Ann's new book, Flight of the Puffin, launches May 4th. Signed copies with personalization available. Please make a note in the "notes" field of your order if you would like your copy personalized. We are also hosting a virtual launch event with Ann on May 4th at 7pm. Ann's first novel, The Benefits of Being an Octopus, is due out in paperback at the end of April as well. So much to celebrate this spring!
Event has already taken place! Flight of the Puffin Launch Event
Matthew Winner and Amber Leventry will join Ann in the virtual event.
Matthew Winner is the Head of Podcasts at A Kids Book About where he leads the company in creating a podcast network dedicated to helping kids and their grownups have honest conversations by making podcasts about challenging, empowering, and important topics hosted by individuals from diverse backgrounds who know the topic first-hand. Prior to this, Matthew worked in education for 15+ years, first as a classroom teacher in an elementary school and then as an elementary school librarian. Matthew is the host of The Children's Book Podcast, a weekly podcast featuring insightful and sincere interviews with authors, illustrators, and everyone involved in taking a book from drawing board to bookshelf. In 2013 Matthew was named a Library Journal Mover & Shaker and was invited to the White House as part of the Champions of Change program. He wishes he was still on the Obama's Christmas card mailing list. Matthew and his family reside in Ellicott City, Maryland.
Amber Leventry is a queer, nonbinary writer and advocate. They live in Vermont and have three kids, including twins and a transgender daughter. Amber’s writing appears in many publications including Romper, Longreads, The Temper, The Washington Post, and Parents Magazine. They are a staff writer for Scary Mommy and Little Things. Amber uses their words to influence and educate people on the importance of supporting the LGBTQIA+ community. They also run Family Rhetoric by Amber Leventry, a Facebook page devoted to advocating for LGBTQIA+ families one story at a time. They provide LGBTQIA+ inclusivity trainings at schools, temporary housing shelters, camps, and businesses.
Follow them on Twitter and Instagram @amberleventry. And visit their website to hire them for speaking engagements and LGBTQIA+ training sessions.
Ann Braden writes books about kids trying to stand up for themselves even when life is hard. Her debut middle grade novel The Benefits of Being an Octopus was named one of NPR’s Best Books of 2018 and has appeared on numerous state lists. She founded the Local Love Brigade, which sends love postcards to those who are facing hate. Ann also founded GunSenseVT, a grassroots group focused on championing the common ground on the issue of guns in Vermont, which helped pass landmark gun violence prevention legislation. Ann has been a middle school teacher, the co-host of the children’s book podcast, “Lifelines: Books that Bridge the Divide,” along with Pakistani American author Saadia Faruqi, and a co-organizers of #KidsNeedMentors. Ann lives in southern Vermont with her husband, two children, two insatiable cats, and a baby tortoise named Petunia.
