Storytime with Canine Companions
Sunday, February 1 at 10:30am

Calling all dog lovers! Join us for a paws-itively amazing storytime event. Canine Companions will be sharing Andy: A Dog’s Tale, a picture book following one dog’s journey to becoming a service dog. The event will include demonstrations by Beignet (an adorable dog in training), Kyle (a certified service dog), and Boyd (Los Altos Police Facility dog). Afterwards, there will be plenty of time to meet, pet, and cuddle with these and other furry friends!

Adapted from the award-winning short film of the same name, Andy: A Dog’s Tale follows the journey of a determined puppy who overcomes adversity to discover his purpose as a service dog. Follow along as Andy faces challenges on his path, mirroring the real-life dedication, training, and bond that go into preparing service dogs to help people with disabilities.

Book Launch with Petra Lord
In conversation with Maggie Tokuda-Hall
Thursday, February 5 at 6pm

Linden Tree Books is excited to welcome author Petra Lord for the launch of her debut novel, Queen of Faces, a dark academia fantasy that follows a desperate girl at a cutthroat magical academy who faces a choice between life and death: become an assassin for the enchanted elite or watch her decaying body draw its last breath. Petra will be in conversation with one of our favorite local authors, Maggie Tokuda-Hall.

Anabelle Gage is trapped in a male body, and it’s rotting from the inside out. In Caimor, where the magical elite buy and swap designer bodies like clothes, Ana can’t afford to escape her tattered form. When she fails the entrance exam to the prestigious Paragon Academy, her last hope of earning a new body implodes. As the clock ticks down to her last breath, she’s forced to use her illusion magic to steal a healthy chassis—before her own kills her.

But Ana is caught by none other than the headmaster of Paragon Academy, who poses a brutal ultimatum: face execution for her crime or become a mercenary at his command. Revolt brews in Caimor's smog-choked underworld, and the wealthy and powerful will stop at nothing to take down the rebels and the infamous dark witch at their helm, the Black Wraith.

With no choice but to accept, Ana will steal, fight, and kill her way to salvation. But her survival depends on a dangerous band of renegades: an impulsive assassin, a brooding bombmaker, and an alluring exile who might just spell her ruin. As Ana is drawn into a tangled web of secrets, the line between villain and hero shatters—and Ana must decide which side is worth dying for.

Book Launch with Rie Neal
In conversation with Lindsay Lackey
Friday, February 6 at 6pm

We’re excited to welcome Rie Neal back to the store to celebrate the launch of her new middle grade novel, Space for Saffron. Rie will be joined in conversation by fellow author, Lindsay Lackey. There will also be an ASL interpreter present for the conversation.

Curious ten-year-old Saffron Speiser-Green loves science—unfortunately, her “experiments” tend to end in more messes than actual answers. (Just ask the broken alarm clock that’s still at the bottom of her backpack.) Saffron has a plan, though—a blue ribbon in her school’s Project Showcase will show the world she means business.

But when Saffron’s beloved volcano project ruins the walls at Mama’s job and gets her fired, Saffron will do anything to make things right—including helping Mama convince her other mom, Mimi, that they should move to the Silicon Valley to run Gran’s coffee shop. Mama’s dream job is worth giving up the blue ribbon. Right?

Luckily for Saffron, her new friends in the Silicon Valley are busy preparing for a STEM Expo, and Saffron is determined to find a project “smart” enough to show everyone she belongs there. But the coffee shop? No customers, no vision, and…tons of debt. And if it closes, Saffron’s family will have to move again. After a class trip to the STEAMology Museum in San Francisco, though, Saffron knows how to save the café—and what to do for her STEM Expo project. But she’s going to need a lot of help.

Can Saffron prove she’s more than a mess-maker and rescue the family business? 

Story Writing Workshops for Kids & Teens
Sunday, February 8 at 2:30pm (ages 7-11)
Sunday, February 8 at 3:30pm (ages 12+)

Story writing workshops are back! We’ll provide a story game to jump start our imaginations, tips for creating unique characters and plot twists, two writingcoaches for brainstorming and feedback, and a welcoming, creative space.

These free meetups are led by Shu-Hsien Ho and Royd Hatta of Beyond the Box Learning (both are former Linden Tree booksellers!). We’ll meet in the back of the store where there will be comfortable seating and tables. Please bring your imagination, enthusiasm, notebook, pencils/pens, erasers, and a water bottle.

Space is limited! To RSVP, please email [email protected].

Upcoming story writing workshops: 

• Sunday, March 15
• Sunday, April 19

Parenting Discussion with Jody Passanisi
Thursday, February 12 at 7pm

Calling all parents of middle schoolers! Join us as author Jody Passanisi shares strategies and resources from her book Chaos to Context: A Parent’s Guide Through the Middle Grades. Jody will be in conversation with Brooke Bishara, Linden Tree bookseller and Hand in Hand parenting instructor.

Marked by significant physical, cognitive, and emotional changes, the middle school years pose unique challenges that can have a profound impact on middle-grade students' academic performance, social and emotional well-being, and overall development. Jody’s book provides the knowledge, resources, and strategies needed to successfully navigate these challenges while creating a nurturing and supportive environment. In addition to covering topics such as puberty, changing social dynamics, identity exploration, digital literacy, and self-advocacy, chapters also provide resources for further reading and reflection questions to inspire dynamic discussion between parent and child.

Book Launch with Carolina Ixta
In conversation with Randy Ribay
Monday, February 16 at 6pm

We’re excited to welcome Belpré Award-winning author Carolina Ixta to share her new young adult novel, Few Blue Skies. Carolina will be in conversation with another award-winning author, Randy Ribay.

