Join Birdie Books as we welcome Westerville author and foster parent advocate Laura for a special book talk and community conversation celebrating her book, First-Time Fostering.

Drawing from her experience as a therapeutic foster parent, mentor, and creator of the Foster Parent Partner community, Laura supports and empowers new foster parents as they navigate the licensing process and welcome children into their homes for the first time. Through practical advice, trauma-conscious insights, and relatable stories, she helps foster parents feel more confident and prepared for the journey ahead.

During this event, Laura will be joined in conversation by Leslie Jeter-Wass, Ohio NYAP Foster Parent Training Manager, to discuss the inspiration behind First-Time Fostering, key lessons from the book, and the realities of fostering.

Together, they will also answer a selection of pre-submitted audience questions. Whether you're considering becoming a foster parent, are newly licensed, currently fostering, or simply interested in learning more about the foster care system, this conversation will offer valuable insight, encouragement, and real-world perspective.

As a special thank you from Laura, attendees of the book talk will receive one complimentary nonalcoholic beverage from the cafe & bar at Birdie Books during the first hour of the event.

Books will be available for purchase and signing following the event. To guarantee book availability at the event, we encourage you to pre-order your copy in advance.

Interested in asking Laura a question? Attendees will have the opportunity to submit questions during registration, and Laura will answer a curated selection during the event.

Reserve your spot today for this meaningful morning of conversation, learning, and community connection.

Following her book talk, join us for a casual open house with author Laura, creator of Foster Parent Partner and author of First-Time Fostering. Meet Laura, have your book signed, browse the store, and connect with fellow readers and members of the foster care community.

Whether you attended the talk or are stopping by specifically for the signing, all are welcome. Books will be available for purchase, and guests are encouraged to pre-order a copy to guarantee availability. This is a wonderful opportunity to continue the conversation, and celebrate the launch of First-Time Fostering.

Registration is requested so we can plan accordingly. We look forward to seeing you at Birdie Books!

About this Book Club

Fall in love (or not) with the books that have stood the test of time. Our Classics Book Club is a space to revisit beloved favorites and discover timeless works you may have missed. From enduring novels to influential voices across generations, we’ll explore stories that continue to shape literature and culture.

Co-hosted by our Bookstore Manager Natalie and Events Coordinator Emma, this club offers thoughtful conversation, fresh perspectives, and a welcoming group of readers. No expertise required, just curiosity and a love of a good book!

This Month’s Book

Wild Seed by Octavia Butler

Doro knows no higher authority than himself. An ancient spirit with boundless powers, he possesses humans, killing without remorse as he jumps from body to body to sustain his own life. With a lonely eternity ahead of him, Doro breeds supernaturally gifted humans into empires that obey his every desire. He fears no one—until he meets Anyanwu.

Anyanwu is an entity like Doro and yet different. She can heal with a bite and transform her own body, mending injuries and reversing aging. She uses her powers to cure her neighbors and birth entire tribes, surrounding herself with kindred who both fear and respect her. No one poses a true threat to Anyanwu—until she meets Doro.

The moment Doro meets Anyanwu, he covets her; and from the villages of 17th-century Nigeria to 19th-century United States, their courtship becomes a power struggle that echoes through generations, irrevocably changing what it means to be human.

Beginner Friendly Dungeons & Dragons One Shot Adventure

Curious about Dungeons & Dragons but not sure where to start? Join host Kat for a welcoming, in-person one-shot adventure designed with beginners in mind, though adventurers of all experience levels are invited to the table!

Over the course of this three-hour session, you'll learn the basics of D&D while embarking on a classic adventure full of storytelling, teamwork, and a little bit of chaos. No experience is necessary, and all game materials will be provided. By the end of the evening, you'll have a foundational understanding of the game and your very own set of D&D dice (or, as I like to call them, math rocks) to take home.

Coming with friends? Great! Flying solo? Even better, you'll have plenty of opportunities to meet fellow adventurers.

Experienced players are welcome too! If you're already familiar with the game, feel free to bring a Level 3 character and help guide new players through their first quest.

Event Details:

• Three-hour guided one-shot adventure

• Beginner friendly, all experience levels welcome

• All game materials provided

• Take home your own set of D&D dice

• Bring a Level 3 character if you're an experienced player

• Limited to 6 participants

• Ages 15+

Birdie Books is excited to welcome Novels & Needles for a night of bookish, crafty fun!

