Books
Children’s Storytime At Christmastime growing up, as Mom unpacked our holiday decorations, there was also a wicker basket containing all the wonder a kid would need. Stacked to the brim with books, from The Jolly Christmas Postman to Silent Night, this trove made for perfect reading next to a cozy fire, as we children anticipated the yearly arrival of Santa Claus. One book in particular always held my attention-The Polar Express by Chris Van Allsburg, to be read aloud this morning (along with The Night Before Christmas, a holiday sing-along, and treats). And seeing that cover with the train in the snowy night still evokes childhood nostalgia. Inside, though, is a world of imagination, as a young Christmas-doubter is whisked off on a magical adventure to the North Pole. Celebrating its 30th year in print, The Polar Express is simply about believing in the magic and love of Christmas, which never gets old. SCOTT JOHNSON Elliott Bay Book Co., 1521 10th Ave., Seattle, WA 98122 Free Saturday, December 19, 2015, 11am
Bjorn Like Felix the Cat creator Pat Sullivan, local comic artist (and occasional Seattle Weekly contributor) Bjorn is a master of cartoon physics. While a lot of underground artists rely on the juxtaposition of adult themes and language with the stereotypically “just for kids!” comics medium to get laughs, Bjorn’s highly stylized work employs a kind of immediate, surreal visual humor that transcends age and language. In his newest comic, Swampson 2, debuting tonight at the recently relocated comics gallery Push/Pull, the story’s oddly shaped heroes Lubis and Gus reluctantly venture into the demonic shed in their backyard to return a pile of rakes they left on their lawn as a practical joke. Over the course of the gloriously bizarre adventure, the two turn into limp wiggly noodles when frightened, their fists morph into giant vein-bulging lumps when angry, and their necks inexplicably begin extending and spindling around one another during conversation. Refreshingly, the worlds Bjorn creates in his work get to the heart of why cartoons are so fun in the first place-the rules of reality don’t apply. With DJ Baby Sam. KELTON SEARS Push/Pull, 8537 Greenwood Ave NLower Level
Seattle, WA 98103 Free Saturday, December 19, 2015, 8pm
Sarah Galvin She’s collected true stories of same-sex weddings in The Best Party of Our Lives, and will chat with David Schmader about them. Richard Hugo House, 1634 11th Ave., Seattle, WA 98122 Free Sunday, December 20, 2015, 7pm
Seattle Poetry Slam Local poets share their verse and spoken word compositions. 21 and over. Rebar, 1114 Howell StreetSeattle, WA $5 Tuesday, December 22, 2015, 8 – 11:30pm
Seattle Poetry Slam Local poets share their verse and spoken word compositions. 21 and over. Rebar, 1114 Howell StreetSeattle, WA $5 Tuesday, December 29, 2015, 8 – 11:30pm
