Cat’s out of the bag: This November, High Five Books is hosting graphic novelist Colleen AF Venable for a KATIE THE CATSITTER party!

In celebration of the release of book no. 4 in the series, THE PURRFECT PLAN (out Oct. 8!), we’ll gather at Bombyx Center for Arts & Equity here in Florence on Sunday, November 17, 3-4:30PM.

Colleen will discuss her creative process, demonstrate how to draw characters from her books, and answer questions about everyone’s favorite superhero sidekick series! There will be treats, of course.

Readers are welcome to bring their own book copies for signing, and we’ll have all her titles for purchase.

Registration

Tickets for this purr-fect afternoon are pay-what-you-will

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Lander-Grinspoon Academy is proud to announce its inaugural festival celebrating children’s books, authors, and their readers!

They are delighted to host a stellar group of award-winning, renowned authors: Adam Gidwitz, Jeanne Birdsall, and Lesléa Newman. The event will take place on Sunday, November 10th at Lander-Grinspoon Academy in Northampton, MA, starting at 10am.

This event is geared towards readers ages 4-14 and open to all. Families are invited to bring their own copies of the authors' titles to be signed, and High Five Books will have them for sale, too.

Registration

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Directed by local filmmaker and educator Kate Way, Banned Together follows the recent wave of book bans in the United States. The feature length documentary film follows the courageous efforts of three students from a small South Carolina community who take a stand when almost 100 books are abruptly removed from their school libraries. As the students rise to become national voices in the fight against censorship, the film captures the broader narrative of book banning and curriculum censorship across the United States.

Featuring interviews with best-selling authors whose works have been banned, including Juno Dawson, Jodi Picoult, Dr. Ibram X. Kendi, Ellen Hopkins, and Erica L. Sánchez, the film also includes insights from Maryland Congressman Jamie Raskin, constitutional scholars, educators, librarians, parents, and student activists from across the country.

The 90-min screening will be followed by a brief panel discussion. High Five Books will have banned books for sale.

Registration

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A casual monthly book club for trans, nonbinary, & gender-creative youth, ages 8 - 12! Next month they're reading spooky graphic novel, THE WITCH BOY by Molly Knox Ostertag!

Affirmations book club is held in person at High Five Books (at 141 N. Main Street in Florence, MA) monthly on 3rd Wednesdays.

To join the in-person group (or if you have questions for the High Five team) email kinsey@highfivebooks.org.

These groups will be co-facilitated by the awesome folks at High Five and Translate Gender.

Registration

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Hooray, it’s Queer Kids Fest 2024!

On Saturday, October 5, 10:30am-2:30pm, Transhealth presents a joyful festival of music, art, books, and creativity for 2SLGBTQIA+ kids, families, and allies at the Northampton Center for the Arts!

Carrie Ferguson and the Grumpytime Club Band will perform. Special guest authors to be announced. Resilient Community Arts and Crooked Stick Pops will be there, and the High Five Books crew, too!

Youth ages 6 to 18 are invited to sign up for 5-minute open mic performance slots of songs, jokes, stand-up comedy, music and more. This event is 100% FREE!

Click/tap the button below for more information.

If you have a very young human in your world with capital-F Feelings, you won't want to miss this lively upcoming workshop: Tiny Humans, Big Emotions: A Conversation for Caretakers of Toddlers & Preschoolers.

Held in collaboration with the Northampton Parents Center at their space on Sunday, September 15, 3pm-4:30pm, High Five Books is excited to host expert Lauren Stauble, M.S, a researcher and teacher and the local co-author of TINY HUMANS, BIG EMOTIONS: HOW TO NAVIGATE TANTRUMS, MELTDOWNS, AND DEFIANCE TO RAISE EMOTIONALLY INTELLIGENT CHILDREN.

At this event, Lauren will lead a workshop about the specific transition needs families face this season: "The middle of September is about the time when the honeymoon period starts to end in new classrooms and caregiving relationships," she says. "As parents and teachers, we start to feel disequilibrium about the challenges that emerge related to behavior. "It's a great time to learn and practice strategies (for children *and* for adults) that interrupt—even prevent—the reinforcement of negative behavior and thinking patterns, and alternatively promote healing!" Supervised in-room kids' activities will be provided.

Participation is FREE, but please RSVP to the Facebook event, linked below.

Click/tap the button below for more information!

Come join High Five Books at the Easthampton Public Library for the unforgettable debut novel release of local author, Louangie Bou-Montes! Louangie will be talking about her spooky, swoony, queer YA contemporary fantasy novel, TILL THE LAST BEAT OF MY HEART—and she'll be in conversation with Faridah Àbíké-Íyímídé, New York Times bestselling author of ACE OF SPADES and WHERE SLEEPING GIRLS LIE (two High Five favorites!).

The evening will include crafts, cake, and time to chat with the authors. High Five Books will be there selling books from both authors! Recommended for youth and adults ages 12 and up.

Registration encouraged, email youthdept@ewmlibrary.org or call 413-527-1031.

Click/tap the button below for more information!

New fall experiences and changes in routine can feel tricky for young kiddos, to say the very least. High Five Book’s expert-guided Big Feelings Stuffy Sleepovers can help with those back-to-school transitions!

Join them and expressive arts-trained educator Gina Krosoczka, MA, CAGS, for an interactive, play-based workshop that addresses separation anxiety, coping skills, and resilience-building for preschoolers (August 30) and elementary-schoolers (September 6), in a sweet and engaging way.

Admission is $15/child.

Click/tap the button below for more information and to register!

New fall experiences and changes in routine can feel tricky for young kiddos, to say the very least. High Five Book’s expert-guided Big Feelings Stuffy Sleepovers can help with those back-to-school transitions!

