Cheryl Klein, editor at Arthur A. Levine Books, has arranged that her e-book, The Rules of Engagement: How to Get (and Keep!) a Reader Involved in Your Novel, be made available for free by the organization Children Come First.

The Austin Public Library Foundation is holding a “Read-in” from 5 p.m. to 7 p.m. Nov. 16, 5-7 p.m. at the John Henry Faulk Central Library at 800 Guadalupe. The first hour of the program Austinites will take turns reading for five minutes from a much-loved children’s book. During the second hour, readers will read from any favorite title. Local authors participating so far include Emcee Spike Gillespie, Sarah Bird, Michael Maguire, David Rice and Janice Shefelman.

Reading the World: an annual conference sponsored by The University of San Francisco Department of International and Multicultural Education. The conference features guest speakers, as well as workshops by educators, librarians, authors, illustrators, and scholars. This year, it is scheduled for March 11 and 12, 2006. Keynote speakers are: Alma Flor Ada, Matthew Gollub, Linda Sue Park, Katherine Paterson, Joyce Carol Thomas, Tony Watkins, and Ed Young. Learn more about Reading the World VIII. See also the list of past speakers, which includes me and my husband, author Greg Leitich Smith.