Events Calendar
Author Camp
From Open Book Productions & Children’s Book World
A week-long session for middle schoolers where kids read books and meet the authors!
Begins August 3rd!
Discover great new books!
Meet and interact with the authors!
Participate in creative writing exercises!
Author Camp will introduce your child to five new books and their authors! The week-long session meets daily and features five new middle school books.
Classes are led by Lynn Rosen, owner of Open Book Productions and English, writing, and publishing instructor. (For more about Lynn see HERE.)
All sessions include virtual visits from the authors!
Here’s how Author Camp works:
- We meet once a day for an hour and a half via Zoom.
- The cost of the class includes a copy of each of the five books that are part of the camp. (When you sign up, we will be in touch to arrange how you will get the books.)
- The session begins with some ice breakers and get-to-know-you warm-up activities led by Lynn.
- Campers then take out the book of the day and Lynn leads them in a reading. The reading is interactive, pausing along the way to point out notable parts of the story and underlining what is happening in the story. (Note: we will read the first chapter together, and participants will be free to read the rest of the book on their own.)
- Lynn then leads a group discussion about the book: what’s important about the book, the plot, what we liked about it, what it makes us wonder about. Lynn will share background about the book and the author with the campers.
- We’ll do some activities and writing exercises related to the themes of the book.
- Then we prepare to meet the author. The children are guided to think of questions they would like to ask the author about the book and to write these questions down in preparation.
- Next, we meet the author! The author joins us on Zoom to answer the children’s questions and for a reading from their book.
- Lynn will close the class by summing up what we’ve done and then prepping them for the next day’s book, showing it to them, giving them some clues on what to look for and encouraging them to spend some time with the book before we meet again the next day to read and discuss it.
Sign up HERE
With any questions, email lynn@lynnrosen.com
Author Camp: Middle Grade Books
Session 1: Week of August 3rd, meeting daily from 2pm to 3:30pm
(Additional sessions for subsequent weeks in July will be added.)
This class is for children who are comfortably and independently reading middle grade books. Generally this is grades 3-6 or ages 8-12, but you know your child’s reading level!
FEATURED AUTHORS & BOOKS
Monday, August 3
Black Brother, Black Brother by Jewell Parker Rhodes
A powerful coming-of-age story about two brothers, one who presents as white, the other as black, and the complex ways in which they are forced to navigate the world, all while training for a fencing competition. Indie booksellers say this is: “a book filled with brilliance, familial love, and friendship.” Kirkus Reviews says: “Placing biracial boyhood and the struggles of colorism at its center, the novel challenges readers to pursue their own self-definition.”
Tuesday, August 4
Jupiter Storm by Marti Dumas
Ten-year-old Jackie excels at being in charge. Her skills keep everything from gardens to five unruly brothers in line. So, when a curious chrysalis appears in Jackie’s front yard, she naturally decides to take charge of it. The creature that emerges is not like anything Jackie has ever seen, and she soon realizes that she must protect it at all costs, even from her own family.
Publication Date: November, 2017; Retail price: $9.99
Wednesday, August 5
American as Paneer Pie by Supriya Kelkar
“When a racist incident roils Lekha’s small town, she finds her voice with the help of her community, Avantika, and her newfound sense of self in this charming novel, which explores the complexity of immigration and identity.”—Teen Vogue
An Indian American girl navigates prejudice in her small town and learns the power of her own voice in screenwriter Supriya Kelkar’s in this effervescent middle grade novel full of humor and heart.
Thursday, August 6
Naked Mole Rat Saves the World by Karen Rivers
Karen Rivers has been celebrated for her “darkly humorous [and] original” (New York Times Book Review) stories that “revel in life’s nuance and complexity” (School Library Journal). Her new book follows Kit-with-a-small-k as she deals with friendship drama and her mother’s deteriorating mental health, all while keeping a ginormous secret: when she’s anxious, she turns into a naked mole rat.
Publication Date: October, 2019; Retail price: $16.95
Friday, August 7
Here in the Real World by Sara Pennypacker
Ware can’t wait to spend summer “off in his own world”—dreaming of knights in the Middle Ages and generally being left alone. But then his parents sign him up for dreaded Rec camp, where he must endure Meaningful Social Interaction and whatever activities so-called “normal” kids do. “Pennypacker’s writing is thoughtful, deliberate, believable, and punctuated seamlessly with touching moments. Ware’s inner thoughts add subtle humor and context to his character, creating moments for readers to understand what makes him tick.” —The Children’s Book Review
Publication Date: February, 2020; Retail price: $17.99
Cost: $185 (early bird pricing). Includes 5 books (tax included & shipping also if needed).
