events & picture books salon

upcoming events

RINGS OF HEARTWOOD events

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Picture Book Parade meet & greet and signing
Saturday, June 7, 11 am
Midtown Farmers Market

upcoming picture book salons:

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JUNE 2025 SALON – IN PERSON ONLY
 –
Speaker: Tanaǧidaŋ To Wiŋ
Topic: “Birthing Seeds”
Date: Tuesday, June 3rd
Time: 7:00-8:30 pm
Location: Open Book, room 203
(1011 Washington Ave S, Minneapolis)
 –
At our June Salon, local picture book creator Tanaǧidaŋ To Wiŋ/Tara Perron will share her journey into storytelling and inspiring others. We will meet IN PERSON in room 203 of the Open Book building. There will be drinks and snacks, and I’ll have several copies of our presenter’s books to give away to attendees! Please note that this Salon is on a TUESDAY due to Open Book’s rental schedule.
 –
About our speaker: Tanaǧidaŋ To Wiŋ is a Dakota and Ojibwe mother. She grew up in Saint Paul, Minnesota. She is the author of Takoza: Walks With the Blue Moon Girl, Animals of Khéya Wíta, Animals of Nimaamaa-Aki, Our Love Language, and Awankichiyaka Pi. She owns and operates Blue Hummingbird Woman Indigenous Gift Shop and co-owns Eagle and Condor Native Wellness Center. Tara is inspired by the loving hearts of her sons: she is a creator, plant medicine enthusiast, and has always loved to write. She believes in the healing power of storytelling and plant medicine. bluehummingbirdwoman.com
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Picture Book Salon is FREE and public, and generally meets on the first Monday of the month. RSVP on the FB page or via contact link.

This activity is made possible by the voters of Minnesota through a grant from the Minnesota State Arts Board, thanks to a legislative appropriation from the arts and cultural heritage fund.

Some recordings of previous Salons can be found on our Facebook group page, or on YouTube with these links:

  • 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 events

RINGS OF HEARTWOOD events

Picture Book Parade meet & greet and signing
Saturday, June 7, 11 am
Midtown Farmers Market

upcoming picture book salons:

–

JUNE 2025 SALON – IN PERSON ONLY
 –
Speaker: Tanaǧidaŋ To Wiŋ
Topic: “Birthing Seeds”
Date: Tuesday, June 3rd
Time: 7:00-8:30 pm
Location: Open Book, room 203
(1011 Washington Ave S, Minneapolis)
 –
At our June Salon, local picture book creator Tanaǧidaŋ To Wiŋ/Tara Perron will share her journey into storytelling and inspiring others. We will meet IN PERSON in room 203 of the Open Book building. There will be drinks and snacks, and I’ll have several copies of our presenter’s books to give away to attendees! Please note that this Salon is on a TUESDAY due to Open Book’s rental schedule.
 –
About our speaker: Tanaǧidaŋ To Wiŋ is a Dakota and Ojibwe mother. She grew up in Saint Paul, Minnesota. She is the author of Takoza: Walks With the Blue Moon Girl, Animals of Khéya Wíta, Animals of Nimaamaa-Aki, Our Love Language, and Awankichiyaka Pi. She owns and operates Blue Hummingbird Woman Indigenous Gift Shop and co-owns Eagle and Condor Native Wellness Center. Tara is inspired by the loving hearts of her sons: she is a creator, plant medicine enthusiast, and has always loved to write. She believes in the healing power of storytelling and plant medicine. bluehummingbirdwoman.com
–
—

Picture Book Salon is FREE and public, and generally meets on the first Monday of the month. RSVP on the FB page or via contact link.

This activity is made possible by the voters of Minnesota through a grant from the Minnesota State Arts Board, thanks to a legislative appropriation from the arts and cultural heritage fund.

Some recordings of previous Salons can be found on our Facebook group page, or on YouTube with these links:

  • 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.