In this Book Bedazzling Class, you’ll transform your favorite book cover into a one of a kind, rhinestone studded work of art. Novels & Needles will guide you step by step through the process using their signature bedazzling technique, no glue required, making it easy, relaxing, and fun for all skill levels. All materials are provided, and you’ll leave with a fully bedazzled book that shines as bright as your bookshelf.

Whether you’re a romance reader, mystery lover, or just here for the craft night vibes, this is the perfect way to spend an evening surrounded by fellow book lovers, creativity, and a little bit of sparkle.

Space is limited, bring your favorite book or buy one when you arrive, and get ready to bedazzle it into something unforgettable.

ABout This Book Club

Start your morning with coffee, conversation, and a great story. Each month we’ll dive into a different fiction pick and enjoy relaxed, thoughtful discussion in the ReadMore Bar.

This Month’s Book

The Bog Wife by Kay Chronister

Since time immemorial, the Haddesley family has tended the cranberry bog. In exchange, the bog sustains them. The staunch seasons of their lives are governed by a strict covenant that is renewed each generation with the ritual sacrifice of their patriarch, and in return, the bog produces a “bog-wife.” Brought to life from vegetation, this woman is meant to carry on the family line. But when the bog fails—or refuses—to honor the bargain, the Haddesleys, a group of discordant siblings still grieving the mother who mysteriously disappeared years earlier, face an unknown future.

About this book club

Meet us at Bar and Bakery inside Birdie Books for Spells & Slow Burns, where magic meets romance! Dive into enchanting stories filled with charm, mystery, and those deliciously drawn-out love stories that keep you hooked. It's the perfect hangout to share your thoughts, meet fellow romantasy fans, and get lost in some spellbinding reads. This club alternate between cozy, character-driven love stories and sweeping, epic fantasies.

This Month’s Book

Swordheart by T. Kingfisher

Halla has unexpectedly inherited the estate of a wealthy uncle. Unfortunately, she is also saddled with money-hungry relatives full of devious plans for how to wrest the inheritance away from her.

While locked in her bedroom, Halla inspects the ancient sword that's been collecting dust on the wall since before she moved in. Out of desperation, she unsheathes it—and suddenly a man appears. His name is Sarkis, he tells her, and he is an immortal warrior trapped in a prison of enchanted steel.

Sarkis is sworn to protect whoever wields the sword, and for Halla—a most unusual wielder—he finds himself fending off not grand armies and deadly assassins but instead everything from kindly-seeming bandits to roving inquisitors to her own in-laws. But as Halla and Sarkis grow closer, they overlook the biggest threat of all—the sword itself.

About This Book Club

Let our booksellers guide your next great read. This rotating book club is hosted by different members of the Birdie bunch, each bringing their own unique taste and perspective.

From hidden gems to buzzy new releases, every meeting offers something new and unexpected. It’s the perfect way to explore a wide range of genres, discover new favorites, and connect with fellow readers—all through the lens of the people who know books best.

This Month’s Book & Movie Combo

Book: The Uncool by Cameron Crowe

Movie: Almost Famous

Join us for a special Bookseller's Choice Book Club as we dive into The Uncool, Cameron Crowe's candid memoir about growing up as a teenage music journalist chasing rock bands, big dreams, and the stories that shaped a generation. Filled with behind-the-scenes moments, humor, and heart, the memoir offers an intimate look at the experiences that inspired one of Crowe's most beloved films.

Before the discussion, we encourage everyone to watch Almost Famous, the Academy Award-winning coming-of-age film inspired by Crowe's real life adventures on the road with legendary rock bands in the 1970s. Following 15 year old aspiring journalist William Miller as he tours with the fictional band Stillwater, the film is a heartfelt story about music, family, finding your voice, and discovering where you belong.

Whether you've loved Almost Famous for years or are experiencing these stories for the first time, join us for a conversation about the memoir, the film, and the fascinating true story behind them.

Ready… set… puzzle!

Grab your friends and put your teamwork to the test at our Speed Puzzle Night—a fun, low-key competition perfect for puzzle lovers of all levels.

Each team will receive the same 500-piece puzzle, and the race is on! The first team to finish takes home a $50 Birdie Books gift card, plus bragging rights, of course!

What your ticket includes:

• Entry for one team (up to 4 people per team)

• 500-piece puzzle to keep after the event

• A chance at puzzle GLORY

💲 Entry Fee: $40 per team

👥 Team Size: Up to 4 people

🎟️ Spots Available: Only 7 teams total — very limited!