Remember when Facebook parties were popular, about ten years ago?
That was the original plan for Bertrand's Back-To-School Birthday Book Bash when Bertrand the Mouse came into our lives in August 2013.
Of course, not all ideas become tangible right away. Every year, we talked about hold the event. And every year the developing just didn't happen.
And in our case, we eventually let the Facebook party idea fade away in favor of an in-person event as Bertrand's mission of bringing the joys of reading to children (and adults, too) evolved.
Of course, the best place to host a birthday party for a crocheted mouse whose mission is books is The Book Market in Crest Hill, which is FILLED with new books, old books, and rare books.
We held our first birthday party for Bertrand the Mouse in 2023, and I missed it due to a trip to the ER.
But I didn't miss it this year - and what a great day it was!
Bertrand's Back-To-School Birthday Book Bash included free games-to-go, free miniature chocolate cupcakes with sprinkles, free BryonySeries water bottles and miniature backpacks, free crocheted mice with purchase, and discounted Ribbit-Ribbits (other crocheted items) with purchase.
We sold four BryonySeries books across various ages and interests ("Squeak," "Staked!" "Bertrand's Day on the Lake," and "The Fifth") and adopted out three mice.
One Book Market customer was leaving with his purchase when our display table caught his eye. He bought a book, adopted a mouse, posted on social media how much he enjoyed both (Janet Staley, The Book Market's owner, let me know), and then sent a friend request.
We also had some great "book" conversations during those two hours.
A fifteen-year-old discussed at length the multi-volume biography he's writing and asked questions about the various ways he can publish that.
Another couple stopped at The Book Market on their way to a wedding because the wife was looking for two books in particular: a Jim Morrison biography she used to own and another set of books whose names she could not remember.
While she hunted on the phone, we talked about all sorts of books. I learned the husband loved fantasy and dragons, so I directed him to a WriteOn Joliet member's books in the local author section, since her
Daraga series is fantasy and includes dragons.
As we talked and talked, the wife still couldn't find the book set. She said it was like a "college on a shelf" and she wanted the set with green covers.
I said, "Oh, you mean
the Harvard Classics?" I pulled it up right away on my phone - the green set, because my parents used to own it.
She was thrilled, and Jan immediately took her to the Harvard Classics section in The Book Market (because The Book Market has just about every type of book you can imagine).
When they left with their purchases (including a book and adopted mouse from our table), the husband shook my hand and said, "It's been a pleasure."
And that really encapsulated the heart of why we celebrate Bertrand's birthday.
So for those who missed the celebration...
...read a book.
Any book.
Buy a book, get a library card and borrow a book, or read a book from the stack that's accumulating from your bedside.
Repeat the above steps with the children in your life - if you are so fortunate to have children in your life.
I'm not going to lecture you on the joys of reading. You will understand once you experience them for yourself - and no lecture will be necessary. And if you're reader, you already know, well...you already know.
And then email us at bryonyseries@gmail.com and let's make a birthday deal!