A second child from the same family is an additional $100 (this is a discounted price and does not include books).
Sign up HERE
Note: Once you sign up, you may arrange to pick your books up at Children’s Book World in Haverford. Arrangements may also be made for Cheltenham area pick up. If you are out of town or otherwise require shipping of the books, please sign up by July 24th so we can ship your books to you in time! Thank you!
With any questions, email lynn@lynnrosen.com
Lit Chat Book Club Happy Hour
The Lit Chat Book Club Happy Hour is a special private event for book clubs. During this one-hour virtual literary happy hour, Lynn Rosen provides an entertaining and interactive book club update and refresh.
It’s a fun way for your book club to convene, stay connected virtually during this time of quarantine, have a new experience, and discover new books!
The event includes:
- General literary news of interest to book clubs:
- A presentation of 10 forthcoming titles specifically chosen for your book club;
- General tips for successful book clubs, as well as (if needed) suggestions for ways to refresh your group and how to ask good questions that generate a stimulating discussion;
- A literary trivia contest, complete with prizes!
- Follow up after the event with a tailored list of titles recommended specifically for your book club.
This event is led by author/teacher/bookseller Lynn Rosen, a long-time book publishing industry professional. For more about Lynn see HERE.
The cost for the event is $10 per person, with a minimum of $100.
For more information and to schedule the event for your book club, contact Lynn Rosen: lynn@lynnrosen.com
Women’s Words
A series of programs featuring literature by women.
The Women’s Words series kicks off with a lecture by Lynn Rosen: “Women’s Words: Feminist Literary Highlights from the 18th Century to Today.” This talk will start with a look at our very first women authors and novelists and move through important works over the centuries. You’ll find familiar names as well as hopefully some news ones, from Mary Wollstonecraft to Virginia Woolf to Gloria Steinem to Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie.
After the kick-off lecture, there will be three separate book discussion classes, each examining an important work of feminist fiction. For these classes, participants will be asked to read the work ahead of time to participate in class discussion.
Womens’ Words Lecture
DATE: Tuesday, June 9th
TIME: 7pm – 8:30pm
Who are our feminist literary foremothers? You may be surprised to know that their work dates back as far as the 11th century, and that even in eras dominated by male writers, they were busily “scribbling” out important works of literature. This lecture is an overview of some significant feminist literature over the past centuries.
Sign up HERE
CLASS #1
DATE: Wednesday, May 27
TIME: 7pm – 8:30pm
Kate Chopin’s The Awakening centers on Edna Pontellier and her struggle between her increasingly unorthodox views on femininity and motherhood and the prevailing social attitudes of the turn-of-the-century American South. We’ll examine this imporant work and also look at several other contemporary 19th century American women writers: Margaret Fuller, Charlotte Perkins Gilman, and E.D.E.N. Southworth.
Participants will need to read The Awakening for this class.
Sign up HERE
CLASS #2
DATE: Monday, June 15
TIME: 7pm – 8:30pm
Edith Wharton’s The House of Mirth was published in 1905 and tells the story of Lily Bart, a well-born but impoverished woman belonging to New York City’s high society. Lily’s plight still rings fresh today, and we’ll discuss this classic novel, and also examine new evidence that sheds light on the author’s intentions for Lily.
Sign up HERE
CLASS #3
DATE: Tuesday, July 7
TIME: 7pm – 8:30pm
Virginia Woolf’s Mrs. Dalloway, published in 1925, is a great book to return to as a reader of Woolf, and a perfect way to begin if you haven’t yet read Woolf. Either way, the story and the beauty of the language have not lessened in impact in the nearly 100 years since the book’s publication.
Sign up HERE
COST:
Per class: $30
Sign up for the series: $110
Sign up HERE
Kids Write!
A new session in our popular online writing program for kids begins in late May!
