A reading and book signing by children’s author Dawn Menge will be hosted by the Coeur d’Alene Public Library, 702 E. Front Ave., in a brown-bag event on Thursday, Aug. 6. 

Menge, author of “Queen Vernita’s Visitors,” will present a program in the library Community Room at noon. The audience is invited to bring their lunches to the program. Beverages will be provided by the Friends of the Library. A portion of sales during the event will benefit the Friends group.

“Queen Vernita’s Visitors” won first place in the 2009 Awards, presented by the Colorado Independent Publishers Association, and an honorable mention in the Readers Review Awards.

A resident of Pinon Hills, Calif., Menge has a master’s degree and clear credential in special education, and is currently a candidate for her doctorate in curriculum and instruction at Capella University. She combines life experiences to create the kingdom and characters of “Queen Vernita,” all of whom are based on people she knows.

All those visitors and activities envelop the educational magic of “Queen Vernita Visits the Blue Ice Mountains.” As the book details the exciting schedule, children learn about months, weeks, seasons – even leap year. Each page describes what happens in a given month, with detailed day-by-day breakdowns by week to help the subject sink in.

At the same time, the expeditions encapsulate fun facts about nature kids love: Why glaciers look blue, how sea otters keep from freezing, why polar bears are white, and how long whales can hold their breath.

News about the library and other city departments is also available on the City of Coeur d’Alene news blog: http://cdacity.blogspot.com/.