Author marks third bilingual kids' book

Local children's author Amada Irma Perez will celebrate the launch of her newest bilingual picture book, "Nana's Big Surprise/Nana, ¡Que Sorpresa!" on Wednesday at Adventures for Kids in Ventura. Perez will read from her work at 9:30 and 11 a.m. and 1 p.m. Cake will be served as part of the festivities.

"Nana's Big Surprise," Perez's third title, tells the story of a family's memories and renewal after the death of a beloved grandfather. Perez's other books are "My Diary From Here to There/Mi diario de aqui hasta allá" (a Pura Belpré Honor Book) and "My Very Own Room/Mi propio cuartito."

Adventures for Kids is at 3457 Telegraph Road. For information or to preorder books, call 650-9688.

SPECIAL EVENTS

Poetry Reading 7:30 p.m. Tuesday. Featured poet is Robert Peake. Artists' Union Gallery, 330 S. California St., Ventura. 320-3524.

Poetry Workshop 7 p.m. Wednesday. Barnes & Noble, 4820 Telephone Road, Ventura. 339-0990.

Teachers' Open House 1 p.m. Saturday. Handouts, drawings and refreshments. Free; reservations required. Barnes & Noble, 160 S. Westlake Blvd., Thousand Oaks. 497-9616.

LIBRARY NEWS

Parenting Stories 6:30 p.m. Monday. Wright Library, 57 Day Road, Ventura. 642-0337.

Juggler David Cousin 6:30 p.m. Monday. Oxnard Library, 251 South A St. 385-5700.

Computer Workshop 10 a.m. Wednesday. Free; registration required. Thousand Oaks Library, 1401 E. Janss Road. 449-2660.

Fractured Fairy Tales 3:30 p.m. Wednesday. Wright Library, 57 Day Road, Ventura. 642-0337.

Paws for Healing 6:30 p.m. Wednesday. Simi Valley Library, 2969 Tapo Canyon Road. 526-1735.

Google Workshop 10 a.m. Thursday. Free; registration required. Thousand Oaks Library, 1401 E. Janss Road. 449-2660.

Toddler Stories 10:30 a.m. Thursdays, through May 3. Newbury Park Library, 2331 Borchard Road. 498-2139.

Fiction Group 2 p.m. Thursday. "Saturday" by Ian McEwan. Prueter Library, 510 Park Ave., Port Hueneme. 486-5460.

Teen Writing Club 3 p.m. (grades 9-12) and 4 p.m. (grades 6-8) Thursday. Moorpark Library, 699 Moorpark Ave. 517-6370.

Paws for Reading 12:30 p.m. Saturday. Wright Library, 57 Day Road, Ventura. 642-0337.

Classical Guitar Concert 2 p.m. Saturday. Guitarist Peter Fletcher. Oxnard Library, 251 South A St. 385-7500.

Masks Art Exhibit Throughout April, Foster Library, 651 E. Main St., Ventura, will display theater-related wire masks created by Bob Privitt, a retired professor at Pepperdine University. The exhibit is cosponsored by the Buenaventura Art Association.

STORY TIMES

Monday 9:30, 10:30 and 11:30 a.m. Barnes & Noble, 160 S. Westlake Blvd., Thousand Oaks. 446-2820.

Tuesday 10 a.m. and 7 p.m. Camarillo Library, 4101 Las Posas Road. 388-5222.

10:30 a.m. Adventures for Kids, 3457 Telegraph Road, Ventura. 650-9688.

10:30 a.m. Prueter Library, 510 Park Ave., Port Hueneme. 486-5460.

10:30 a.m. and 7 p.m. Oxnard Library, 251 South A St. 385-7535.

11 a.m. Moorpark Library, 699 Moorpark Ave. 517-6370.

11:30 a.m. and 7:30 p.m. Simi Valley Library, 2969 Tapo Canyon Road. 526-1735.

Wednesday 10:30 a.m. Blanchard Library, 119 N. Eighth St., Santa Paula. 525-3615.

Saturday 10:30 a.m. Barnes & Noble, 160 S. Westlake Blvd., Thousand Oaks. 446-2820.

11 a.m. Simi Valley Library, 2969 Tapo Canyon Road. 526-1735.

3 p.m. Adventures for Kids, 3457 Telegraph Road, Ventura. 650-9688.

7 p.m. Borders, 125 W. Thousand Oaks Blvd., Thousand Oaks. 497-8159.

— We'd like to announce your news about book/author events in Ventura County. Send items at least three weeks in advance to Jo Ellen Heil at P.O. Box 7083, Ventura CA 93006; samheil@hotmail.com; or fax to 482-6167.