0 The League and National Library Week

National Library week was last week and it is always so very much fun!! At my library, we had events almost every day! Our big children's event, though, was an author event.

Puzzled by Pink is about two very different sisters,
so we had two very different cupcakes!

Sarah Frances Hardy, Mississippi author of the picture book Puzzled by Pink, came to see us and we had a Puzzled by Pink Party! We had such a good turnout, and all the kids had a wonderful time. (So did the staff--we were so excited!!) Sarah Frances both wrote and illustrated Puzzled by Pink, and the kids were fascinated by that! They wanted to hear all about it. She was kind enough to bring coloring sheets made from pages of the book, and we nearly ran out!




I met Sarah Frances last year at the Children's Book Festival in Hattiesburg, right as her book was being released, but I was able to talk to her and continue to communicate with her because of a conversation we got to have when she had a signing at Emily's store last spring.

SF reading her fantastic book to my kiddos.

signing table!

Emily was kind enough to come with Sarah Frances to this event to sell books for her, and several of my sweet young patrons walked away with brand new signed books of their very own.  Thanks to Sarah Frances for coming, and Emily for doing her part in making this relationship possible!

The League with Sarah Frances...and Rose and Izzy, of course.

1 The League at the Children's Book Festival!

So, this past week, The League gave a presentation at the Fay B. Kaigler Children's Book Festival at the University of Southern Mississippi.


It was a great day for us!  We got to talk about some of the stuff that has worked so well for us--collaboration in schools, libraries, and the bookstore.  We also got to show off our awesome red capes.

And y'all were the best audience!  Thank you so much for showing up, listening to us, asking questions, and having overall great ideas about how to make this or something like this work in your communities.  As we said, we use each other as resources TO GET KIDS EXCITED ABOUT BOOKS!  That's what we're all about. We hope you'll work towards the same!! Watch here for more updates.  And thank you.

We were adorable and professional.

Best audience ever!!

0 So what is the OZ First Editions Club?

Lemuria Books has this really cool thing called a First Editions Club. The adult First Edition's Club delivers a signed first edition (occasionally two) every month to your doorstep. The selections are predominately fiction (mix of contemporary literature, Southern fiction and mystery) and chosen based on literary content and potential future collectability. This may mean choosing an established author or singling out a new writer for our support. To better understand the nature of the First Editions Club selections, please view our list of previous selections.

In February of 2011 Zita and I joined forces and created a First Editions Club for children’s books. These books are chosen much in the same way the First Editions Club books are picked: the author will sign first editions of his or her book, and we only choose books that we feel will have value not only to families, but also to the serious collector.  This is a great way to start a library for a child in your life or to add to your own library. You can even give OZ First Editions Club as a gift.

We always try to pick a book that will be not only treasured, but accrue value. In 2012 alone, we picked a Newbery Honor book (Three Times Lucky) and a Caldecott Honor (Creepy Carrots!).

We haven't picked a book in awhile and our current members were obviously getting antsy. In the past, we choose books by authors that had come to the store and signed here with us. However, from now on, this will not be a priority. We feel by widening our options for OZ FEC, we will be able to pick amazing books every month, even if the author isn't going on tour or can't make it to Lemuria. We want to make sure that we pick the best book that comes out that month, be it picture book or middle grade, and we don't want to be tied down to who the publishers send our way.

To jumpstart this change, we've picked Penny and her Marble by Kevin Henkes for February and Otis and the Puppy by Loren Long for March. Both are picture books and both are pretty fantastic.

If you are interested in becoming a part of this club, feel free to email us with any questions at out new OZ FEC email address: ozfec@lemuriabooks.com or call us at the store 601.366.7619.

We look forward to a year of the best signed, first edition children's books!