Events
World Book Day 2025
Help us get more books into more rural schools.
Weezie Educational Pavilion - Port Royal Sound Foundation
310 Okatie Hwy, Okatie, SC 29909
April 26, 2025, 5:30 – 8:30 PM
Live Music, Food & Live Auction!!
You are invited to make an IMPACT!
As we embark on a new year and look forward to the promise of 2025, we are filled with hope and determination to make a greater impact than ever before. This April, we invite you to join us for our annual fundraiser, where together, we can double our goals and amplify our mission in profound ways.
This year is particularly special for us as we celebrate significant milestones that have been made possible by your generous support. We want to share these achievements with you and invite you to be a part of our journey as we aim to make an even bigger difference in the lives of those we serve.
Prepare to be transported to a little piece of Kenya at our event, where you'll experience the vibrant culture and beauty that inspires our work. Enjoy delicious food and an open bar, all while engaging in fantastic conversations with like-minded individuals who share your passion for making a positive impact.
Your support means the world to us. By purchasing a ticket, you are not just attending an event; you are joining a community committed to creating lasting change. Together, we can reach new heights and transform lives in ways we have only dreamed of.
Don't miss this opportunity to be a part of something truly special. Purchase your tickets today and help us turn our vision into a reality.
With heartfelt gratitude,
The entire Libraries for Kids, Int'l Team ♥️
Buy tickets here:
✨ A Night Under the African Stars ✨
In September 2018, I, Roy Austin embarked on a transformative five-week safari across several captivating countries in East Africa, driven by a deep yearning to witness the majestic wildlife in their natural habitat before it was too late. Initially, the itinerary's emphasis on cultural experiences left me feeling uneasy. Truthfully, I was skeptical about visiting homes, schools, villages, and the communities of bushmen. My heart was set on the animals, and if enduring these cultural encounters was the price to pay, so be it.
The animals, indeed, were nothing short of magnificent. We were graced by the presence of over 100 lions, vast herds of elephants, and the powerful cape buffalo. We marveled at the beauty of zebras, wildebeests, warthogs, rhinos, hippos, giraffes, baboons, an array of antelopes, and a dazzling variety of birds that danced through the sky. The true highlights of my journey were the elusive leopard and the swift cheetah, each encounter leaving an indelible mark on my heart.
Yet, in a twist I never anticipated, my encounters with the resilient and vibrant people of Africa became some of the most cherished moments of my trip. Visiting their homes, bustling markets, sacred churches, and spirited schools revealed a warmth, intelligence, creativity, and resourcefulness that truly inspired me. Their happiness was infectious, and I found myself captivated by their stories and spirit.
One particularly poignant visit was to the Amboseli Primary and Secondary School nestled in Amboseli National Park, Kenya. In this rural landscape, the government does not construct school buildings; instead, the duty falls on communities to either build them or raise the necessary funds. This school stands adjacent to a Maasai tribe that has courageously transformed their way of life to prioritize education for their children. Traditionally nomadic herders, the Maasai now establish semi-permanent settlements near the school, a testament to their unwavering commitment to education.
This shift, however, comes with challenges. The warriors now take their herds further afield in search of grazing land, sometimes for weeks at a time, exposing them to greater risks from predators. Yet, the importance of education reigns supreme in their hearts, compelling them to adapt.
When we inquired about a library at the school, the teacher’s response was filled with a mixture of hope and longing. With a gleam in her eye and a radiant smile, she simply replied, “No, but we’d LOVE ONE!” It was in that moment that I realized the power of dreams and the relentless pursuit of knowledge, even in the face of adversity.
As we launch our campaign, we can proudly say we have established 8,576 libraries in rural primary schools, a container is due to arrive early September in Kenya, and the container is soon to be on the water with over 50,000 books inside! Without your support, this impact would not be so big!! We can’t wait to update you as these containers get delivered and see you at our 4th annual charity fundraiser!
Our promise to our donors, that 100% of your donation fund our program (unless you state otherwise) is alive and well AND….. Libraries for Kids, Int’l is working hard to make an even bigger impact in 2025!
Please join us at our fundraiser as we take you to Africa to show you a book through the eye’s of a child.
