On Monday, May 12^th at 4:30 PM, The Book Stall (811 Elm Street in Winnetka) is thrilled to host award-winning author Pam Muñoz Ryan as we celebrate the release of her new novel for young people, El Niño, an enthralling aquatic adventure from the beloved, New York Times bestselling author of Esperanza Rising and Echo. In a starred review, The School Library Journal says, “With poetic and evocative prose, the book captures the ache of loss and the hope that lingers even in the most unpredictable currents. . . More than a novel, this is a journey into the heart of a boy searching for answers and a lost piece of himself, and a story that will linger with readers." Aimed at readers ages 8 and up, this event is free with registration. To register, please CLICK HERE.  

More About the Book: Sometimes the only way to hold onto what we love is to let go. Kai Sosa is so passionate about swimming he is practically a fish. This summer, he's determined to become the athlete he once was on an elite invitational team. But something invisible holds him back. His race times are off. Dreams of his sister Cali haunt him. And he hasn't found her missing gold cuff, her last request. Mom is still talking about grief, even though it's been two years.

When Kai discovers a library book Cali had checked out multiple times-about an underwater realm and a mysterious place called the Library of Despair and Sorrow, details from the story begin to appear in his own life: dolphin pods, imposing rock towers, unusual sea creatures, and even Cali's beloved bracelet. As myth and reality collide, El Niño unleashes its fury, and Kai is swept up in a storm of events that will change his understanding of love, death, grief, and how best to honor those we've lost.

More About the Author: Pam Muñoz Ryan is the recipient of the NEA's Human and Civil Rights Award, the PEN Center USA Award, and the 2024 Children’s Literature Legacy Award for her body of work. She was the 2018 US nominee for the international Hans Christian Andersen Award. She received a Newbery Honor Medal and the Kirkus Prize for her New York Times bestselling novel, Echo. Her other celebrated novels, Esperanza Rising, The Dreamer, Riding Freedom, Becoming Naomi Leon, Paint the Wind, and Mananaland, have received countless accolades. Her acclaimed picture books include Amelia and Eleanor Go for a Ride and the Sibert Honor book When Marian Sang, both illustrated by Brian Selznick, Ryan lives near San Diego, California, with her family.

The Book Stall is an independent bookstore and cultural institution on Chicago’s North Shore. We’re known for our great selection of books, cards, and gifts, as well as our long-running author event series. Learn more at www.thebookstall.com.