Join Left Bank Books for a special Children’s Book Week event with local authors Antony John and Cole Gibsen, who will host a panel discussion on writing and getting published for teens and adults interested in writing for them!

Antony John is the author of several novels, including “Five Flavors of Dumb,” “Mascot,” and the fantasy trilogy “Elemental.” A native of England, he graduated from Oxford University with a degree in music and received his Ph.D. from Duke University. He crisscrossed the country, living on both coasts, before settling in St. Louis with his family, where he writes full-time. Today he enjoys exploring the city’s neighborhoods, sampling Midwestern food, and watching Fredbird at Cardinals games. Sadly, he still can’t throw a pitch or bat a ball, but he has become very good at eating hot dogs.

At seventeen Cole Gibsen found herself homeless with only a beat-up Volkswagen and a bag of Goodwill clothing to her name. The only things that got her through the nights she spent parked in truck stops and fields were the books she checked out from the library along with her trusty flashlight. Because of the reprieve these books gave her from her troubles, Cole vowed to become a writer so she could provide the same escape to readers who needed a break from the reality. Some of Cole’s most recent books include “Risen,” “Life Unaware,” and “Katana.”

Children’s Book Week is the annual celebration of books for young people and the joy of reading. Established in 1919, Children’s Book Week is the longest-running national literacy initiative in the country. Every year, events are held nationwide at schools, libraries, bookstores, homes — wherever young readers and books are connected! The 100th anniversary of Children’s Book Week will take place all year long with a dedicated week of celebrations April 29th – May 5th, and another week this fall, November 4th – 10th!