For your pastime pleasure this weekend we have a revival and a rescue.
Though he died young, at the age of 43, and was by all accounts not an overly large man physically, Jean “Django” Reinhardt is an immortal giant.
The Belgian-born Romani-French guitarist and composer, the first jazz talent to emerge from Europe and the most significant, is widely regarded as one of the greatest musicians of the 20th century, and his birthday will be celebrated on Bainbridge Island with a special commemorative concert from 7 to 10 p.m. Friday, Jan. 11 at the Treehouse Café
Gypsy jazz musicians from around Puget Sound will celebrate Reinhardt’s 109th birthday with an evening of music that will feature local favorites Ranger and the Re-Arrangers, plus guest appearances by Eric Bogart on guitar, Julian Smedley on violin, Gabe Hall-Rodrigues on accordion, and Bill Rappaport on clarinet.
Join author Amanda Mander in celebration of the launch of her new book “Wild Rescues: Amazing Stories from a Wildlife Shelter” at Eagle Harbor Book Company at 3 p.m. Sunday, Jan. 13.
She will read stories from this book for kids, joined by West Sound Wildlife Shelter representatives and one of their animal ambassadors.
Mander is a passionate wildlife rescuer and travels the world volunteering to help animals. She is the author of “Looking Twice: Beautiful/Ugly,” a book of themed poems and photographs, and “The Diplomat’s Daughter,” a story anthologized in “Secret Histories: Stories of Courage, Risk, and Revelation.”
Her short story,“The Remover of Obstacles,” won the 2013 Traveller’s Tales Gold Solas Award for best love story.
However, this is Mander’s first book for middle readers. She has four children of her own and lives in the Pacific Northwest with her husband, their dog Luigi, and a pond fish.
Urban wildlife has sparked an interest in our culture resulting in many magazine articles and even shows like BBC’s “Planet Earth II” that acknowledge the challenges in living close to wildlife. Through entertaining narratives and fascinating animal facts, this book encourages 8- to 12-year-olds to empathize with the wild animals in their neighborhoods. Empowering middle readers to become wildlife stewards can lead to a new generation of living in harmony and protecting our wild neighbors.
Visit www.eagleharborbooks.com to learn more.
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