Unicycle Dad Book Launch: Red Balloon Bookshop March 23, 2024

Red Balloon is excited to welcome local illustrator Alicia Schwab for a special storytime in honor of her new picture book, Unicycle Dad!

Sarah cooks, takes care of her brother, and does homework on her own, while her single dad is at work or school. Based on the author's childhood, Unicycle Dad shares the inherent struggles and quiet joys of a single-parent, impoverished household. Join Alicia Schwab for a read-aloud of Unicycle Dad, a drawing demonstration, and snacks!

To attend: This event is open to the public, but registration helps us when considering spatial constraints. You can register through March 23, 9:00am and order a copy of the book below. Extra copies of Unicycle Dad will be available for purchase during the event.

Signing Guidelines: Following the event, Alicia Schwab will sign and personalize copies of the book. If you would prefer not to stay for the signing portion, Red Balloon is happy to have your books signed and personalized for you and will contact you when they're ready to be picked up.

Accessibility: Red Balloon Bookshop is wheelchair accessible and has a handicap parking spot directly behind our store. If you have a disability or medical condition and have questions about or need other specific accommodations, please email events@redballoonbookshop.com or call 651-224-8320.

Alicia Schwab (a-LEE-sha SHH-wab) (she/her/hers) is an award-winning illustrator of books in multiple genres. Alicia is an advocate of autism and learning differences, and specializes in books about characters who conquer adversity. She speaks on various topics at bookstores, schools, libraries, conferences, and book festivals.

Sarah Hovorka is an author of picture books, novels and short stories for all ages. She is a member of the Society of Children's Book Writers and Illustrators and the California Writers Club. Sarah lives with her husband and her three sons in California.

Cover Reveal & Enter to Win a Portfolio Review!

Thank you, Vivian Kirkfield for hosting our UNICYCLE DAD cover reveal on her blog! https://viviankirkfield.com/ Enter to win a portfolio critique #giveaway from ALICIA! And a manuscript review from SARAH HOVORKA. Go to Vivian's blog to enter. Vivian will draw a winner by the end of October.

UNICYCLE DAD

written by Sarah Hovorka and illustrated by Alicia Schwab
Amicus Ink, March 12th, 2024!
You can pre-order the book here.
 @amicus_publishing @authorsarahhovorka @viviankirkfield

READING WEDNESDAYS

FAMILY

“Love makes a family.”—Seamus Kirst

Stories about families are as varied as are the families themselves. Here are some examples. But the one thing these stories share is love.

TAKÓŽA: WALKS WITH THE BLUE MOON GIRL, Tara Perron / Alicia Schwab (that’s me!). Takóža (granddaughter) is an endearing, lyrical, illustrated children’s story about a young Dakota girl, Walks With the Blue Moon Girl, and her Kúŋši (grandmother). The grandmother teaches her Takóža through story while making star quilts, and planting and caring for a garden.

PAPA, DADDY & RILEY, Seamus Kirst / Devon Holzwarth. Families come in all shapes and sizes. Some families have same-sex parents because love is love.

PETER’S CHAIR, Ezra Jack Keats. “When Peter discovers his blue furniture is bing painted pink for a new baby sister, he rescues his unpaired chair and runs away.

GOGGLES!, Ezra Jack Keats. “Archie, look what I found,” Peter shouted. “Motorcycle goggles!”

BRACELETS FOR BINA’S BROTHERS, Rajani LaRocca / Chaya Prabhat. This year, Bina wants to make her three older brothers gifts for the Rakish Bandhan holiday all by herself. Learn about colors and patterns.

DAD AND THE DINOSAUR, Jennifer Choldenko / Dan Santat. When Nicholas loses his favorite toy dinosaur he has trouble facing his fears, but his dad helps him find his toy and his courage.

TAKE YOUR MAMA TO WORK TODAY, Amy Reichert / Alexandra Boiger. Sharpen your pencils, because today you need to help your mom at the office. There’s lots of things to do and to NOT do. oops!

#Cozytober 2021: Stories

Stories come in all shapes and sizes. This image is from my picture book, TAKÓŽA: WALKS WITH THE BLUE MOON GIRL, written by Tara Perron. TAKÓŽA (grandchild) learns about gardening ( and seeds) from her Kúŋši (grandmother). This endearing, lyrical picture book is full of love, family and community. #Cozytober is a month-long art prompt during October.

“Takoza (grandchild), you must realize all great things grow with time.” —Tara Perron, TAKOZA: WALKS WITH THE BLUE MOON GIRL

FAN MAIL!

Who doesn’t like getting fan mail?! Recently, Rep. Deb Haaland became the Secretary of the Interior in the Biden Administration. She will be the first Native American to serve as a cabinet secretary in a presidential administration. I was so excited for her, that I sent her a signed copy of my picture book, TAKÓŽA: WALKS WITH THE BLUE MOON GIRL, written by Tara Perron. And today, Rep. Haaland sent me a thank you note!

Takóža (granddaughter) is an endearing, lyrical, illustrated children’s story about a young Dakota girl, Walks With the Blue Moon Girl, and her Kúŋši (grandmother). The grandmother teaches her Takóža through story while making star quilts, and planting seeds and caring for a garden.

“A Laguna Pueblo member, Haaland, 60, said she had learned about her culture from her grandmother’s cooking and participating in traditional ceremonies, and had learned about the importance of protecting the environment from her grandfather.” (Source: The Guardian)

“Our way of life, our survival is interconnected to the land, water and animals. Today we honor the woman set to be the first Native American in history to fill a presidential cabinet position, and look forward to working with her to ensure that indigenous voices are heard and our human rights respected.”
—Bernadette Demientieff, executive director of the steering committee for the Gwich’in people in Alaska.