Kirby Larson's paperback tour for Hattie Big Sky is over, but boy, could you feel the love of her new and old fans!

Kids that love books are so amazingly wonderful. They ask such great questions and I'm sure their presence at events or their interest at school visits is what makes children's authors and illustrators glad to be alive and anxious to create more good work.

And Kirby is amazing. I listened to her school presentation many many times, but was completely enthralled each time and learned something new to boot. And always different, intriguing responses to Kirby's questions and different, interesting questions from the kids for Kirby.

Here are some photo highlights, but read all about it at Kirby's super blog.

Queen Anne Books event lady extraordinaire, Tegan, made delicious German Chocolate cupcakes. Did you know if you move those cupcakes around you can spell: YAH, IT A HOOTER? Which is maybe a more appropriate phrase for Ballard than for Queen Anne.

View Ridge Elementary has a super awesome librarian and lovely lovely readers.

Dudes and dudettes, Sakai Intermediate School might be too cool for school. The building is amazing. Their library is the coolest library I've ever seen. They even have Playaways (which I've only ever seen at Office Max and on Betsy's blog)! Hattie should be on a Playaway!!!

Not pictured: My favorite moment at a school event – I was sitting in front of a bunch of 5th grade boys before Kirby was about to start her presentation and people were still being seated. I asked the kids what grade they were in, if they'd read the book, what class had they just come from...and one of the kids, tired of small talk, asks me, "Are you her daughter?"
I said, "No, I'm her driver*."
His eyes got as big as saucers and I'm pretty sure he's now convinced that Kirby and ALL children's book authors roll with JK Rowling in Hummers.
He said, "Wow. My friend's dad has a driver. They have two of everything."
"Two drivers?" I asked. But then we were shooshed by a teacher and Kirby started her presentation and I became her human slide show remote control advancer.