An Evening at the Lyceum

Have I told you how much I love Christianne's Lyceum? Every city should have one. It's a place for inspiration and discovery through literature for children of all ages.

It's a warm space to have a book launch and to participate in author discussions at their book clubs. Last month I was the "official book" for their 3 & 4th graders' Book Burglars Book Club. Christianne and program assistant (and poet extraordinairre) Laura Farina provided all the fun. I just had to show up, answer questions, eat strawberries, and play White Forest pictionary.

Christianne holds the whiteboard during White Forest Pictionary

The Lyceum folks supplied us with these nifty crossword puzzles . . . well, they actually gave us blank versions which we had to fill in. Yes, including me.

There were two answers I couldn't figure out! But, Christianne said not to worry – most authors can't finish the crossword puzzles for their own books.

The Crown Jewel of the evening was this whimsical poem (below) co-created by everyone there.  The amazing Lauren asked all of us questions about the book then typed up our answers (in a special Lauren-esque kind of way) . I had two kids sign it, in case they get famous some day. Gotta think ahead to my retirement.

And with these precocious ones, I'd say there's a pretty good chance they're going somewhere! They were mighty  clever.