AREA — Paris Public Library and Dirigo Federal Credit Union are hosting a series of visits from children’s authors and illustrators on Wednesday afternoons this summer at the Deering Memorial Community Center. The presentations will begin at 1 p.m. The guests will be reading from their works, explaining their personal creative processes, and talking about how children’s picture books are produced.

On Wednesday, July 27, local author/illustrator Alexandra Thompson will be visiting. She is the author/illustrator of her own book A family for Louie and was the illustrator for Ben & Emma’s Big Hit, written by California Governor Gavin Newsom with Ruby Shamir.

On Wednesday, August 10, renowned author/illustrator Chris Van Dusen is visiting. Besides being the illustrator of Kate DiCamillo’s Mercy Watson series, and other books, Mr. Van Dusen writes and illustrates series and books of his own, including the “If I Built” series and the Mr. Magee series. His most recent book is Big Truck, Little Island, where creative thinking and sharing save the day.

On Wednesday, August 17, award-winning author/illustrator Matt Tavares will be visiting. He has illustrated 23 books, eleven of which where he was also the author. His love of baseball shows in his works. He has a middle grade graphic novel, Hoops, being released next year.

The programs are free and open to all. All the authors’ presentation expenses are being covered by the Dirigo Federal Credit Union, through the Paris Branch. For more information, please contact the Paris Public Library at 743-6994 or e-mail [email protected].