Author and illustrator Devin Elle Kurtz debuted her new children\u2019s book, \u201cThe Bakery Dragon and the Fairy Cake,\u201d at a Tuesday evening pajama party hosted by Booked, an independent bookstore located on Main Street. The event, part of a country-wide tour, attracted about 50 attendees and included a live reading and signing of the new children\u2019s book.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cAs someone who doesn\u2019t have kids yet, it is the most amazing opportunity to meet my readers to get their honest feedback,\u201d Kurtz said. \u201cThey are the crowd that I am most honored when I please them, and it\u2019s so much fun to hear them laugh and see what resonates with them.\u201d<\/p>\n
Kurtz\u2019s book, the second installment of her illustrated series, \u201cThe Bakery Dragon,\u201d chronicles the journey of a tiny dragon named Ember who must overcome the difficult challenge of baking a cake for a fairy princess.<\/p>\n
Booked co-owner Betsy Haberl (SPS \u201918) said the series is a fan-favorite for many customers.<\/p>\n
\u201cDevin\u2019s books struck a chord because they are written and illustrated for children to have a magical experience,\u201d Haberl said. \u201cIt\u2019s like if J.R.R. Tolkien\u2019s world-building were for a picture book. It\u2019s like you enter in, and the whole page is covered and glowing.\u201d<\/p>\n
The party featured baked goods from nearby Button Bakery, including an assortment of frosted sugar cookies decorated like fairy cakes. Children in pumpkin onesies wore fairy wings and held princess wands as they engaged with Kurtz.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Evanston resident Hayden Schoen brought his two sons to storytime. He said that bringing his children to book events connects them to the community in a way that also spurs a love for reading.<\/p>\n
\u201cGetting to see my kids connect with the actual author of the book is really cool,\u201d Schoen said. \u201cThey get to see an example of somebody who\u2019s making something and shows them that this is something they could actually do.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
After reading her books to the audience, Kurtz confirmed books three and four of the series were in the works.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Haberl said that as book prices rise, it\u2019s important for her as a bookstore owner to think about what books people would want to keep as a \u201cbeautiful object in their home.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cAnd I like to think \u2018Okay, the books that we buy should be books that are ones you want to pass down to your grandchildren,\u2019 and I think Devin\u2019s books fall into that category,\u201d Haberl said.<\/p>\n
Email:<\/b> [email\u00a0protected]<\/a>\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n Related Stories:\u00a0<\/b><\/p>\n \u2014 Booked\u2019s new owners look to cultivate a welcoming environment<\/a>\u00a0<\/p>\n \u2014 Bookends University builds community, changes minds in a bookstore setting<\/a>\u00a0<\/p>\n