Free Author Monthly Event Series
Free Author Monthly Events sponsored by Libraries for Kids, Int’l
Location: The Roasting Room, 1297 May River Rd, Bluffton, SC (2nd floor above Corner Perk)
Time: 10:30-11:30 AM, followed by an optional Dutch Treat lunch with the author.
Libraries for Kids Int’l sponsors the free talks, but there is a suggested donation of $5 to the sponsor. Books will be available for sale and signing.
Reservations are required because seating is limited. Call or text Tamela Maxim at 843-683-4100 or email at tamela.maxim@libraries4kids.org to reserve a spot or with any questions.
February 17, 2025, Author Bill Borg and Illustrator Mira Scott will discuss their book, Myrtle the Loggerhead Turtle.
Review by Todd Ballantine: "Myrtle the Loggerhead Turtle is an archetypal story of the lifecycle of a loggerhead sea turtle and her epic plight to survive and thrive. The melodic refrain on each page is a lyrical reminder that nature is rooting for Myrtle's return home. This engaging story draws the reader deeper into the drama of one of the most miraculous migrations on earth. Mira Scott's art is brilliant and expressive. In the tradition of award-winning children's books, her paintings will keep readers coming back over and over to visit with all of the characters."
Based on the story of a real-life super turtle, Myrtle the Loggerhead Turtle reimagines the beginning, the magic of a protecting mermaid, the danger of a shark and barracuda, and the yearning to return to Hilton Head Island for a very special job.
A percentage of every book sale goes to Sea Turtle Patrol, Hilton Head Island.
Free Author Monthly Event Series
Free Author Monthly Events sponsored by Libraries for Kids, Int’l
Location: The Roasting Room, 1297 May River Rd, Bluffton, SC (2nd floor above Corner Perk)
Time: 10:30-11:30 AM, followed by an optional Dutch Treat lunch with the author.
Libraries for Kids Int’l sponsors the free talks, but there is a suggested donation of $5 to the sponsor. Books will be available for sale and signing.
Reservations are required because seating is limited. Call or text Tamela Maxim at 843-683-4100 or email at tamela.maxim@libraries4kids.org to reserve a spot or with any questions.
March 10, 2025, Author Tara Lynn Masih will discuss her book My Real Name is Hanna. Tara Lynn Masih is a National Jewish Book Award Finalist and winner of the Julia Ward Howe Award for Young Readers for her debut novel My Real Name Is Hanna. Her anthologies include The Rose Metal Press Field Guide to Writing Flash Fiction and The Chalk Circle: Intercultural Prizewinning Essays. How We Disappear: Novella & Stories, her latest collection, won a 2022 Florida Book Award, and she’s published multiple chapbooks with the Feral Press archived in universities such as Yale and NYU. She founded the Intercultural Essay Prize in 2006 and The Best Small Fictions series in 2015.
Masih received a finalist fiction grant from the Massachusetts Cultural Council, an Inspirational Woman in Literature Award from AITL Media, and several national book awards, including an IBPA Benjamin Franklin Award, for her work as an editor.
Free Author Monthly Event Series
Free Author Monthly Events sponsored by Libraries for Kids, Int’l
Location: The Roasting Room, 1297 May River Rd, Bluffton, SC (2nd floor above Corner Perk)
Time: 10:30-11:30 AM, followed by an optional Dutch Treat lunch with the author.
Libraries for Kids Int’l sponsors the free talks, but there is a suggested donation of $5 to the sponsor. Books will be available for sale and signing.
Reservations are required because seating is limited. Call or text Tamela Maxim at 843-683-4100 or email at tamela.maxim@libraries4kids.org to reserve a spot or with any questions.
April 17, 2025, Author Tom Poland will discuss his book South Carolina Reflections: A Photographic Journey, Photographs by Robert C. Clark, Text by Tom Poland, Foreword by Mary Alice Monroe.
Tom Poland is the author of fourteen books and more than 2,000 magazine features and columns. He writes about the South, its people, culture, land, natural wealth, and beautiful detritus—ruins and abandoned places. He travels back roads looking for forgotten places, captivating people, and vestiges of bygone times. Much of that work finds its way into books, columns, essays, and features. The television episode By The River by Tom Poland & Robert Clark won a Bronze Telly Award in the Television – Nature/Wildlife category.
Free Author Monthly Event Series
Free Author Monthly Events sponsored by Libraries for Kids, Int’l
Location: The Roasting Room, 1297 May River Rd, Bluffton, SC (2nd floor above Corner Perk)
Time: 10:30-11:30 AM, followed by an optional Dutch Treat lunch with the author.
