If you’re into Newbery Medal-winning authors or books about very, very brave mice, New Ulm was the place to be Saturday.
Kate DiCamillo, author of “The Tale of Despereaux,” “Because of Winn-Dixie” and other treasured books for kids, read from her latest book and took questions from a sold out event at Lykke Books in New Ulm.
“The event went very well,” said Lykke Books owner Brie Taralson. “We had people from as far away as Green Bay, Wisconsin and Minneapolis who attended. We sold out on tickets, with more than 100 people attending, about half that were kiddos.”
Taralson said the event felt like a school visit, with a crowd of children in the very front on floor pillows asking questions. That’s a common practice for the author; she prioritizes direct engagement with her young readers.
After the Q&A, DiCamillo signed copies of her books and and allowed for photos with fans. Kids took part in a crown-making station and posed for photos in front of “Despereaux’s Castle,” a photo backdrop Taralson and her staff set up.
“We are grateful we’ve been able to host incredible authors like Kate DiCamillo,” she said. “Events like these are made possible by the community support we see at the events. When we can show the publisher that we can successfully host large events, they start considering us for a broader range of authors that are touring.”