We are in the midst of reading the Little House books right now.  Ever since we read the maple syruping chapter in Little House in the Big Woods, I’ve been looking forward to our chance to go try it out.  It’s here this weekend!! Lowry Nature Center is offering a DIY Maple Syrup program on [...]

Max and Ruby Storytime at the Red Balloon Bookshop Saturday, Jan 26, 2013, 10:30 am (Recommended for ages 18 months and up*) It’s a very special storytime for the famous bunny duo, Max and Ruby! Join Red Balloon and have fun with songs, finger plays, rhymes, and stories … with help from Max himself! Don’t [...]

On Saturday, at 2:00 p.m., The Red Balloon Bookshop will welcome National Geographic Kids author Lia Kvatum with her book, Saving Yasha, the true story of Yasha, an orphaned Asiatic Black (Moon) Bear found in Russia.  This looks like a beautifully designed book and what kid wouldn’t fall in love with that bear.  It is so cute. I found this great recipe from [...]

I know I’ve already done my five posts for the week and there are an overwhelming amount of choices already, but I would feel remiss if I didn’t add the Red Balloon’s activities for “Take Your Child To a Bookstore Day.”  So here is a quick cut & paste from their monthly e-mail. “Take Your [...]

Summer is almost here.  I miss the days when I could spend a large chunk of my day buried in a novel.  I would have loved either of these novels by Pete Hautman.  If these don’t appeal to your young adult, maybe the staff at the Red Balloon can help them find the perfect series [...]

The Red Balloon Bookshop will host several events for various ages this weekend. Young Adult Authors Special Event On Friday at 7:00 p.m., four authors of young adult novels will converge to talk about their most recent books and answer questions.  Authors include: M. Molly Backes, The Princesses of Iowa Julie Halpern, Don’t Stop Now James Klise, Love [...]

On Saturday at 10:30 a.m., local author Phyllis Root will be at the Red Balloon Bookshop with her book, Scrawny Cat.

On Saturday, local storytellers, The WonderWeavers, will be at the Red Balloon Bookshop.  They will be reading stories made by Minnesotans, including author Phyllis Root’s Rattletrap Car. It is the story of a family’s road trip to the lake, on a very hot day, in their rattletrap car — which doesn’t go fast and doesn’t [...]

Sara Waters will be at the Red Balloon for Baby Story Time on Saturday at 10:30 a.m.  This month’s theme is “My Day”.   Stories and songs are planned that are all about the things you can do during a typical day.

On Saturday at 10:30 a.m. Dan Geiger, Target Field Tour Guide, will be at the Red Balloon Bookshop to celebrate baseball season.  He will offer a behind-the-scenes look at the Minnesota Twins’ new outdoor stadium.  This would be a great opportunity to get a more sports-minded boy into a bookstore.

Local author, Catherine Thimmesh will be at the Red Balloon Bookshop with her book Friends: True Stories of Extraordinary Animal Friendships on Saturday at 10:30 a.m.  In this preschool-age book, she portrays real stories of unlikely animal friends with photos of the actual animals.

Sara Waters will be hosting a water-themed baby story hour at the Red Balloon Bookshop on Saturday.   She will be reading from Hooray for Fish!, by Lucy Cousins.  Sara will have puppets, songs, and more stories to share as well.

Laura Mahler, local actress and education associate at Stages Theatre Company, will perform a dramatic reading of Pinkalicious, by Victoria and Elizabeth Kann at the Red Balloon Bookshop on Saturday.  Pinkalicious The Musical is currently in its regional premiere at Stages Theatre, running from April 29 through May 28, 2011. There will be a drawing [...]

On Saturday, at 10:30 a.m., join local author Molly Beth Griffin at the Red Balloon Bookshop for a Publication Party for her first book Loon Baby, a story of a baby loon who faces fear and uncertainty when its mother is out of sight.  This book is illustrated by Anne Hunter with watercolor paintings.

Local author Lynne Jonell will be at the Red Balloon Bookshop on Saturday at 2 p.m. to promote her book, The Secret of Zoom.