Libraries for Kids Int’l sponsors the free talks, but there is a suggested donation of $5 to the sponsor. Books will be available for sale and signing.
Reservations are required because seating is limited. Call or text Tamela Maxim at 843-683-4100 or email at tamela.maxim@libraries4kids.org to reserve a spot or with any questions.
May 9, 2025, Author Estelle Ford-Williamson will discuss her book Rising Fawn.
Estelle Ford-Williamson is a former UPI reporter, now writing literary, historical and non-fiction books. Nominated for top fiction prizes in Georgia, awarded Poets and Writers, Inc. grants for workshops and readings in Atlanta and New York State, and awarded Resident Fellowships twice at the Hambidge Center in Rabun Gap, GA. She has been praised for descriptions of the natural world, sharply drawn characters, and deep research skills. Published in "The Louisville Review," snreview.com, and "Short Story America Vol. 6" (2018), among many newspapers. She has designed and conducted creative writing and “Writing Your Story” workshops for young people who are timing out of foster care and for memoir writers at a senior center. She co-founded Wells for Hope, Inc. following the publication of "Seed of South Sudan: Memoir of a ‘Lost Boy’ Refugee," co-written with Majok Marier. The non-profit has built water wells in four villages in South Sudan, improving the lives of women and children especially.
Free Author Monthly Event Series
Free Author Monthly Events sponsored by Libraries for Kids, Int’l
Location: The Roasting Room, 1297 May River Rd, Bluffton, SC (2nd floor above Corner Perk)
Time: 10:30-11:30 AM, followed by an optional Dutch Treat lunch with the author.
Libraries for Kids Int’l sponsors the free talks, but there is a suggested donation of $5 to the sponsor. Books will be available for sale and signing.
Reservations are required because seating is limited. Call or text Tamela Maxim at 843-683-4100 or email at tamela.maxim@libraries4kids.org to reserve a spot or with any questions.
June 16, 2025, Author Kacey Kowars will discuss his book Chasing the Queen’s Gambit: A Literary Biography of Walter Tevis
Kacey Kowars’s fascination with Walter Tevis's life began in the early 1980s. He was featured in the 2021 PBS documentary “Walter Tevis: A Writer’s Gambit.” He hosted The Kacey Kowars Show and received the 2022 Doug Marlette Lifetime Achievement for “A lifetime spent promoting authors, books, and literacy.” He interviewed over 100 authors, including Sandra Brown, David Baldacci, Harlan Koben, James Wood, Jennifer Haigh, Michael Connelly, Ted Dekker, Scott Turow, Alice Hoffman, Sidney Sheldon, and Jeannette Walls
July 21, 2025, Author Brenda Sutton Rose will discuss her book Dogwood Blues.
Brenda’s poetry, essays, and short stories have appeared in Flycatcher Magazine, Mobius: Journal of Social Change, Montucky Review, Muddy River Poetry Review, Dead Mule School of Southern Literature, Ginosko Literary Magazine, and numerous other online and print journals. She is the author of Dogwood Blues, a novel that earned her a reputation as a writer of Southern fiction with a focus on the changing South and small-town life. Brenda was nominated for a Georgia Author of the Year Award in 2015, a Pushcart Prize in Fiction in 2018, and a Pushcart Prize in Fiction in 2023. She is currently working on her second novel.
Brenda leads writing workshops and speaks at book clubs and related events. Her email is brenda@brendasuttonrose.com.
Free Author Monthly Event Series
Free Author Monthly Events sponsored by Libraries for Kids, Int’l
Location: The Roasting Room, 1297 May River Rd, Bluffton, SC (2nd floor above Corner Perk)
Time: 10:30-11:30 AM, followed by an optional Dutch Treat lunch with the author.
Libraries for Kids Int’l sponsors the free talks, but there is a suggested donation of $5 to the sponsor. Books will be available for sale and signing.
Reservations are required because seating is limited. Call or text Tamela Maxim at 843-683-4100 or email at tamela.maxim@libraries4kids.org to reserve a spot or with any questions.
July 21, 2025, Author Brenda Sutton Rose will discuss her book Dogwood Blues.