Paloma Vistamontes is heartbroken. A year ago, her ex-boyfriend, Julio Ramos, broke up with her after his father’s death, a tragedy that drove Paloma and him apart. Ever since then, the mountains have felt flatter, the sky farther away.

Now, her hometown of San Fermín, a place where honest people work on farms and in factories, is in danger. Selva, a massive e-commerce conglomerate, threatens to open one of their warehouses beside her high school.

This isn’t the first time they’ve done this. Since Selva arrived, they’ve opened warehouses everywhere where there used to be green spaces. Because of them, the air pollution is so bad that school is often canceled. Many people, including Paloma’s ever-practical Ma, want to leave.

But Paloma wants nothing more than to stay. Because when the smog clears, there is still hope. That hope drives Paloma to reconnect with Julio to expose and challenge the dangers that Selva introduces to communities like their own. Can they stop Selva from destroying everything they know? Is there still a chance for their budding romance?

Storytime with Zohreh Ghahremani
Sunday, February 22 at 10:30am

Celebrate the Persian New Year with us as author Zohreh Ghahremani shares her adorable new picture book, Celebrate Nowruz! A Persian New Year Holiday to Honor Spring.

The vernal equinox is around the corner, which means it's time to begin preparing for Nowruz. With mom out of town, it's up to Ariana and Dad set up the haft seen and bake fresh baklava—but not without Nana's help, of course.

Written and illustrated by the loving mother-daughter duo that created Memory Garden, Celebrate Nowruz is a celebration of springtime and community that readers will be excited join in on.

Middle Grade Book Club: The Unwanteds
Sunday, February 22 at 4pm

It’s the next meeting of our middle grade book club for ages 9+! Led by bookseller extraordinaire Lorilee, we hope to introduce interested readers to amazing new books and the opportunity to talk about them in a fun, relaxed group setting. This month’s book is The Unwanteds, a riveting middle-grade dystopian novel by bestselling author Lisa McMann. Please email [email protected] to RSVP. 

When Alex finds out he is Unwanted, he expects to die. That is the way of the people of Quill. Each year, all the thirteen-year-olds are labeled as Wanted, Necessary, or Unwanted. Wanteds get more schooling and train to join the Quillitary. Necessaries keep the farms running. Unwanteds are set for elimination.

It’s hard for Alex to leave behind his twin, Aaron, a Wanted, but he makes peace with his fate—until he discovers that instead of a “death farm,” what awaits him is a magical place called Artimé. There, Alex and his fellow Unwanteds are encouraged to cultivate their creative abilities and use them magically. Everything Alex has ever known changes before his eyes, and it’s a wondrous transformation.

But it’s a rare, unique occurrence for twins to be divided between Wanted and Unwanted, and as Alex and Aaron’s bond stretches across their separation, a threat arises for the survival of Artimé that will pit brother against brother in an ultimate magical battle.

Upcoming book club meetings: 

• Sunday, March 22
• Sunday, April 26

Book Launch with Kate Francis
In conversation with Keely Parrack
Tuesday, February 24 at 6pm

We’re excited to welcome author Kate Francis to celebrate her debut thriller, Every Last Liar. Kate will be in conversation with fellow author Keely Parrack.

On the first anniversary of a tragic fire at their high school, seven teenagers jump at the chance to attend a luxury desert retreat. But when they’re left at a rundown abandoned motel and a sinister text message accuses them of complicity in the fire, they realize someone is playing a deadly game of revenge.

The rules? Every hour, one of them must sacrifice themselves, leaving the motel to be killed, until only one survivor remains. Otherwise… they all die.

As the countdown begins, the stranded must answer the questions: when everyone's guilty, who deserves to live? Who deserves to die? With time running out, can they work together to uncover who’s running the game before the bodies pile up? Or will it be survival of the fittest?

Storytime with Michael Slack
Sunday, March 1 at 10:30am

We’re excited to welcome illustrator Michael Slack for a special storytime as he shares his latest book, Exca-Gator!, written by Brooke Hartman.

He's an alligator . . . he operates an excavator . . . he is EXCA-GATOR!

Exca-Gator is so excited for a new day of building and constructing with all of his buds! He may be even a little too excited, when he overestimates his abilities and causes a big old construction site mess. Can Exca-Gator make things right with his friends and save the day?

Storytime with Charlotte Cheng
Sunday, March 8 at 10:30am

We’re excited to welcome author Charlotte Cheng back for a special storytime as she shares her beautiful new picture book, A Name for Sister.

When Sister was born, she had toes like grains of rice. She had hair as dark as sesame sweets . . . But she had no name. 

Only a name as passionate and graceful as Fire, honest and stable as Earth, strong and ambitious as Gold, bright and wise as Water, and creative and prosperous as Wood could fit a baby like Sister.

Discover how a young girl and her family find the perfect name in this magical, whimsical and stunning ode to Chinese tradition and sisterly bonds. This sweet tale is one that growing families will treasure.

Stories, Songs, and Silliness with Miss Leslie
Thursdays at 10:30am

Join us every Thursday morning at 10:30am for stories, songs, and silliness featuring our own Miss Leslie! We’ll sing, dance, read stories, and have a blast on the patio in front of our store. All ages are welcome.

Baby Storytime with Miss Leslie
Thursdays at 11:15am

Outdoor Storytimes
Sundays at 10:30am

Join us every Sunday morning at 10:30am in front of the store as one of our booksellers (or perhaps a local author) shares some of their favorite read-alouds. (Grab a tasty treat from our neighbors at Manresa Bread while your kids enjoy the stories!) All storytimes feature picture books and are appropriate for all ages.