Get ready for summer reading season this Wednesday night with a special early start for the monthly WordsWest Literary Series event – this time around, it’s Kids’ Night! Here’s the official announcement, if you haven’t already seen it in the WSB West Seattle Event Calendar:

On May 18, 2016, WordsWest will have a special, early 6 pm start and feature Kelly Jones, author of “Unusual Chickens for the Exceptional Poultry Farmer,” and Dana Simpson, author of the “Phoebe and Her Unicorn” comic series and collections, winner of the Washington State Book Award and the PNBA Award. Not only that, Jenny Cole of Burien’s Page 2 Books will share a Favorite Poem and host a Summer Reading Table. Yummy treats will be served! This evening is partially funded by Seattle Office of Arts & Culture.

Kelly Jones is a former librarian and bookseller who has worked with writers of all ages. She keeps much-loved, but fair…ly ordinary chickens at her home in Shoreline, Washington. Her debut novel “Unusual Chickens for the Exceptional Poultry Farmer,” about 12-year-old Sophie and her magical chickens, was illustrated by Katie Kath and published by Knopf Books for Young Readers. Unusual Chickens for the Exceptional Poultry Farmer was named an ALSC Children’s Notable Book for 2016, a 2016 Mathical Honor Book, a 2016-2017 Texas Bluebonnet Master List nominee, and a 2016-2017 Georgia Children’s Book Award Finalist; Kelly was named a 2016 Children’s Choice Debut Author finalist by the Children’s Choice Book Awards.

Dana Claire Simpson grew up in Gig Harbor, drawing the entire time. She eventually graduated from the Evergreen State College, despite having spent all her time drawing, and not always for credit. Attempts at doing real work along the way are hardly worth mentioning; the relevant fact is that, from 1998 to 2008, she drew the internet comic strip “Ozy and Millie.” After winning the Comic Strip Superstar contest in 2009, she developed the comic strip “Phoebe and Her Unicorn” (originally known online as “Heavenly Nostrils”), currently syndicated in nearly 200 newspapers. There have been three “Phoebe and Her Unicorn” book collections, to date. The first, Phoebe and Her Unicorn, won a 2015 Washington State Book Award. The second, Unicorn on a Roll, won a 2016 Pacific Northwest Book Award. A third book, Unicorn vs. Goblins, was released in February 2016.

Every third Wednesday at C & P Coffee Company, WordsWest hosts literary events that range from readings by published local and national authors, to guided writing explorations. Each month we also host a community member to share his or her favorite poem as part of the Favorite Poem Project. WordsWest is curated by West Seattle writers Katy E. Ellis, Susan Rich, and Harold Taw.

C & P (a WSB sponsor) is at 5612 California SW.