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June 21: Scholars Honored, Author Signing

Naperville Patch offers a rundown on items of note.

Benet Academy has recently announced its honor roll for the second semester. There were a lot of Naperville students who earned honors.  The city of Naperville is offering some tips for residents to stay say when lightning is present. This week is Lightning Awareness Week. Ann Brashares, author of the Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants will be at Anderson’s on Wednesday night to share the next chapter in the friends lives as they turn 30. The Naperville Public Library's 95th Street Library will screen Tim Burton’s Alice in Wonderland on Wednesday night. This event is geared toward teens and will include a Mad Hatter tea party and other festivities. If you rely only on a cell phone as many people do, you need to read this story about …

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Get Out: Fishing, Duck Races and Craft Beers

Our weekend guide to events happening around Naperville.

The weekend never lasts as long as it should. And, if you don’t enjoy it before you know it, it is Monday morning, the alarm is ringing and what have you done? Laundry? That isn’t any fun. Life is too short. So, get out and have some fun! Parents, drop the kids off at Cowlishaw and head out for a few hours of freedom. The school regularly offers this night out where the kids enjoy pizza and games and parents get to do whatever they’d like. Maybe head downtown for a bite to eat? If you have a teen in your household, why not head on over to Anderson’s Bookshop where they will have six teen authors in residence. Make it a bonding experience with your teen or learn what the kids today are reading. If you want to feel a little beatnik, enjoy …

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Naperville Girls Make Change with Change

Teens seek to empower females of all ages around the world.

Erin Collard joined Girls For Change at the group's inception about a year and half ago. When she joined the grassroots organization she thought it was a neat idea to help empower women and girls around the world. Yet not until the group started receiving donations and began hearing back from a few of the women they helped, did Collard realize the significance of what she was doing. “We donated to this charity called Women for Women. They sent us a packet of information, and the woman we are supporting wrote to us and that was so incredible,” the 17-year-old Collard said. “It makes me feel good that I can be of use.” Girls For Change is a charitable organization started by a group of Naperville North High School swimmers. The girls raise …

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Mary Ann Lopez

11:28 pm on Tuesday, May 3, 2011

I think it is a great way for the girls to learn about compassion and also about working together as a team. And, it shows that one person really can have an impact in the world. I hope they have enough baked goods left by the time I get to the bake sale on Saturday.   more ›

'Arthur' Author Tells a Tale or Two

Marc Brown, author of the 'Arthur' books, pays a visit to students.

Students at Brooks Elementary School were treated to a visit from Arthur author Marc Brown on Monday morning. Brown was in town to attend a book signing at Anderson’s Bookshop Monday evening. At the school he had an entire gymnasium of children enthralled, sharing photos of his home and all of the animals his family keeps on Martha’s Vineyard in Massachusetts. Using a drawing easel, Brown demonstrated how Arthur is drawn. Then he explained where his ideas come from for many of the characters. He used his own personal experiences as a third-grade student to guide him in his writing. Many of his characters are based on friends, family and teachers. When he ran out of ideas form his own childhood, he began using his children’s experiences. …

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Kane Craziness Sweeps Wentz Hall

Soap opera diva signs copies of her memoir.

"So I am the woman you love to hate..." And with those words daytime soap opera diva Susan Lucci opened up her Question & Answer session to a  crowd of nearly 300 die-hard devoted fans at Wentz Concert Hall Friday night.   The multi-generational audience included mothers and daughters, grandmothers with their granchildren, husbands and wives and college students, many who have been fans of the show for a majority of their lives. The program was hosted by Anderson's Bookshop in conjunction of the release of Lucci's memoir, All My Life. "We knew Susan Lucci would attract a diverse crowd so we decided to have this event at Wentz Hall so people could relax in a comfortable, beautiful setting and listen to Susan talk about about her life," said…

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Kristi Yamaguchi Encourages Readers to Dream Big

Olympic figure skater a and gold medalist signed copies of her book "Dream Big, LIttle Pig!"

