Auntie’s to Honor Anna Dewdney With Special Event

Auntie’s Books in Spokane, Washington, will celebrate the life of Anna Dewdney, the author and illustrator of the popular Llama Llama children’s books series, with an event on November 19. Dewdney died from brain cancer at the age of 50 on September 3.

Anna Dewdney at Auntie's Books in 2014

“Llama Llama Remember Mama” will celebrate Dewdney’s strong support for reading to children, which she wrote about in a 2013 piece for the Wall Street Journal.

For the event, several school officials will be visiting Auntie’s to read aloud from their favorite Llama Llama books during story time and comfy reading spots will be set up around the store for people who want to come in and read to children throughout the day.

“Reading to kids is what she was about, and it’s what we’re about,” said Janelle Smith, Auntie’s children’s manager and buyer. “We wanted to honor Anna Dewdney and her too-short career and her request of reading to kids.”

Indie bookstores across the country are invited to host their own Llama Llama Remember Mama events on November 19, and fans of Dewdney’s books can participate by sharing photos, memories, and thoughts on social media using the hashtag #llamallamaremembermama.

Auntie’s Books hosted a very successful event with Dewdney in May 2014. “We had a fabulous experience with her,” said Smith. In addition to speaking at the store, Dewdney visited area schools and was happy to work with Auntie’s and her publisher to ensure that schools that couldn’t promise high book sales were still included in her visit.

“I was impressed with how dedicated she was to finding a way to give children what they need,” said Smith. “There are so many people who love her books.”

Throughout the Llama Llama Remember Mama event, Auntie’s will be collecting children’s book donations to give in Dewdney’s name to the local Sacred Heart Children’s Hospital, which provides inpatient and outpatient treatment for children with cancer.

Though the inaugural event is being held in November, Smith said her hope is that it can become a yearly day of remembrance on September 3, the day of Dewdney’s death.

Booksellers with questions about Auntie’s Llama Llama Remember Mama event or those wanting to discuss ideas for their own store event are welcome to contact Smith.