Two-Time Newbery Medal Winner Lois Lowry to Visit Berkley

Young readers with stars in their eyes will have the opportunity to meet two-time Newbery Medal winner Lois Lowry on Friday at .

The beloved author of books for children and young adults, who is promoting her two most recent works Like the Willow Tree and Bless This Mouse, will speak at 7 p.m. at the BHS auditorium. She will answer questions and sign autographs, said Colleen Kammer of Book Beat in Oak Park, co-sponsor of the event with the .

"Book Beat is a gem in our community," said Shira Good, communications supervisor for the district. "It is an honor for us to host Lois Lowry, as most of our students will fondly recall reading her books at some point in school or in their free time."

That is a sentiment Kammer whole-heartedly shared.

Lowry "is a stellar talent," she said, noting that the author's works – which range from an introduction to the WWII holocaust to a playful book in the vein of Lemmony Snicket – date back to 1977. Lowry received the Newbery Medal, a prestigious prize given annually to an author of American children's literature,  for Number the Stars in 1990 and The Giver in 1994.

"There's an intelligence behind everything she does. She's asking us to step up things, go up a notch. She wants us to think," Kammer said. "But, it's not boring. The kids love it."

The free event is open to the public and seating will be  first-come, first-served at the door, Kammer said.

For more information, call Book Beat at (248) 968-1190. The locally owned independent book shop at 26010 Greenfield Road in Oak Park will host two-time Caldecott Medal winner and Michigan native Chris Van Allsburg from 3-6 p.m. April 6. Van Allsburg is the author of children's favorites "Jumanji" and "The Polar Express." The event is free and open to the public.