We want to encourage young writers, especially during these days when schools are closed, by giving them some new concrete skills that will help them become better writers and feel good about what they are accomplishing as young writers. Our classes combine instruction about craft and writing exercises, all at an age appropriate level. Classes are led by Lynn Rosen, owner of Open Book Productions and English, writing, and publishing instructor. (For more about Lynn see HERE.)
What people are saying about Kids Write:
Praise from a former student:
“I really liked this writing class. I’m still enjoying writing the rest of the story I started during the class. We were given time and help to be creative and write what we wanted.”
Praise from the parents of previous students:
“We want to thank you for your fine work in teaching creative writing. We appreciate your careful preparation for each lesson, your clear way of explaining things, and above all your warm encouragement of all the students. This has been a very positive experience for our daughter and we thank you!
“My kids had an excellent experience in the class.”
“Very positive, fun, educational.”
“He looked forward to the classes and enjoyed the assignments.”
“The different exercises were fun. He liked the writing challenges. It helped her think about writing in new ways.”
“My daughter, who is in 7th grade, took a class with Lynn in the fall. It was a great experience on so many levels. I knew my daughter was a talented writer but didnt know how to foster this talent without nagging! Lynn got the middle schoolers comfortable with her and each other right away so they could give each other feedback. The fiction piece my daughter ended up writing blew me away. The characters had serious depth and I wanted to read more! I know she is a better writer from this class! I highly recommend Kids Write for teens and tweens!”
Class Details
Class will meet virtually; details are below. The class is 4 weeks long, includes 4 meetings, and each meeting is an hour and 15 minutes.
Cost per class is $85
Register HERE.
KIDS WRITE! Storyboarding
DATE: Thursday, May 28, June 4, 11, 18
TIME: 11AM – 12:15PM
LOCATION: via Zoom
This class takes a storytelling approach with a focus on plot development. In each class, we will create new plots and stories and then map them out fully, storyboard style. We’ll explore a variety of genres including realistic fiction, fantasy, historical fiction, graphic novels, and playwriting.
Register HERE.
Study Hall: Literary Lectures for Thoughtful Readers
Later in Life: Women Aging into Abundance
DATE: Tuesday, June 2, 2020
TIME: 7pm – 8:30pm
Note: This class will meet virtually via Zoom.
As several new books reinforce, women become more authentic as they age. There is less concern about saying or doing the right thing, and women feel freer to do and think as they please. As Mary Pipher says in Women Rowing North, “If we can keep our wits about us, think clearly, and manage our emotions skillfully, we will experience a joyous time of our lives.”
In this talk we will explore the positive side of growing older and into our power by taking a close look at new books the explore the topic of women aging in the past, present, and future, including:
REGISTRATION
COST: $40
To sign up, click HERE.
Note: cost does not include books. Books are available at a discount with class registration; please inquire to lynn@lynnrosen.com
THE STUDY HALL LECTURE SERIES
Open Book Productions launched this new series of literary lectures in early 2020. Each lecture, given by Lynn Rosen, addresses a different writer, theme, or group of books. Past topics included: Louisa May Alcott, Philadelphia Writers, Self-Help books, and the Literary Canon.
These standalone talks don’t require preparation or reading ahead of time. They simply require you to come with an expectation of learning something about the particular writer or topic of the month. You’ll be able to ask questions, participate in discussion, and talk with other like-minded passionate readers.
ABOUT LYNN:
Lynn Rosen runs Open Book Productions, an extensive program of classes, workshops, and events for readers, writers and thinkers. Lynn is a long-time book publishing industry professional with many years of experience as an editor, literary agent, teacher, and author. For the past five years, she has been co-owner of Open Book Bookstore. She has served as Editorial Director of Book Business magazine, and Director of Graduate Publishing Programs at Rosemont College. Prior to that, she was Editorial Director at Peter Pauper Press, a Senior Editor at Running Press and, earlier in her career, an Editor in the Trade Division of Ballantine Books (Penguin Random House). In 1991, Lynn launched Leap First, an independent literary agency, which she ran until 1999. She is the author of Elements of the Table: A Simple Guide for Hosts and Guests (Clarkson Potter). Lynn graduated from the University of Pennsylvania with an Honors degree in English, and holds a Masters in English and Comparative Literature from Columbia University. She teaches writing and publishing classes at Open Book, and has been a professor at Drexel University, Temple University, Rosemont College, and numerous other academic institutions.