Book Celebrations
Let's read a book!
Children’s Fairyland presents Book Celebrations as an extension of its annual Book Festival, which honors local authors and illustrators. Since 2016, the event has given children the rare opportunity to meet book creators up close and personal to learn about the creative process, from idea to actuality. This new series celebrates recent book releases and promotes the love of literature all year long.
Book Celebration: Susan Gal and her latest book New Shoes for Leo.
Saturday, March 8 at 11:30 a.m.
Susan Gal brings her book, New Shoes for Leo (authored by Lauren Agra Deedy) to Fairyland for a read aloud, a live drawing demo, a Q&A, and a book signing. Give your kiddos a look into learning about how picture books are created and access to illustration tips from a real pro!
The Book
New Shoes for Leo is a charming, heartfelt picture book about an immigrant family and how they love and care for family they left behind in Cuba. When William's Mami and his Tía Ana are busy packing a big box of food, medicine, and clothing to mail to their family living in Cuba, they realize something important is missing. They have no zapatos, no shoes, to send Cousin Leo! With warmth and tenderness, Lauren Agra Deedy and Susan Gal have created a rich, colorful story of a tight-knit family—and the love that grows as they care for those living far away.
The Artist
Susan Gal began her illustration career as a poster and calendar artist in Los Angeles. Her love of drawing lively characters earned her a spot on the original animation team at the Disney MGM Studios in Orlando, Florida where she worked for years before returning to California to continue her passion of creating whimsical illustrations and captivating picture books.
Join us for this special Book Celebration on the Emerald City Stage and get your copy of this beautiful book signed by one of its creators!
Previous Book Celebrations Authors and Illustrators.
Michael Genhart PhD author of Spanish is the Language of my Family
Michael Genhart PhD is a licensed clinical psychologist in private practice in San Francisco and Mill Valley, California. He is the author of several picture books including: "Spanish is the Language of my Family" (2023), "Ouch! Moments: When Words Are Used in Hurtful Ways" (2016), "Peanut Butter & Jellyous" (2017), "Mac & Geeeez!" (2017), "Cake & I Scream!" (2017), "So Many Smarts!" (2017), "I See You" (2017), "Rainbow: A First Book of Pride" (2019), and "Accordionly: Abuelo and Opa Make Music" (2020) all from Magination Press, as well as "Love Is Love" (Little Pickle Press/Sourcebooks, 2018).
Minnie Phan illustrator of The Yellow Áo Dài
Minnie Phan is a queer Vietnamese American illustrator, cartoonist, and writer born in Stockton, CA. Raised across the Bay Area, her work ranges from editorial illustrations to comics, animation, and picture books. When she's not illustrating, she teaches comics to youth in the Bay Area and advocates for safer streets for bicyclists.
Aida Salazar author of Jovita Wore Pants
Aida Salazar is an award-winning author of several critically acclaimed books that explore issues of identity and social justice. Aida’s first picture book, In the Spirit of a Dream: 13 Stories of American Immigrants of Color, is written in poems and features the illustrations of 13 artists, each of them a “first or second generation immigrant of color”. She has also written three books in verse for middle grade readers including The Moon Within, Land of the Cranes and, most recently, A Seed in the Sun. Aida is a founding member of Las Musas, a Latinx kidlit author collective. Her story, By the Light of the Moon, was adapted into a ballet and is the first Xicana-themed ballet in history. She works and lives right here in Oakland!
Ying Chang Compestine author of Little Red Riding Hood and the Dragon.
Ying is a multi-talented author of 20 books including fiction, children’s picture books, and cook books. She is the host of the popular TV cooking show New Ideas for Delicious Meals on Phoenix TV.
