The 2020/2021 Inprint Cool Brains! Reading Series will take place virtually this season and features Lois Lowry, Chris Grabenstein, Jennifer L. Holm, and Jacqueline Woodson, with details about other writers in the season coming soon.

In 2004, Inprint launched a family reading series now called the Inprint Cool Brains! Reading Series. The series brings the country’s most exciting children’s authors to Houston for readings and book signings, free and open to the public. Typically readings take place on Sunday afternoons, 3 pm, at Meyerland Performing and Visual Arts Middle School (formerly Johnston Middle School). Each of the writers gives a lively presentation about their work and then takes questions from the audience. The on-stage portion of the event is followed by a book sale and signing, where kids can meet their favorite author. Inprint conducts three to four readings per year. Audiences have ranged from 100 – 1,000 attendees.

The series has featured leading middle-grade authors including Kwame Alexander, Katherine Applegate, Pseudonymous Bosch, Christopher Paul Curtis, Chris Grabenstein, Lois Lowry, Meg Medina, R. J. Palacio, Katherine Paterson, Gary Paulsen, Jon Scieszka, Jacqueline Woodson and many others. A full list is below. Click here to see photos and clippings from past readings. Click here to visit the Inprint Archive of Readings and watch online recordings of past readings.

The Inprint Cool Brains! Reading Series is generously underwritten by H-E-B and the National Endowment for the Arts. Blue Willow Bookshop is the Series’ independent bookseller.