MAPLEWOOD, NJ — Words Bookstore is hosting a back-to-school celebration with bestselling author Brad Meltzer and illustrator Chris Eliopoulos on Tuesday, Sept. 6, at 7 p.m. to celebrate the release of the newest titles in their children’s book series “Ordinary People Change the World.” The first 100 children to arrive at the store will receive a coupon for a free scoop of ice cream, redeemable at Maplewood’s Village Ice Cream Parlour.
Meltzer will be signing and discussing “I Am George Washington” and “I Am Jane Goodall.” A comic artist and illustrator, Eliopoulos will add to the fun with an interactive drawing demonstration.
The author of more than 20 books, Meltzer’s catalog of bestsellers include “The Inner Circle,” “The Book of Fate” and eight other New York Times bestselling thrillers. In addition to writing fiction, Meltzer has penned the nonfiction work “History Decoded,” as well as the two bestselling advice books “Heroes for My Son” and “Heroes for My Daughter.” His comic book, “Justice League of America,” won the prestigious Eisner Award.
An avid history buff, he is also the host of “Brad Meltzer’s Lost History” on H2 and “Brad Meltzer’s History Decoded” on the History Channel. As an inspirational speaker, his TED Talk, “How to Write Your Own Obituary,” has been viewed more than 50,000 times, leading to the subsequent TED Talk “Write Your Story, Change History,” which garnered more than 80,000 views.
Meltzer attributes his ability to succeed across so many media platforms in his belief that ordinary people change the world, according to a press release from Words. This mindset was the premise for a series of nonfiction biographies, whose initial titles, “I Am Amelia Earhart” and “I Am Abraham Lincoln,” debuted on the The New York Times bestseller list.
This presentation is free and open to the public. Words Bookstore is located in the heart of downtown Maplewood at 179 Maplewood Ave.