Brenda’s poetry, essays, and short stories have appeared in Flycatcher Magazine, Mobius: Journal of Social Change, Montucky Review, Muddy River Poetry Review, Dead Mule School of Southern Literature, Ginosko Literary Magazine, and numerous other online and print journals. She is the author of Dogwood Blues, a novel that earned her a reputation as a writer of Southern fiction with a focus on the changing South and small-town life. Brenda was nominated for a Georgia Author of the Year Award in 2015, a Pushcart Prize in Fiction in 2018, and a Pushcart Prize in Fiction in 2023. She is currently working on her second novel.
Brenda leads writing workshops and speaks at book clubs and related events. Her email is brenda@brendasuttonrose.com.
Free Author Monthly Event Series
Free Author Monthly Events sponsored by Libraries for Kids, Int’l
Location: The Roasting Room, 1297 May River Rd, Bluffton, SC (2nd floor above Corner Perk)
Time: 10:30-11:30 AM, followed by an optional Dutch Treat lunch with the author.
Libraries for Kids Int’l sponsors the free talks, but there is a suggested donation of $5 to the sponsor. Books will be available for sale and signing.
Reservations are required because seating is limited. Call or text Tamela Maxim at 843-683-4100 or email at tamela.maxim@libraries4kids.org to reserve a spot or with any questions.
September 15, 2025, Author Pat Branning will discuss her subscription offering, The Diary of Southern Lifestyle Author Pat Branning, which has 7,000+ subscribers. Pat is the best-selling author of seven southern cookbooks and the past editor-in-chief of a regional magazine. She has been a journalist for over 50+ years, starting with her days at WSB Atlanta, where she did daily radio shows.
Pat Branning is a journalism graduate from the University of Georgia. She served as Women's Editor for WSB Radio, Atlanta, where she became the woman's voice for the South through her daily radio programs. Later, she became the assistant to media mogul Ted Turner before his CNN days. Once married, Pat accompanied her husband to Beaufort, SC. Many of her stories are from those early days in Beaufort and the memorable meals she shared with friends who entertained in the antebellum dining rooms along Beaufort’s waterfront and across the sea islands. Pat is a prolific writer of books, periodicals, and magazine stories, including the original Islander Magazine of Hilton Head, The Local Palate, Deep South Magazine, Charleston Style and Design, and local newspapers and publications. She became editor of her own magazine, Shrimp, Collards, and Grits, a well-loved publication that, until it closed because of the COVID-19 pandemic, could be found in upscale grocery stores and bookstores across the South. Thankfully, her wonderful writing continues with The Diary of Southern Lifestyle Author Pat Branning on Substack, which means that Pat and her fans can get to know each other better than ever before.
Free Author Monthly Event Series
Free Author Monthly Events sponsored by Libraries for Kids, Int’l
Location: The Roasting Room, 1297 May River Rd, Bluffton, SC (2nd floor above Corner Perk)
Time: 10:30-11:30 AM, followed by an optional Dutch Treat lunch with the author.
Libraries for Kids Int’l sponsors the free talks, but there is a suggested donation of $5 to the sponsor. Books will be available for sale and signing.
Reservations are required because seating is limited. Call or text Tamela Maxim at 843-683-4100 or email at tamela.maxim@libraries4kids.org to reserve a spot or with any questions.
October 20, 2025, Author Scott Gould will discuss his book Idiot Men. Scott Gould is the author of five books, including The Hammerhead Chronicles, winner of the Eric Hoffer Award for Fiction, and Things That Crash, Things That Fly, which won a 2022 Memoir Prize for Books. His other honors include a Next Generation Indie Book Award, an IPPY Award for Fiction, the Larry Brown Short Story Award, and the S.C. Arts Commission Artist Fellowship in Prose. His work has appeared in several publications, including Kenyon Review, Black Warrior Review, Pangyrus, Crazyhorse, Pithead Chapel, Garden & Gun, and New Stories from the South, among others. He lives in Sans Souci, South Carolina, and teaches at the S.C. Governor’s School for the Arts & Humanities.
Free Author Monthly Event Series
Free Author Monthly Events sponsored by Libraries for Kids, Int’l
Location: The Roasting Room, 1297 May River Rd, Bluffton, SC (2nd floor above Corner Perk)
Time: 10:30-11:30 AM, followed by an optional Dutch Treat lunch with the author.