Join them and expressive arts-trained educator Gina Krosoczka, MA, CAGS, for an interactive, play-based workshop that addresses separation anxiety, coping skills, and resilience-building for preschoolers (August 30) and elementary-schoolers (September 6), in a sweet and engaging way.

Admission is $15/child.

Click/tap the button below for more information and to register!

Trans, non-binary, and gender-creative youth (ages 8-12) are invited to join High Five Books and Translate Gender in-person at High Five Books each month for a casual, super-fun book club.

These groups will be co-facilitated by the awesome folks at High Five and Translate Gender.

Book choices to be announced soon!

Registration

Click/tap the button below to learn more about this offering and to register.

Admission is free. Donations are welcome.

Families! Lexi from High Five Books will read stories to Northampton Parent Center families monthly on Mondays at 10:30 AM.

Northampton Parents Center is a nonprofit cooperative drop-in center for children, birth to kindergarten age, and their caregivers. Since 1986, Northampton Parents Center (NPC) has provided a safe, nurturing environment for families with young children to socialize. Everyone is welcome.

The Parents Center is located in the lower level of Edwards Church at the corner of State and Main Streets in Northampton. Please use the back door and public parking.

Registration

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Admission is free. Donations are welcome.

High Five Books is celebrating the awesome elders in their lives with this super-sweet storytime on Saturday, June 1 from 10-11am, at High Five Books!

Two excellent local-ish authors will read from their picture books that feature older folks and kids doing fun things together:

• Casey W. Robinson, Small Things Mended

• Heidi E.Y. Stemple, Wren's Nest

Readers are welcome to bring their own special elders with them to this reading and crafting event.

Registration

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No registration necessary, and this event is FREE.

High Five Books is thrilled to fling open their doors after-hours once again in support of area teachers! Join them on Wednesday, May 29 from 6-8pm for their spring Educator night.

📕 Take home TONS of free books
📗 Browse the deep-discount sale rack

📘 Ask their booksellers about classroom collection development needs
📓 Let them know how THEY can help YOUR class!

Registration

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No registration necessary, and this event is FREE. Tell your teacher pals!

Registration

Join High Five Books and award-winning author, illustrator and graphic novelist Cece Bell for an early evening family art and music extravaganza—with hot, fresh donuts!

The beloved creator of #1 New York Times bestselling and Newbery Honor-winning El Deafo (now an animated show on Apple TV+) and many other books that young people adore (Sock Monkey; Chick and Brain; Rabbit and Robot: The Sleepover) will lead artists and readers through the process of creating her latest all-ages alphabet book Animal Albums from A to Z, a hand-wrought, high-fidelity, hilariously tongue-in-cheek homage to the golden days of album cover art.

Cece will spin original tunes from Animal Albums, lead drawing demonstrations (and maybe a dance-a-thon!), discuss the new book and its connection to El Deafo, and answer all her fans’ questions.

Readers are welcome to bring their own book copies for signing; all titles will be also available for purchase. Wake the Dead Donuts will have fresh mini donuts and donut sundaes for sale.

Tickets are available via Bombyx.live on a sliding scale. No one will be turned away for lack of funds!

Registration

Join Two Mamas Farm, the Hilltown Land Trust, High Five Books and the J.S. Bryant School for a very special family-friendly tour of queer-run Two Mamas Farm, where you'll learn more about small-scale maple tapping and sugaring, their sustainable practices and their approach to land conservation. The tour will also include a tasting of the different grades of maple syrup from their sugarbush, a community potluck, and opportunities to connect around the fire!

The High Five Team will be available throughout the event in the barn with beanbags, books, and activities related to maple trees for all of the kids and kids-at-heart to enjoy! Join us in this beginner and family-friendly experience. LGBTQ+ community and allies invited.

A suggested donation of $0 - $50 is encouraged, with donations being shared between the Hilltown Land Trust and the J.S. Bryant School. Everyone is welcome regardless of donation.

Come meet and celebrate local author, educator, and truth-teller Tiffany Jewell and the launch of her new book EVERYTHING I LEARNED ABOUT RACISM I LEARNED IN SCHOOL.

(Yes, there will be tiers of '80s and '90s snack cakes.)

From the #1 New York Times bestselling author of THIS BOOK IS ANTIRACIST and THE ANTIRACIST KID, comes this young adult non-fiction book, highlighting inequities Black and Brown students face from preschool through college. It is the most important, empowering read this year.

Registration

No registration required! Click the button below for more details on the event.

Learn more about High Five Books.

Trans, non-binary, and gender-creative youth are invited to join us each month for a casual, super-fun book club.

These groups will be co-facilitated by the awesome folks at High Five and Translate Gender.

Book choices to be announced soon!

Registration

Sign up in advance to receive log-in information to join - click/tap button below.

To learn more about Translate Gender or High Five Books.

Trans, non-binary, and gender-creative youth are invited to join us each month for a casual, super-fun book club.

These groups will be co-facilitated by the awesome folks at High Five and Translate Gender.

Registration

Sign up in advance to receive log-in information to join - click/tap button below.

Come celebrate the Year of the Dragon! Families are invited to join High Five Books at this all-ages Lunar New Year celebration as New York Times-bestselling author/illustrator Grace Lin reads from her latest book "Chinese Menu: The History, Myths, and Legends Behind Your Favorite Foods." Students will help enact a Reader's Theater performance from the book!

Grace will be joined by fellow author/illustrator Jannie Ho, who will read her book "Happy Chinese New Year!: A Festive Counting Story." Kids are invited to stay and craft, browse both creators' books, and have copies signed.

Presented in collaboration with High Five Books and the Pioneer Valley Chinese Immersion Charter School.

Tickets & Registration

Pay what you will in advance (NOTAFLOF)