Author Catherine Gilbert Murdock coming to Dragonwings

Her books are winning awards, her character D.J. Schwenk is beloved by readers, the setting is a dairy farm in Wisconsin, and the best news of all is that book # 3 Front and Center arrived ahead of its scheduled release in October!


Get ready to meet popular author Catherine Murdock on Monday, September 28th. She will meet with creative writing students at Waupaca High School and Waupaca Middle School in the afternoon. Then she will be come to Dragonwings Bookstore for an informal, open house until 4:45 PM.


This is chance to ask your burning questions, buy all of her books, and get them signed and personalized! Have a cup of tea and munch on cookies with a well-known author. Ask her why Wisconsin, when she grew up on a farm in Connecticut? And how did she get it all so right? Also, where did Princess Ben, a really good fantasy, come from, right in the middle of her dairy queen books?

We'll find out on Monday. Hope you can come.

Fancy Nancy Party August 12

It's time to dig through your closet, or better yet your mother's closet, to find the perfect items for an over-the-top fancy outfit to wear to Dragonwings Fancy Nancy Party.

At the party we will create fancy crafts, play Fancy Nancy games, and have a fancy snack. We'll read a few pages from Fancy Nancy's new book Explorer Extraordinaire and find out how Nancy is discovering fanciness in the world all around her. Party activities are designed for ages 3-8.

The party will be held at Dragonwings Bookstore at 3:00 PM on Wednesday August 12. Reservations are $7.50 and can be made by calling Dragonwings at 256-9186. Parents are always welcome, always free, and are usually asked to lend a hand with the crafts and games. Reservation fees include all craft supplies, snacks, party favors, and a Fancy Nancy easy reader.

If we have a waiting list for the 3:00 party, we may hold a second party at 4:00.

You can find out more about Fancy Nancy's joie de vivre by checking out Dragonwings' large selection of Fancy Nancy picture books, easy readers, sticker and activity books, games, and colorforms, all of which make perfect gifts for children who love the fancy side of life.

PUZZLEMANIA GAME

Hands-on Puzzle Activities for All Ages


When you play Puzzlemania at Dragonwings this week, you can try puzzle activities that have sound, magnets, mazes, and even frogs. Puzzle stations are set up for three age groups around the store. When you come in, pick up a game card at the front desk, and get started. If you need help, just ask us. Once you've tried all of the puzzles at your station, report back to the front desk, tell us which were your worst or best puzzles, and get your prize.


At the puzzle station for ages 2-4 we have Vehicle Sound Blocks, Musical Instrument Sound Puzzle, Color Maze, Construction Sound Puzzle, and the Fishing Game.


The puzzle station for ages 5-7 has a Tow Truck Puzzle, Pattern Blocks, Magnetic Match Rings, and I Spy Circus Berzerkus.


The puzzle station for ages 8-100 has a Hoppers challenge (told you there would be frogs), a Set challenge with six possible sets, and two challenges from On the Dot - a new game that we love.


Puzzlemania will run through Friday August 7.

By the way, if you are wondering what the answers are to the World Record Quiz Questions from last week: b. Russia, b. beard, c. C-3PO.

World Records Quiz Game

Challenge yourself with this week's summer game at Dragonwings Bookstore - the World Records Quiz Game. This is a stop-in-and-play-anytime all week game. Pick up a game card at the front desk, search for the quiz questions, guess the answers, and report back for prizes. The quiz questions come from one of our favorite books: Book of World Records Ultimate Quiz Challenge. Believe me, the answers will often surprise you.

Try these out, and then come in for more. If you can't wait, write your answers in comments and we'll let you know if your guesses are correct.

What country has the most forest area?
a. Canada
b. Russia
c. Brazil

What is the fastest growing hair on the body?
a. Eyelashes
b. Beard
c. leg hair

Who is the first character to speak in Star Wars?
a. Han Solo
b. R2D2
c. C-3PO

Why did the Wolf cross the road?

Have you been wishing you knew some new chicken jokes? You'll find lots of them in this week's search and find game at Dragonwings. It's another stop in and play anytime game. Get the details at the front desk and start your search for jokes and activities around the store.

Bring in a chicken joke that we haven't heard before and earn 15% off any book in the store. (Offer good until we close the doors at 5:00 on Friday the 17th.)

New this week: Two new games from Melissa&Doug for ages 4 and up. Each has a booklet filled with ten different games and lots of variations for different ages. Ranging from Treasure Hunts to card games, both Puppy Pursuit and Funny Frogs have a lot of play value.

Have you figured out why the Wolf crossed the road?

He wanted to have chicken for dinner.