Imagine a game show where kids and librarians are the big winners – and instead of lifetime supplies of Turtle Wax, they can score free books and support for local libraries.
Well, it’s happening, and you can take part.
“Diary of a Wimpy Kid” author Jeff Kinney is celebrating the publication of “No Brainer,” his 18th book in the series, with a traveling game show that will visit 13 West Coast bookstores — including three in the Bay Area — and provide books, financial support and some getaways for lucky librarians.
Kinney is personally donating $100,000 and dividing it among local libraries along his tour, which includes off-site events arranged by Bookshop Santa Cruz on Oct. 27, San Jose’s Hicklebee’s Oct. 28 and Danville’s Rakestraw Books on Oct. 29. Tickets ($20) include admission for two people, a signed copy of “No Brainer” and various activities.
“Kids are going to have a chance to win money for their school library or their community library. At each tour stop, we’re going to be spotlighting a beloved local librarian,” says Kinney, who asked 10 publishers to donate a range of diverse books – and they all agreed. “We’ve got hundreds of books to give away.”
The whole extravaganza sounds fun, but it also came out of Kinney’s desire to support the work of some of the book world’s most important people.
“Libraries are really suffering and librarians are at the frontline of the culture wars, and so we thought it would be a good idea to celebrate libraries and librarians on this tour,” he says. “The prize money actually goes to local libraries.”
Kinney, whose books are said to have sold more than 275 million copies around the world, says that his books have occasionally been challenged, but he’s much more concerned that books by people of color and the LGBTQ community are being targeted.
“My books have been banned here and there, but it’s not that prevalent. What I’m really worried about are underrepresented authors whose works are being banned,” he says.
“It’s just so important that everybody’s voices are heard. We’re living in a time where empathy is really in short supply, and books are really unique in that they can provide a window into another person’s mind – and so I think book banning is a form of erasure. Part of my goal on this tour is to make sure we’re getting books into the hands of kids who really need to discover those books.”
The author, who owns a bookstore with his wife in Plainville, Massachusetts, and hosts a diverse roster of author events, also has an international tour planned that will take him to Germany, the U.K. and India, where he’s also popular. His work has been translated into 69 languages.
“It’s really cool, because it suggests to me that there’s a common thread between us, which is our shared childhood experiences,” he says. “You know, kids are the same everywhere.”
Find details for the Bookshop Santa Cruz event, which starts at 6 p.m. Oct. 27, at www.bookshopsantacruz.com. Hicklebee’s festivities start at 2:30 p.m. Oct. 28; www.hicklebees.com. And Rakestraw’s event begins at 11:30 a.m. Oct. 29; www.rakestrawbooks.com. Learn more about Jeff Kinney, his books and his tour at wimpykid.com.
