Old Town Books to Host Children’s Book Authors
Old Town Books Junior, an independent bookstore focusing on children’s books and author events in Alexandria, will host bestselling children’s authors James Ponti and Jason Reynolds on Thursday, Sept. 4, in a rare joint public event.
This event will take place at the Nannie J. Lee Memorial Recreation Center in Alexandria, and will celebrate the launch of Ponti’s newest book, “Hurricane Heist,” and give kids, parents and educators an opportunity to see two of today’s biggest middle-grade authors in conversation.
Event details
What: Author Event: James Ponti in conversation with Jason Reynolds
When: Thursday, Sept. 4, 2025, at 6 p.m.
Where: Nannie J. Lee Memorial Rec Center, 1108 Jefferson St. Alexandria, VA 22314
Tickets:
$25 General Admission ticket (includes one pre-signed copy of Hurricane Heist)
$10 companion ticket (only available with the purchase of a General Admission ticket)
James Ponti is best known for his “City Spies” series, which showcases his ability to connect with kids through funny, fast-paced mysteries and diverse characters. “Hurricane Heist” is the second book in the Sherlock Society series and a favorite with the bookstore’s young customers since the publication of the first last fall.
James will be in conversation with DC’s own Jason Reynolds, one of the most distinguished names in children’s literature owing to numerous awards and accolades for books like “Look Both Ways,” “Ghost” and “Ain’t Burned All the Bright.” From 2020-2022, Jason served as the National Ambassador for Young People’s Literature, traveling to small towns around the country to empower young people to share their stories.
The two authors will regale young and old with stories about their books, their writing process, and their ardent commitment to getting kids to fall in love with reading and writing. The ticketed talk will be followed by a Q&A and a signing line to meet both authors.
More about the authors
James Ponti is a New York Times and USA Today bestselling author of four middle-grade book series, including “City Spies,” “Framed” and “The Sherlock Society.” His novels have been named to forty-five state award lists, optioned by Hollywood, and translated into fifteen languages. He’s a two-time Edgar Award-nominee, winning in 2018 for “Vanished.” He lives with his family in Orlando, Fla.
Jason Reynolds is a #1 New York Times bestselling author, recipient of the MacArthur Genius Grant, a Newbery Award Honoree, a Printz Award Honoree, a two-time National Book Award finalist, a 2024 MacArthur Fellow, a Kirkus Award winner, a UK Carnegie Medal winner, a two-time Walter Dean Myers Award winner, an NAACP Image Award Winner, an Odyssey Award Winner and two-time honoree, and the recipient of multiple Coretta Scott King honors, a Coretta Scott King Author Award and the Margaret A. Edwards Award.
He was also the 2020–2022 National Ambassador for Young People’s Literature. His many books include “All American Boys” (cowritten with Brendan Kiely); “When I Was the Greatest;” “The Boy in the Black Suit;” “Stamped;” “As Brave as You;” “For Every One;” the “Track” series (“Ghost,” Patina,” “Sunny,” “Lu” and “Coach”); “Look Both Ways;” “Stuntboy, in the Meantime”; “Stuntboy, In-Between Time;” “Miles Morales Suspended;” “Ain’t Burned All the Bright” (recipient of the Caldecott Honor) and “My Name Is Jason. Mine Too.” (both cowritten with Jason Griffin); “Twenty-Four Seconds from Now…;” and “Long Way Down,” which received a Newbery Honor, a Printz Honor and a Coretta Scott King Honor. His debut picture book, “There Was a Party for Langston,” won a Caldecott Honor and a Coretta Scott King Illustrator Honor. He lives in Washington, DC. You can find his ramblings at JasonWritesBooks.com.
Aug. 20, 2025
2:54 p.m.