Nearly 500 people gathered at Anderson's Bookshop to listen to Olympic Figure Skating Champion and Dancing With The Stars Champion Kristi Yamaguchi read her latest children's book Dream Big, Little Pig!. The story is about Poppy, "a waddling, toddling pig with big dreams" who doesn't give up on her wish to become an ice skating star. After the reading, Yamaguchi signed copies of the books for her fans. Carol Litviak and her granddaughter Kaitlyn Welgos, both of Naperville, pre-ordered three copies of the book and were ready to meet Yamaguchi. "Kristi is very inspirational and it's great to have someone like her here for the signing," said Litviak. "I bought a copy of it for my two year-old grand-niece for Easter. I hope it's a gift she …

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Patch Picks: The Spring Break Edition

Here are some of our picks for things to do with the kids over spring break.

The kids are off for spring break! While they are excited to leave school behind, now you have your hands full. What to do except to use this time to have a blast! Looking for things to do this week? Here are some options. At the Morton Arboretum children of all ages will learn how without hands and teeth, birds use their beaks to eat. The program will teach children how size and shape affects what a bird can eat. The Naperville Park District is holding a bowling camp over spring break at the Brunswick Zone Bowling Alley. For ages 6 to 15, the camp is for beginning or advanced bowlers. Campers will be coached by Experienced Kids First Sports Safety, Inc. Bowlers will learn fundamentals, safety, techniques, bowling management, body balance…

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Suzanne Flynn

8:30 am on Monday, March 28, 2011

Players sports also have a sports camp on Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday. For $20, kids grade 1-6, can spend 4 hours (from 10-2) playing all sorts of sports. http://www.playersindoor.com/special-events/spring-break-sports-camp-2   more ›

Get Out: Hungry Caterpillars, Maple Syrup, Cover Bands

Here’s a look at events going on in and around Naperville this weekend.

Whether it’s about the food, the kids or the music, this weekend has a little bit of this and that. North Central College continues to be a source for local events. And what would Naperville be without the DuPage Children’s Museum or Anderson’s Bookshop? Both offer so many events for all ages. If you are Catholic and abstaining from meat or it you have never experienced the fish fry, then grab the family and head over to the St. Raphael Knights of Columbus fish fry. Diner can choose from fish or pizza and then there is dessert.! And, it is all at a very modest price. The Naperville Public Library is hosting open sessions of Wii Games. So, Dance Dance, get your Beatles on or show you know a thing or two about the Mario Bros. The event takes…

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Loyal Fans Help Anderson's Bookshop Earn National Honor

The independent bookstore was named Bookstore of the Year on Tuesday.

The phone was ringing off the hook Tuesday at Anderson’s Bookshop, as well-wishers called to congratulate the business and its employees on being named Bookstore of the Year. Publishers Weekly made the announcement Tuesday and the store will be honored in a ceremony during Book Expo America and in an issue of the magazine, which comes out April 25. The store learned that several people nominated it for the honor, said Kris Nugent, the Naperville store’s manager. It is the only honor of its kind, she said. “It’s like the ‘Oscars’ of books,” Nugent said. Once nominated, the store began to gather all of the necessary materials to support and document why it should be granted the honor, Nugent said. Being named Bookstore of the Year isn’t just…

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Hundreds Gather for Children's Literature Breakfast

Event featured more then 50 local and national authors.

On Saturday morning, more than 550 children's book enthusiasists, authors and illustrators gathered at The Abbington in Glen Ellyn for Anderson's Bookshops 9th Annual Children's Literature Breakfast. During the five hour event, participants  mingled with featured authors and speakers, learned what's new in children's publishing, participated in discussion groups and browsed and purchased books from featured authors. "Every year we work with publishers on identifying five authors from across a variety of genres to talk about their experiences,"  said Becky Anderson, owner of Anderson's Bookshops. "We like hooking up the authors with teachers and educators, and especially like to focus on Illinois authors to give them more exposure." This …

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