Westport, CT – Celebrate spring with a morning full of stories, creativity and community connection at Stories in Bloom – An Authors Showcase and Family Fun Event, hosted by the Westport Book Shop on Saturday, May 3 from 10:30 AM to 12:00 PM on Jesup Green.
Families can enjoy a festive morning filled with a traditional Maypole dance, face painting, temporary tattoos, and corn hole, delicious refreshments —and a wonderful lineup of more than a dozen local authors of books for readers of all ages, from toddlers to adults, ready to meet you and sign books! This community celebration offers a rare opportunity to chat with authors about their creative journeys, purchase signed copies of their books, and enjoy a morning full of literary inspiration and fun.
Authors participating in Stories in Bloom include Diana Blau (Beary & Tinker Young at Heart, Losing Lambie), Sam Wilson (Shelly the Jellyfish), Christina McKay DiChristina (Barely There Bear), Allia Zobel Nolan (Why Can’t My Brother Be More Like My Cat, Cat Confessions), and MaryAnn Degala (To Bee), Michael Hendricks & Rebecca Ross (In the Beginning, A Love Story), Bette Bono (The Better Angels, Fear Itself), Sylvie Jordan (The Year That Was, Immersed in Poetry), Gina Uricchio (Art & Voice of Autism), Laurie Newkirk (Best Christmas Pun & Dad Joke Book), Marlou Newkirk (This and That and an Ice Cream Sundae), Debbie Salas Lopez & Kristina Lopez (Veggie Buddies, The Bug Box & The Magical Castle ), Michael Payton (Human-Soar), Denis O’Neill & Cy Quadland (Bradford’s Walk), Bella Rizzi (Travel Girls, Travel Girls 2), Cat Urbain (Diego, Whynd & the Block Island Ghost), Gabi Coatsworth (A Beginner’s Guide to Starting Over), Julie Ward (A Butterfly's Book of Poetry) and Marsha Temlock (Tuesday’s Mah Jongg Is More Than a Game). Local artist Jack Geer, whose greeting cards are sold at the Book Shop, will also share his artwork at the event.
As part of the Stories in Bloom celebration, the Westport Book Shop is launching two exciting raffles beginning May 3 and running through June 28. The first raffle offers a rare, sealed copy of The New Yorker in Westport by Eve Potts and Andrew Bentley—a beautifully produced hardcover book published by the Westport Historical Society in 2015. This special volume showcases 50 New Yorker magazine covers created by Westport-area artists, inspired by local scenes. Each cover is accompanied by fascinating stories and little-known facts about Westport. Featured artists include Charles Addams, Perry Barlow, Whitney Darrow, Jr., James Daugherty, Edna Eicke, Arthur Getz, Alice Harvey, Helen Hokinson, Albert Hubbell, David Preston, Garrett Price, and Charles Saxon.
The drawing for both raffles will be held on June 28th at 3 PM at the Westport Book Shop. You do not need to be present to win. Raffle tickets are $5 each or 3 for $10, and all proceeds will benefit the dual mission of the Westport Book Shop: to support the programming of the Westport Library, and to provide meaningful employment and training opportunities for adults with disabilities.
With something for everyone — from curious kids to lifelong readers — Stories in Bloom is a heartwarming way to welcome spring and support local voices.
All children must be accompanied by an adult.
The Westport Book Shop is operated by Westport Book Sale Ventures, an independent 501(c)(3) nonprofit enterprise with a dual social mission to provide meaningful competitive employment for adults with disabilities, while raising support for The Westport Library, through used book sales.
Since opening the Westport Book Shop in 2021, the Company has provided over 10,250 hours of meaningful competitive employment for over a dozen adults with differing abilities, and has provided over $200,000 in support to The Westport Library.
In addition to the Westport Book Shop, the Company operates the semi-annual Westport Library Book Sales, and sells books online through its ebay store www.ebay.com/str/WestportBookSalesCT
Westport Book Sale Ventures welcomes volunteers for all aspects of our operation, from book donation receipt and sorting, to preparing for and working at books sale events, to work in our online sales operation, and at the Westport Book Shop. For more information, to get involved, or to make a charitable donation, please visit www.westportbooksaleventures.org or send an email to info@westportbooksales.orgSwe