Original and thought-provoking, "All the Saints of the City of Angels" (Heyday Books, $35) is one of the most unusual books to come across my desk in a long time. Filled with bilingual stories and mixed-media paintings created by Southern California artist J. Michael Walker, "Saints" links Los Angeles streets with their saints' names and lives, then weaves the biographies of the past with modern Angelenos.

An "All the Saints of the City of Angels" exhibit is at the Autry National Center through Sept. 7. Readers can purchase the book at the museum. For information, call 323-667-2000 or visit http://www.autrynationalcenter.org.

AUTHOR APPEARANCES

Janet Evanovich 10 a.m. today. Will sign "Fearless Fourteen." Call for a place in the signing line. Mysteries to Die For, 2940 E. Thousand Oaks Blvd., Thousand Oaks. 374-0084.

Elizabeth Zelvin 1 p.m. Friday. Will sign "Death Will Get You Sober." Mysteries to Die For, 2940 E. Thousand Oaks Blvd., Thousand Oaks. 374-0084.

David Rosenfelt Noon Saturday. Will sign "Don't Tell a Soul." Mysteries to Die For, 2940 E. Thousand Oaks Blvd., Thousand Oaks. 374-0084.

SPECIAL EVENTS

Poetry Reading 7:30 p.m. Tuesday. Artists' Union Gallery, 330 S. California St., Ventura.

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

Train of Thought 6:30 p.m. Thursday. Poetry reading at 856 E. Thompson Blvd., Ventura. 642-1146.

Poetry Reading 7:30 p.m. Saturday. Featured poet is Larry Coker. Bell Arts Factory, 432 N. Ventura Ave., Ventura. 643-1960.

LIBRARY NEWS

Computer Workshop 10 a.m. Monday. Prueter Library, 510 Park Ave., Port Hueneme. 486-5460.

Read to Pepper the Dog 3 p.m. Monday. Blanchard Library, 119 N. Eighth St., Santa Paula. 525-3615.

PAWS for Reading 3:30 p.m. Monday. Camarillo Library, 4101 Las Posas Road. 388-5222.

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

Storyteller Elaine Murray 10:30 a.m. Tuesday. Summer Reading Program kick-off. Ojai Library, 111 E. Ojai Ave. 646-1639.

Bug Stories 10:30 a.m. Tuesday. Foster Library, 651 E. Main St., Ventura. 648-2716.

Insect Cartooning Class 1 p.m. Tuesday. Free; registration required. Simi Valley Library, 2969 Tapo Canyon Road. 526-1735.

Ronald McDonald Visit 6:30 p.m. Tuesday. Blanchard Library, 119 N. Eighth St., Santa Paula. 525-3615.

Mozilla Firefox Workshop 7 p.m. Tuesday. Free; registration required. Thousand Oaks Library, 1401 E. Janss Road. 449-2660.

Storyteller Elaine Murray 2 p.m. Wednesday. Summer Reading Program kick-off. Prueter Library, 510 Park Ave., Port Hueneme. 486-5460.

Magician Shawn McMaster 3:30 p.m. Wednesday. Wright Library, 57 Day Road, Ventura. 642-0337.

Paws 4 Healing 6:30 p.m. Wednesday. Simi Valley Library, 2969 Tapo Canyon Road. 526-1735.

Book Club 2 p.m. Thursday. "Bless Me, Ultima" by Rudolfo Anaya. Registration requested. Prueter Library, 510 Park Ave., Port Hueneme. 486-5460.

Bug Program 3 p.m. Thursday. Oxnard Library, 251 South A St. 385-7535.

Writers' Workshop 6 p.m. Thursday. Twice-Sold Tales Bookstore, 122 E. Ojai Ave., Ojai. 646-1639.

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

Storyteller Jim Cogan 2 p.m. June 29. Camarillo Library, 4101 Las Posas Road. 388-5222.

STORY TIMES

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

Tuesday 11 a.m. Borders, 241 W. Esplanade Drive, Oxnard. 988-6886.

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

11 a.m. Borders, 2910 Tapo Canyon Road, Simi Valley. 526-2800.

Thursday 10:30 a.m. Moorpark Library, 699 Moorpark Ave. 517-6370.

Friday 7 p.m. Borders, 2910 Tapo Canyon Road, Simi Valley. 526-2800.

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

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

— 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.