PANDEMIC)
- November 2020 (Carol Hinz (Editor at Lerner): PICTURE BOOKS & THE PANDEMIC)
- October 2020 (Dara Beevas (Wise Ink): INDIE AUTHOR REVOLUTION)
Picture Book Salon BOOK BASH event, June 2023 – Left to right: Molly Beth Griffin, Loretta Ellsworth, Yvonne Pearson, Billy Thao, Monica Rojas
Picture Book Salon with Lerner Publishing, June 2024 – Speakers left to right: Shaina Olmanson (editor), Ty Chapman (author), Karlyn Coleman (marketing)
readings & signings
Yes, I am available for story times! Please contact me for rates and details.
Photos from Star of the North nomination event at Mackin, Children’s Book Week readings at New Brighton and North St. Paul libraries, events which served over 70 children plus their adults and Screen-free Week readings at Kinderberry Hill Child Development centers, Eden Prairie and Edina.
