Carleton’s Regional Carls Program

Storytime with Carls: Children's Book Author Read Alouds

Sunday, December 6, 2020
10:00 a.m. - 11:00 a.m. CST
via Zoom

Grab your coffee, grab your tea, and gather your youngins (if you have them!) to hear from award-winning children's book authors: Elizabeth Verdick '89, Erik Brooks '94, Cheryl Klein '00, Karin Fisher-Golton '89, Katy Beebe '00, Kao Kalia Yang '03, and Lee Ann Landstrom '77.

Register to receive Zoom meeting link.

Kao Kalia Yang '03 is an award-winning Hmong American author who writes for both children and adults. Much of Yang’s work is inspired by the people in her life whose stories have never been part of the bookshelves of a bigger world. She lives in Minnesota with her husband, her daughter, and twin sons. Learn more by visiting Kalia's website at www.kaokaliayang.com. She will read from her new children's book The Most Beautiful Thing.

Lee Ann Landstrom '77 is the retired director of Eastman Nature Center in suburban Minneapolis. Besides being a life-long nature educator of children and adults, she now gives presentations on her Yucky! books and her multiple international wildlife trips; she also gardens, bikes, and volunteers for her local Audubon Society chapter. Learn more by visiting Lee Ann's website at www.leeannlandstrom.com. She will read selections from each of her three books: Nature's Yucky!: Gross Stuff that Helps Nature Work, 2003; Nature's Yucky 2: The Desert Southwest, 2007; and Nature's Yucky 3: The Eastern United States, 2013.

Cheryl Klein '00 and Katy Beebe '00 have been best friends for more than twenty years. Cheryl is the author of the picture book Wings, illustrated by Tomie DePaola, and the adult nonfiction book The Magic Words: Writing Great Books for Children and Young Adults, which received two starred reviews. She lives in Brooklyn, New York, and can be found online at www.cherylklein.com and @chavelaque. Katy is the author of the picture books Brother Hugo and the Bear, illustrated by S.D. Schindler and the recipient of two starred reviews; Nile Crossing, illustrated by Sally Wern Comport; and Good Morning, Harry--Good Night, Daddy, illustrated by Valeri Gorbachev. She lives in Denton, Texas, and can be found online at www.katybeebe.com and @katybeebebooks. They will be offering a joint reading of Thunder Trucks —their 2019 picture book for ages 4-8, illustrated by Mike Boldt.

Karin Fisher-Golton '89 is a children’s book author and freelance editor. Her vocation allows her to enjoy the same curiosity that led her to take classes in eighteen different departments while at Carleton. Learn more by visiting Karin's website at karinfisher-golton.com. She will be reading My Amazing Day: A Celebration of Wonder and Gratitude, a board book for ages 0-3.

Elizabeth Verdick '89 Elizabeth (Weiss) Verdick has been writing children's books for nearly 25 years. She graduated from Carleton in 1989 and earned her MFA from Hamline University in 2013. She writes a mix of fiction and nonfiction for all ages, from babies to teens. Elizabeth can be found online at www.elizabethverdick.com. She will be reading Small Walt Spots Dot, a picture book.

Erik Brooks '94 is the writer and illustrator of many fine picture books for children, including Polar Opposites, Dog & Cat Diaries, and The Runaway Tortilla. He currently lives in Winthrop, WA with his wife Sarah (Roth '94), daughter Keeley, and their pandemic puppy, Quince. Erik writes, draws, cartoons, coaches, runs, skis, and recently started teaching high school & junior high art at the local high school. Visit him online at www.erikbrooks.com. Erik will be reading Polar Opposites, a book about a polar bear and penguin - two unusual best friends.