If you have a child, chances are you know the name Peter H. Reynolds. The illustrator of the Judy Moody and Stink series', and author of The Dot, Ish, The Word Collector and so many others. He is also the owner of The Blue Bunny Bookstore in Dedham and the founder of Fablevision.

While Peter has innumerable books that he could discuss, on this day, we'll be highlighting Peter's newest creation, Start with a Dot: A Journal for Making Your Mark, which debuted on Sept. 4. This guided journal is inspired by Peter's book The Dot, which is celebrating its 15th anniversary this year.

The book offers exercises that draw a connection between mindfulness and leaving your mark on the page; activities that will help you make your mark, conquer perfectionism, loosen up, and let your creativity flow. Whether you’re a timid beginner or a seasoned artist who needs a creative jolt to keep fresh and recharge, this journal is for you.

We are beyond thrilled to have Peter here to our humble little bookshop!

Two books that we're very excited abot will be released on this day -- The Princess In Black and the Science Fair Scare by Shannon and Dean Hale and Lady Pancake & Sir French Toast: Mission Defrostable by local author Josh Funk.

So we thought, what better way to celebrate them by having a party? To be precise -- a Princesses and Pancakes Costume Party! Wear your fanciest princess (or pancake!) (or Goat Avenger!) (or french toast!) costume, and celebrate with us!

As an added bonus, Legend Cafe will be providing pancakes and french toast for all who attend!

The 24th annual Maynard Community Fest, celebrating commerce, community and culture for almost a quarter of a century, is always a good time.

Put on by the Assabet Valley Chamber of Commerce, it features free entertainment in Memorial Park, happy wagon rides, complimentary face painting and swag, an open house at the fire station, an outside eatery and beer garden, super sidewalk sales and much, much more! Including us, as we'll have a table there as well! Stop by and say hello!

This annual event is always a blast for everyone in the West Acton Village. This year, we'll have a table there ourselves! Join the neighborhood.

In addition, the store will open at 8 am on this day in celebration of the On Your Marx Oktoberfest 5k road race that will be take place in the neighborhood.

Seventeen years ago, Acton resident Deepika Prakash founded PatternReview.com, a website that has been successful in connecting hundreds of thousands of sewing enthusiasts across all generations.

The site boasts online classes, reviews of patterns, sewing machines and more, as well as discussion forums, contests and much more.

Deepika published a book in 2010 called 1,000 Clever Sewing Shortcuts & Tips, the proceeds of which she donated to the National Breast Cancer Foundation, though the book is out of print at this time. In addition, Deepika has been featured in the Boston Herald, appeared on the It's Sew Easy TV show, and has appeared on/written for several sewing podcasts and publications.
 
Hear stories from Pattern Review and learn how to spot the new sewing trends and make the most of the online resources available to us, and learn a little about what it takes to start your own business!

For September, October and November, Children's Pajama Story Time is moving to the first Wednesday of the month!

Join Alcott School kindergarten teacher (and Acton parent and McCarthy Towne PTSO board member) Allison Forseter as she reads to children.

Kids are encouraged to come in their PJs! This event will be geared toward kids ages 3-9, though all children are certainly welcome.

Join us as educators from Merriam Elementary School read their favorite stories to the community! A portion of the proceeds from the evening will go directly to Merriam Elementary School.

Come out for a fun night and support our schools!

Ann is a local author who lives in southern Vermont. In addition to being an author and a former teacher, Ann is an organizer for the Kids Need Mentors program, co-hosts her own podcast, and has created other ventures as well. Basically, Ann is always up to something!

What she's been up to in the publishing world is her debut novel, The Benefits of Being an Octopus, will be released on Sept. 4. It has already received a starred review from School Library Journal, which called it "heartbreaking" and "beautifully written."

The novel is geared toward middle-grade readers, and follows seventh-grader Zoey, who is so busy taking care of her younger siblings that she doesn't have time for boys or even her homework. The book explores the cultural divides around class and the gun debate through the eyes of one girl, living on the edges of society, trying to find her way forward.

Join us as we celebrate this layered, original debut novel!

Join us as educators from CT Douglas Elementary School read their favorite stories to the community! A portion of the proceeds from the evening will go directly to CT Douglas Elementary School.

Come out for a fun night and support our schools!

If you've grown up or lived in the New England region, you can recall a dozen or more neon signs that you know and love. Now, local photographer Susan Mara Bregman has collected them in New England Neon.

