Children’s Book Author Mike Mongo book signing

The Astronaut Instruction Manual

Along with over 700 bookstores nationwide, Key West’s oldest and longest-running bookstore Island Books is welcoming parents to bring their children to the bookstore this Saturday, December 5th.

Take Your Child To A Bookstore Day started in 2010 by New York author Jenny Milchman who wanted to share her joy of bookstores with her own children. Milchman also decided a bookstore was a terrific place to launch the holiday season. Since then, Take You Child To A Bookstore Day has become something of a beloved tradition among booksellers and authors.

For this year’s sixth-annual TYCTAB Day, Key West Island Books is hosting a lunch-time book signing by author Mike Mongo, whose recent debut The Astronaut Instruction Manual has become a children’s books national best-seller. The Astronaut Instruction Manual is a practical skills guide for young students with dreams of being future space explorers. And author Mongo is a big fan of bookstores.

“Bookstores have always been one of my favorite places to go,” says Mongo. My mom took me to bookstores everywhere we went, and by reading to me instilled a love of books and reading that became my love for words and writing. Reading is how I discovered science and the wonders of the universe. I owe a lot of that to my mom bringing me to bookstores.”

“Plus,” Mongo adds, “I have literally been buying books at Island Books since I was a kid, I have known [owner] Suzanne Orchard since when she first started working for [former-owner] Marshall Smith. Signing my own book for Bring Your Child To A Bookstore Day at Island Books is really as big a Key West honor as I can imagine.”

Bring Your Child To A Bookstore Day is Saturday, December 5th at Island Books, 513 1/2 Fleming Street, Key West, FL. Author Mike Mongo will be on hand for book signings of The Astronaut Instruction Manual from 11am to 1pm.