LitPDX seeks to amplify marginalized voices, and welcomes all, their ideas, their events, and their words.

For details regarding specific events please contact the organizers or venues. If you are an organizer or venue and would like to reach out to us please feel free to contact us or submit an event using our submission form. We’d love to hear from you!

Covid-19 Story Time with Pediatrician Dr. Beth Links Torwekar

Online N/A, Portland, OR, United States

Next Virtual Event! Dr. Beth Links Torwekar Reads JULIE AND THE EVIL QUEEN An Educational Story just for kids about Covid-19! We will post a Facebook Page Link on Tuesday, June 2nd at 11am. Hear this amazing new book written by a local pediatrician to help kids deal with the pandemic!

Free

Kids’ Storytime With Stephanie Campisi

Online N/A, Portland, OR, United States

Today, author Stephanie Campisi joins us to read from her new picture book, Five Sisters (Familius), illustrated by Madalina Andronic. When a great white oak gifts an old man a branch imbued with magic, he carves five wooden dolls “each smaller than the last.” The wooden dolls take on a life of their own as they frolic from one season to the next bringing the old man and his wife a joy they had always longed for. Beautiful verse and stunning, traditional illustrations full of woodland creatures and playfully painted matryoshka dolls explore a tale of heartache, hope, and love. Register for the Zoom event  /  Buy the Book

Free

Drag Queen Storytime with Poison Waters

Online N/A, Portland, OR, United States

ONLINE EVENT The library is proud to present an hour of kid-friendly drag! Join us for this special storytime featuring the fabulous Poison Waters reading stories about inclusion and diversity, followed by a craft or dance party. For kids 2-6 years old with a favorite adult. Register for the 7/31 event via Zoom: https://bit.ly/3fx9UEP Register for the 8/29 event via Zoom: https://bit.ly/3fuM38M

Free

Kids’ Storytime With Meena Harris

Online N/A, Portland, OR, United States

Today, author Meena Harris joins us for kids’ storytime to read from her new picture book, Kamala and Maya’s Big Idea (illustrated by Ana Ramírez González) (Balzer & Bray/Harperteen). Kamala and Maya’s Big Idea is a beautiful, empowering book about two sisters who work with their community to effect change, inspired by a true story from the childhood of Meena Harris's aunt, US Senator and Vice-Presidential candidate Kamala Harris, and Meena's mother, lawyer and policy expert Maya Harris. One day, Kamala and Maya had an idea. A big idea: They would turn their empty apartment courtyard into a playground! Harris’s book is the uplifting story of children's ability to make a difference and of a community coming together to transform their neighborhood. Register for the…

Free

Homeschool Family Book Group: Beverly Cleary Children’s Choice Award

Online N/A, Portland, OR, United States

Join us online for a homeschool family book group to discuss the Beverly Cleary Children's Choice Award nominees and then cast our votes. Each year children vote on The Beverly Clearly Children's Choice Award to honor their favorite chapter book for new readers. This group is for children reading short chapter books and their favorite adult. Space is limited. Please register via Zoom: https://bit.ly/3mqYGEE

Free

Homeschool Family Book Group: Beverly Cleary Children’s Choice Award

Online N/A, Portland, OR, United States

Join us online for a homeschool family book group to discuss the Beverly Cleary Children's Choice Award nominees and then cast our votes. Each year children vote on The Beverly Clearly Children's Choice Award to honor their favorite chapter book for new readers. This group is for children reading short chapter books and their favorite adult. Space is limited. Please register via Zoom: https://bit.ly/3mqYGEE

Free

Children’s Literature Finalists at Green Bean Books

Online N/A, Portland, OR, United States

Join the five Oregon Book Award finalists for the Eloise Jarvis McGraw Award, presented by Green Bean Books on Independent Bookstore Day. ELOISE JARVIS MCGRAW AWARD FOR CHILDREN’S LITERATURE Judges: Nikki McClure, Eliot Schrefer, Wendy Wahman Deborah Hopkinson of West Linn, Butterflies Belong Here (Chronicle Books) Jody J. Little of Portland, Worse Than Weird (Harper Collins Children’s Books) Susan Hill Long of Portland, Josie Bloom and the Emergency of Life (Paula Wiseman Books, Simon & Schuster) Jenn Reese of Portland, A Game of Fox and Squirrels (Henry Holt Books for Young Readers, Macmillan) Elizabeth Rusch of Portland, Mario and the Hole in the Sky: How a Chemist Saved Our Planet (Charlesbridge) Deborah Hopkinson is the award-winning author of more than sixty books for young readers…

Free

Drag Queen Story Hour with Salt & Straw

Online N/A, Portland, OR, United States

For their "Rad Readers" series, available from May 28 through July 1, the artisan ice creamery Salt & Straw is teaming up with Scholastic to offer five flavors inspired by children's books. They're also adding a pride-themed virtual component with a series of story hours and ice cream tastings on Instagram Live in partnership with the nonprofit Drag Queen Story Hour. Queens Yves Saint Croissant, Pickle, and Lulu Luscious will read from pride-themed books as well as the books that inspired the current flavors and will perform lip syncs. Salt & Straw will also raise funds for the nonprofit during the events. Schedule Sunday, June 6, 11 am PST - Yves Saint Croissant, San Francisco Book 1: Pride 1-2-3 by Michael Joosten Book 2: Goosebumps…

Free

In-Store Reading: Trudy Ludwig: Brave Every Day

Annie Bloom's Books 7834 SW Capitol Hwy, Portland, OR, United States

Annie Bloom's welcomes back Portland author Trudy Ludwig for an in-store reading from her new picture book, Brave Every Day. Trudy will be in conversation with fellow Portland author Susan Hill Long, as they discuss the topic: "Using Children’s Stories to Promote Emotional Resilience in Our Stress-filled World." This in-store reading is first come, first served. Seating is limited. Please be mindful of any store health policies that might be in effect on the night of the reading. Signed and personalized copies are available for pre-order! Include the name for personalization in the order notes; all orders without a name specified in the order notes will be signed only. About Brave Every Day: From social-emotional learning expert Trudy Ludwig and award-winning picture book illustrator Patrice…

Free

Kids’ Storytime With Elizabeth Rusch & Elizabeth Goss

Powell's City of Books 1005 W Burnside Street, Portland, OR, United States

Nothing is really something! What might be hidden in the space around things, and how is that space important? In art, this is known as negative space, but “nothing” can be thought of more broadly — as free time during the day or the space between people. When we allow ourselves a moment of nothingness, we make room for creativity and so much more. All about Nothing (Charlesbridge) – written by Elizabeth Rusch and illustrated by Elizabeth Goss — is an artful picture-book exploration of negative space and the beauty of nothingness. This mindful meditation encourages children to see the world differently. Preorder a Signed Edition

Free