Susan has studied at Lesley University’s Photography Atelier, the New England School of Photography, the DeCordova Museum, and the Maine Photographic Workshops. She has been photographing neon signs in the Boston metropolitan area since 2012.

The golden age of neon in New England lasted more than 30 years, from the dark days of the Great Depression through the go-go years of the 1960s, but its spectacular legacy remains—if you know where to look. With dozens of original color photographs and informative text, New England Neon takes armchair travelers—and nostalgia lovers—up and down the main streets and back roads of the region, from the shores of Lake Champlain to the tip of Cape Cod.

Join us to celebrate this marvelous new book, which documents these important pieces of our region's cultural history!

Local author Annie and local illustrator Ioana have collaborated on the first picture book for each of them, Before You Sleep.

In addition to being a writer, Annie is a speech-language therapist and a founding member of the writing group, 24 Carrot Writing. In addition to Before You Sleep, Annie also has a book coming out next April, entitled Night Train. 

Ioana left a career in architecture to pursue her first and true passion of being an artist. Like Annie, Ioana will also have another book out next spring, entitled Slippers, which she both wrote and illustrated.

This adorable book will be sure to put your little ones to sleep, but be careful, you may doze off with them! Except on this day -- since we're celebrating the book's launch, we're going to turn this day into a party!!! Join us!!!
 

Local author Sara Farizan has written two previous novels, If You Could Be Mine and Tell Me Again How a Crush Should Feel, both of which earned critical acclaim. Now she's back with her third novel, Here to Stay, and it's one of our store's favorite books of the fall.

A riveting sports-based YA drama set in a private Massachusetts high school, this excellent novel deftly tackles racism, classism, homosexuality and bullying in a story about a Muslim boy with burgeoning basketball skills. Store owner Paul found this book hard to put down!

What happens when a kid who’s flown under the radar for most of high school gets pulled off the bench to make the winning basket in a varsity playoff game?

If his name is Bijan Majidi, life is suddenly high fives in the hallways and invitations to exclusive parties—along with an anonymous photo sent by a school cyberbully that makes Bijan look like a terrorist.

Both Entertainment Weekly and Kirkus Reviews have described Here to Stay as "powerful," and the book has also earned praise from Booklist and School Library Journal. Join us to celebrate this incredible YA book!  
 

Sudbury's own Rob Vlock is set to release his second novel, Sven Carter & The Android Army, on Oct. 16. The book is the sequel to Rob's debut novel, Sven Carter & The Trashmouth Effect, which came out last October. We are excited to celebrate the launch of this awesome next chapter!

Both books follow the exploits of Sven Carter, who is part boy and part robot. Sven realizes that he is not a boy but actually a high-tech synthetic humanoid created to destroy the human race when his arm mysteriously falls off, and then even more mysteriously re-attaches itself to his body!

In his new installment, Sven fights his programming by trying to find those like him and convincing them that the human race is worth saving. But he might not be able to convince them all.

Rob's books are perfect for your middle-grade readers, in particular boys who you may have trouble getting to read chapter books. Come celebrate the release of Sven Carter & The Android Army with us!

Snow Sisters takes on the journey of a teenage friendship. Two teenagers from two starkly different backgrounds are thrown together as roommates at a writing conference for teenage girls. Experience how they slow down and learn about each other and what one needs to do to be true to oneself.

Tom resides in New York City with his partner. Jen lives in Rhode Island with her husband, two kids, and seven-toed cat named Sassy. We are excited to have them come back to the area and share their debut novel!
 

Lou Cove, who lives in Western Mass, is an author, speaker, and fundraising guru. He has devoted his career to the intersection of creativity and capacity-building, helping launch and grow countless creative ventures.  

Man of the Year is the improbable true story of Lou’s thirteenth year, one very unusual campaign, and the unexpected guest who changes everything.

Recently out in paperback, People Magazine called the book, "Hilarious and poignant." Join us as we celebrate this awesome local author!


 

For September, October and November, Children's Pajama Story Time is moving to the first Wednesday of the month!

Join Alcott School kindergarten teacher (and Acton parent and McCarthy Towne PTSO board member) Allison Forseter as she reads to children.

Kids are encouraged to come in their PJs! This event will be geared toward kids ages 3-9, though all children are certainly welcome.