Shannon Hale and Marcela Cespedes: Dream Big
Calling all our young dreamers! Curious Iguana is excited to welcome bestselling author Shannon Hale and illustrator Marcela Cespedes to Frederick on Tuesday, September 15 from 6:00-7:00 pm at C. Burr Artz Public Library. Shannon and Mace will be discussing their latest middle-grade graphic novel Dream Big, the sequel to Dream On. The story focuses on Cassie, who’s been cast as an extra in a scary movie being filmed in her neighborhood; will she overcome her fears to nail her role and achieve her dream? Following their talk, Shannon and Mace will answer questions and sign books. Copies of Dream Big will be available for purchase at the event.
Location: C. Burr Artz Public Library, 110 E. Patrick St. Frederick, MD 21701
This free, public event is presented in partnership with Frederick County Public Libraries. For accessibility requests, email info@curiousiguana.com at least two (2) weeks prior to the event.
About the book: A movie is being filmed right in Cassie’s neighborhood! Is this her chance to be a star? Dreams come true when she and her best friend Vali get hired as extras. Plus, she’ll get paid, which will help her parents with their money troubles. But when Vali drops out of the movie, Cassie is stuck with the mean kid actors. Even worse, it turns out she’s in a horror movie, and the monster in it scares her. Will she get called a “baby” or “scaredy-cat”? Can Cassie make it through the movie without her fears driving her away?
Join Cassie as she finds the courage to face her fears and dream big!
With bright and charming illustrations by Marcela Cespedes, Dream Big is a joyful story filled with imagination, fun dreams, and wonder. This book is perfect for readers who want to enjoy a gentle and accessible friendship story, as well as anyone looking for SEL themes about empathy, kindness, compassion, and forgiveness.
About the author: Shannon Hale is the New York Times best-selling author of fifty books for preschoolers, kids, teens, and adults, including multiple award winners The Goose Girl, Book of a Thousand Days, and Newbery Honor recipient Princess Academy. One of her novels for the adult crowd, Austenland, was made into movie starring Keri Russell and Jennifer Coolidge. With LeUyen Pham, she created her best-selling graphic novel memoirs Real Friends, Best Friends, and Friends Forever, and the Itty-Bitty Kitty-Corn picture books. She co-writes books with her husband Dean Hale, like the Eisner-nominated graphic novel Rapunzel’s Revenge (with Nathan Hale), books for DC Comics about young Wonder Woman (with Victoria Ying), and best-selling chapter book series The Princess in Black (with LeUyen Pham). She lives in Utah with their four children and two ridiculous cats.
About the illustrator: Marcela Cespedes, or Mace, as her friends call her, began stapling together sheets of paper to draw stories on them, from a very early age. Growing up, her love for comics never ceased to exist even when reading on road trips with her family would make her carsick. Her degree in Graphic Design and a subsequent Masters in Illustration have taken her to work in many creative industries such as advertising, animation, film, and most recently, publishing, where she finally brought together all her professional experiences with her love for books and graphic novels. Originally from Cali, Colombia, she currently resides between California and Wellington, New Zealand, getting the best of both hemispheres. marcelacespedes.com
