Friends of Door County Library Present James Mihaley

Aliens, androids and a rhyme-fueled spaceship – talk about an adventure-filled summer read for middle graders! Door County native James Mihaley will lead two upcoming fun-filled family presentations, which will feature reading from his new book, You Can’t Have My Planet, But Take My Brother, Please (published by Feiwel and Friends, an imprint of Macmillan publishers).

This will be the first time the Friends of Door County Libraries’ Book & Author series will feature a chrildren’s author. Mihaley will appear at 2 pm on July 22 at Third Avenue Playhouse in Sturgeon Bay and at 10 am on July 28 at the Sister Bay / Liberty Grove Fire Station in Sister Bay. The Sunday event, which is co-sponsored by Third Avenue Playhouse, will include special guest and American Folklore Theatre favorite, actor Doug Mancheski. The Sister Bay event is co-sponsored by Passtimes Books.

“Doug and I go back a ways,” notes Mihaley, “and it’ll be really fun to work with him. I like involving the kids in these presentations – to make it very interactive, so we’ll have a great time.” And, in honor of that rhyme-fueled spaceship, Mihaley will host an Open Mic at the end of both programs, inviting young audience members to share their poetry.

You Can’t Have My Planet, But Take My Brother, Please spins the tale of Giles, an awkward but thoughtful 13-year-old, and the fantastical circumstances that find him responsible for saving planet Earth from an alien takeover. Mihaley’s style – breezy, imaginative and, above all, humorous – is well-suited to deliver an important but non-preachy message about stewardship, one that resonates with parents and grandparents as well as the intended ‘tween’ reader.

Copies of You Can’t Have My Planet, But Take My Brother, Please will be available for sale/signing at both events. Both presentations are free and promise to be a fun-filled experience for all ages.