The 2017/2018 Inprint Cool Brains! season presents Katherine Paterson, Ann M. Martin, and Juan Felipe Herrera.

In January 2007, Inprint launched a family reading series, Cool Brains! Inprint Readings for Young People. The series brings the country’s most exciting children’s authors to Houston for readings and book signings, free and open to the public. 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 his or her 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 Cool Brains! readings per year. Audiences have ranged from 100 – 1,000 attendees.

The series has featured leading middle grade authors including Katherine Applegate, Pseudonymous Bosch, Christopher Paul Curtis, Chris Grabenstein, Lois Lowry, 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.

Cool Brains! Inprint Readings for Young People is generously underwritten by H-E-B and the National Endowment for the Arts: Arts Work. Cool Brains! receives promotional support from the Harris County Public Library, Houston Independent School District Library Services, and Houston Public Library. Blue Willow Bookshop is the Series’ independent bookseller.

Click here to visit the Inprint Archive of Readings and watch online video recordings of past readings by many of these authors.