Store Celebrating 17th Year of Reading Fun

There is a strange perception that fewer people read books in this burgeoning electronic era, which is perplexing considering the extraordinary explosion of huge bookstore chains. Of greater concern is the continued survival of independent bookstores, which have a hard time competing with their huge, discount-offering brethren.

And so we congratulate Adventures for Kids, which celebrates its 17th anniversary this weekend. Co-owner Jody Fickes Shapiro has been singled out for her dedication to awakening youngsters to the joys of reading. And Adventures is the only children’s bookstore in the nation to receive the distinguished Charles Haslam Award, presented annually at the American Booksellers Assn.

The award, which Adventures for Kids received in 1992, is given to a bookseller who exemplifies innovative business practices combined with social responsibility.

A host of activities is planned at the bookstore including special sales, a birthday reception Saturday and an appearance by Brian Jacques, the British author of the “Redwall” series, who will sign his latest, “Outcast of Redwall,” at noon Sunday.

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Nevada Barr will sign “Firestorm,” his fourth Anna Pigeon mystery at noon Friday at Mysteries to Die For, 2940 Thousand Oaks Blvd., Thousand Oaks.

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Conejo Valley Genealogy Society will present a “Beginners Seminar for New Genealogists” from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturday in the Newbury Park Library, 2331 Borchard Road. Lunch will be available. Call 496-0653 or 495-7339 for details.

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Two events for aspiring writers are scheduled this week at Barnes & Noble, 4360 E. Main St., Ventura. Mary Embree will conduct a seminar on “How to Write a Winning Book Proposal” from 1 to 3 p.m. Saturday. And at 7 p.m. Wednesday, writers will gather to exchange comments and critiques on works-in-progress.

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The Thousand Oaks Library’s Friendly Book Discussion Group does not want to go on being “the best-kept secret in Ventura.” Everyone who loves to read and discuss books is welcome to join the monthly gathering at Goebel Senior Center, 138 E. Janss Road. “Testament of Youth,” by Vera Brittain, will be discussed at 7:30 p.m. Wednesday. Call Madeline Hess at 482-9692 for details.

UP THE COAST

Do you talk funny? Love a good joke? Borders Books, 900 State St., Santa Barbara, is hosting its first Comedy Night at 7:30 tonight. If you have a comedy routine you’d like to try out, sign in at the information desk or call 899-3668.

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Laurence Boldt, author of the best-selling “Zen and the Art of Making a Living,” now in its eighth printing, will sign his new book, “How to Find the Work You Love,” at 3 p.m. Saturday, Earthling Bookshop, 1137 State St.

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Brian Jacques will read from the latest entry in his children’s fantasy series, “Outcast of Redwall,” at 3:30 p.m. Sunday at Chaucer’s Books, 3321 State St., Loreto Plaza.

Frances Halpern along with Jon O’Brien is co-host of “Beyond Words” at 10 a.m. Sundays on KCLU 88.3 FM, Ventura County’s National Public Radio station.