OPL Ouachita Valley Branch to host back-to-school fair

So it looks like Harper Lee isn't the only one to have a book discovered and published.

Dr. Seuss, otherwise known as Theodor Seuss Geisel, wrote a children's picture book titled "What Pet Should I Get?" and it's been published posthumously by Random House. The story follows the siblings from "One Fish Two Fish Red Fish Blue Fish" who visit a pet store to choose a pet and have a hard time making up their minds. At the end of the illustrated book is an editor's note discussing Dr. Seuss's own pets and the discovery of the manuscript after his death.

Book launches

Award-winning author Alex Kershaw will launch his latest book, "Avenue of Spies: A True Story of Terror, Espionage, and One American Family's Heroic Resistance in Nazi-Occupied Paris," with a 5 p.m. reception Tuesday, followed by a 6 p.m. presentation and a 7 p.m. book signing at the U.S. Freedom Pavilion of the World War II Museum in New Orleans.

The book follows American physician Sumner Jackson and family who lived in peril in Nazi-occupied Paris during World War II, with the Gestapo headquarters down the street and Vichy collaborators, spies and secret police in Jackson's neighborhood. From his office at the American Hospital, Jackson smuggled fallen Allied fighter pilots safely out of France, a job complicated by the hospital director's close ties to collaborationist Vichy. After witnessing the roundup of his Jewish friends, Jackson invited Liberation to officially operate out of his home. When his secret life was discovered by his Nazi neighbors, he and his family were forced to undertake a journey into the war-torn continent.

To reserve a spot at the event and book signing, call (504) 528-1944, Ext. 412, or visit national ww2museum.org/.

Book news

Children's book author Mo Willems of New Orleans and Tony DiTerlizzi has published "The Story of Diva and Flea," an illustrated board book for ages 6-8 featuring Diva, a small yet brave dog, and Flea, a curious streetwise cat. They two develop an unexpected friendship in Paris. The story is based on an experience Willems had in Paris and you can view how the book came to be in this YouTube video: youtube.com/watch? t=46&v=SkamO8G2oKg.

Books Along the Teche in New Iberia has a few copies of the Daily Iberian books "New Iberia; Looking Back" Volumes 1 and 2 and are taking orders for James Lee Burke's next novel, "House of the Rising Sun," that's due out in December.

Book events

A free health and back-to-school readiness fair will be from 2 p.m. to 5 p.m. Thursday at the Ouachita Valley Branch Library. There will be free health screenings, back-to-school safety tips, games, and door prizes. The first 72 students between the ages of 5 and 11 will receive free backpacks.

Also on Thursday, teen author Chrishana Rodgers will sign her book, "Daughters of the Unknown" at 6 p.m. at the Ollie Burns Branch Library.

John R. Batty signs "Voices of Angels: Disaster Lessons From Katrina Nurses" at 6 p.m. Wednesday at Garden District Book Shop in New Orleans. Co-authors Batty and Gail Tumulty interviewed nurses and healthcare workers after Hurricane Katrina and presented their findings at the American Nurses' Association conference. In those interviews, collected in the book, the nurses spoke about their experiences caring for patients at New Orleans hospitals and medical centers, including the Veterans Affairs Hospital, Charity Hospital, University Hospital and Ochsner Medical Center. The book also contains lessons and disaster preparedness plans for healthcare professionals and consumers. An award-winning educator, Tumulty passed away in 2015, shortly after completing this book.

The Greater Lafayette Aging District (G.L.A.D.) will host guest speaker Camille Pavy Claibourne from 2 to 4 p.m. Thursday at South Regional Library to discuss "My journey with my parents in their aging years: Their courage, their humor, their faith." Claiborne holds a PhD in human and organization development with an emphasis on thanatology, the study of death and dying.

Cheré Coen is the author of "Forest Hill, Louisiana: A Bloom Town History," "Haunted Lafayette, Louisiana" and "Exploring Cajun Country: A Historic Guide to Acadiana" and co-author of "Magic's in the Bag: Creating Spellbinding Gris Gris Bags and Sachets." Write her at cherecoen@gmail.com.