Libraries for Kids Int’l sponsors the free talks, but there is a suggested donation of $5 to the sponsor. Books will be available for sale and signing.
Reservations are required because seating is limited. Call or text Tamela Maxim at 843-683-4100 or email at tamela.maxim@libraries4kids.org to reserve a spot or with any questions.
December 15, 2025, Author Annelore Harrell will discuss her book Et Cetera Y’all, Volume 2
“Step into the enchanting world of Annelore Harrell and the coastal Lowcountry I love so dearly. With twenty-four years of remarkable newspaper columns, this collection is a treasure chest of insight, immersive experiences, and wisdom. From past to present, Annelore Harrell brings us on a journey to meet the forgotten heroes, see the locales of her experience, and encounter the allure of southern hospitality. A captivating storyteller with a keen and wise eye, Annelore Harrell’s prose transports us to the soul of the south.” Patti Callahan Henry
Free Author Monthly Event Series
Free Author Monthly Events sponsored by Libraries for Kids, Int’l
Location: The Roasting Room, 1297 May River Rd, Bluffton, SC (2nd floor above Corner Perk)
Time: 10:30-11:30 AM, followed by an optional Dutch Treat lunch with the author.
Libraries for Kids Int’l sponsors the free talks, but there is a suggested donation of $5 to the sponsor. Books will be available for sale and signing.
Reservations are required because seating is limited. Call or text Tamela Maxim at 843-683-4100 or email at tamela.maxim@libraries4kids.org to reserve a spot or with any questions.
January 19, 2026, Author Mary Martha Greene will discuss her book The Cheese Biscuit Queen Tells All: Southern Recipes, Sweet Remembrances, and a Little Rambunctious Behavior.
Some Southern cooks keep their prized family recipes under lock and key, but not Mary Martha Greene. Why? She says few things can truly be kept secret in the South, and recipes, like cheese biscuits, are meant to be shared. That's why she's the "Cheese Biscuit Queen."
In The Cheese Biscuit Queen Tells All, Greene, a South Carolinian and former lobbyist, pairs tried-and-true recipes for dishes like country ham scones, Frogmore stew dip, shrimp and corn pie, and lemon pound cake with stories from her corner of the South. The book opens with the famous cheese biscuit recipe, complete with family secrets, and the pages that follow brim with fabulous characters, antic-filled anecdotes, and recipes.
Free Author Monthly Event Series
Free Author Monthly Events sponsored by Libraries for Kids, International
ARTHUR V. MARTIN, PH.D. will discuss From Jellybeansto a Nobel Prize Nomination
To view information about the author or about the book, click the “View Event” button below.
Location: The Roasting Room, 1297 May River Rd, Bluffton, SC (2nd floor above Corner Perk)
Time: 10:30-11:30 AM, followed by an optional Dutch Treat lunch with the author.
The talks are sponsored by Libraries for Kids, International, and are free, but there is a suggested donation of $5 to the sponsor. Books will be available for sale and signing.
Reservations are required because seating is limited. Call or text Tamela Maxim at 843-683-4100, or email at tamela.maxim@libraries4kids.org to reserve a spot or with any questions.
Grill & Chill: Ignite Literacy in a Raffle for Rural Schools
Get ready to fire up your holiday season with our exclusive Grill & Chill Raffle! This holiday season, we invite you to join our Grill & Chill Raffle, where you have the chance to win a stunning grill worth $1,200. $15 for one entry or TRIPLE your chances for just $45. You could bring home this centerpiece for your holiday gatherings, all while supporting a meaningful cause. Each ticket purchased helps us move our mission forward to establish libraries in rural primary schools, ensuring that every child has the opportunity to discover the magic of reading. We are approaching 10,000 libraries created of our short term of 20,000 libraries. We have many books still to fund, ship, and deliver! With only 500 total entries available and delivery within 1-2 hours from Bluffton, SC, this is a wonderful chance to make a difference and possibly surprise a loved one with a gift that keeps on giving. (Contact books@libraries4kids.org for delivery options if you live outside this range and would like to participate in the raffle.) Let’s come together to celebrate community, connection, and literacy this holiday season! Imagine the laughter of friends and family gathered around a sizzling grill, the aroma of delicious food filling the air as you create unforgettable memories, all while knowing your contributions are changing our world one book at a time.