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Reading: Leslie Barnard Booth and Lisa Gerlits
Join us for a reading and Q & A with award-winning middle grade and picture book authors, Lisa Gerlits and Leslie Barnard Booth, whose new works, Rewilding and I Am We: How Crows Come Together to Survive, both explore how birds help us navigate what it means to be human.
About I Am We:
A riveting informational picture book that explores the beguiling mysteries of crow behavior. Gorgeous illustrations take us into a crow’s environment and community, making this an incredible—and unforgettable—reading experience. Caw‐Caaaaw! Crows are fascinating and resilient birds. What is the secret to their abundance and survival, especially throughout fall and winter seasons, when temperatures drop and crow-eating creatures lurk in the dark? I Am We unpacks these mysteries, exploring how and why crows roost together by the thousands and their reliance on cooperation and community. Sharing a home in our urbanized ecosystem, crows are the ideal subject for learning about how animals interact with the environment and with each other. With dazzling color illustrations and irresistibly engaging and educational text, this beautiful, bewitching book will delight readers throughout the spooky season and all year round.
Leslie Barnard Booth writes lyrical picture books about science and nature. She is the author of One Day This Tree Will Fall, a Kirkus Best Book of the Year, ALA-ALSC Notable Children's Book, and National Science Teaching Association (NSTA) Outstanding Science Trade Book; A Stone Is a Story, a Bank Street Best Book of the Year, Crystal Kite Award Winner, and NSTA Outstanding Science Trade Book; and, most recently, I Am We: How Crows Come Together to Survive. Leslie lives in Portland, Oregon, and loves exploring nature with her family. Visit her at lesliebarnardbooth.com.
About Rewilding:
Even though her Dad calls her "Bruiser," eleven-year-old Joy isn’t as strong as she looks. With Dad gone and Mom depressed, it's up to Joy to care for the house and her younger brother Ian. Struggling with old clothes in sizes too small now and Ian's constant hunger, Joy fears the school counselor might call Child Protective Services. When a baby bird falls from its nest, Joy recalls her Dad’s warning, "You don't know your own strength." Seeking help, she strikes a deal with Ezzie, the quirky neighbor, to help her with chores around her yard. As Joy, Ian, and her friend restore Ezzie's garden, they discover the beauty of rewilding and Joy begins to question her father's views. A sensitive story of gaslighting, body image, and the healing power of nature.
Lisa Gerlits (she/her) is the author of three middle grade novels: A Many Feathered Thing (Oregon Spirit Book Award winner), Rewilding, and The Children's Opera (Apples & Honey Press, 2026). She lives in her hometown of Silverton, Oregon with her Dutch husband, three kids, one cat, and a shifting number of chickens. Lisa enjoys gorging on berries, walking behind waterfalls, and painting murals. Also soup.
Event Links
Website: https://go.evvnt.com/3163424-0
