2019

Patricia Toht is a children’s author and poet, blogger, and middle school library associate. She once owned a children’s bookstore and loved connecting readers with great books. After the store shuttered its doors, she led story times for preschoolers, assisted author and illustrator visits to schools, and worked in a public library.

Her latest children's book is PICK A PUMPKIN, a joyful, energetic celebration of a Halloween tradition. Pairing a wonderfully rhythmic read-aloud text with expressive retro illustrations (by Jarvis), the book captures all the excitement and familial feeling of a favorite holiday tradition. Readers will be happy to follow along with each step, from picking out the perfect specimen at the pumpkin patch (be sure to stop for cider and toffee apples) to carting it home, scooping out the insides, carving a scary face, and finally lighting a candle inside — savoring the familiar ritual of transforming an ordinary pumpkin into a one-of-a-kind glowing jack-o’-lantern.

Her previous picture books include:

• DRESS LIKE A GIRL where a diverse cast of slumber party participants considers the most time-honored traditions for how to dress
• PICK A PINE TREE, that celebrates the holiday tradition of turning a pine tree into a Christmas wonder
• ALL ABOARD THE LONDON BUS, her debut picture book, where a series of child-friendly poems follows a family of four as they spend a day visiting sights and experiencing all that makes London a vibrant and wonderful city.

For more information please call the bookstore at (630) 584-8600.

Patricia Toht is a children’s author and poet, blogger, and middle school library associate. She once owned a children’s bookstore and loved connecting readers with great books. After the store shuttered its doors, she led story times for preschoolers, assisted author and illustrator visits to schools, and worked in a public library.

Her latest children's book is DRESS LIKE A GIRL where a diverse cast of slumber party participants considers the most time-honored traditions for how to dress. If a lady should wear white in summertime, then how about donning a spacesuit? If team colors are apropos at sporting events, why not wear helmets and play ball? Wonderfully illustrationed by Lorian Tu-Dean.

Her previous picture books include, PICK A PINE TREE, that celebrates the holiday tradition of turning a pine tree into a Christmas wonder and ALL ABOARD THE LONDON BUS, her debut picture book. In this delightful book, a series of child-friendly poems follows a family of four as they spend a day visiting sights and experiencing all that makes London a vibrant and wonderful city.

For more information please call the bookstore at (630) 584-8600.

2018

We congratulate Vicki DeLeo, our longtime manager (22 years!!!!) and Our Forever Friend and Family Member on her retirement at the end of March 2018. Please join us for a Retirement Party and Open House on Saturday, March 31st from 11am-4pm. Complimentary light fare. Drinks available for purchase.

Please note: Our Regular Menu will not be available this day

2017

Patricia Toht is a children’s author and poet, blogger, and middle school library associate. She once owned a children’s bookstore and loved connecting readers with great books. After the store shuttered its doors, she led story times for preschoolers, assisted author and illustrator visits to schools, and worked in a public library.

Her family’s four-year move to England inspired ALL ABOARD THE LONDON BUS, her debut picture book released this May. In the book, a series of child-friendly poems follows a family of four as they spend a day visiting sights and experiencing all that makes London a vibrant and wonderful city. Illustrations by Sam Usher are a sheer delight.

Her next picture book, PICK A PINE TREE, celebrates the holiday tradition of turning a pine tree into a Christmas wonder. It is available now.

For more information please call the bookstore at (630) 584-8600.

Return to Wake Robin author Marnie O. Mamminga revisits America's Heartland in a new, dazzling collection of essays about the common experiences that unite those of us who live, love, and work in the Midwest in On a Clear Night: Essays from the Heartland.

With insight and humor, Mamminga chronicles a wide range of small-but-significant moments, including the anxiety of taking a teenager out for driving lessons, the nostalgic pleasure of watching the Cubs at Wrigley Field, the heartache of moving an aging parent into a nursing home, and the quiet bliss of sitting on a cabin's porch under a starry North Woods sky.

Her sharply observed vignettes on the extraordinarily ordinary rhythms of Midwestern life chart our shared passages from childhood to adulthood, working life to retirement, parenthood to grandparenthood and everything in between. With compassion and humor, Mamminga proves that our most personal experiences can unite us and that the most ordinary aspects of our lives can also be the most beautiful.

For more information please call the bookstore at (630) 584-8600.

Patricia Toht is a children’s author and poet, blogger, and middle school library associate. She once owned a children’s bookstore and loved connecting readers with great books. After the store shuttered its doors, she led story times for preschoolers, assisted author and illustrator visits to schools, and worked in a public library.

Her family’s four-year move to England inspired ALL ABOARD THE LONDON BUS, her debut picture book released this May. In the book, a series of child-friendly poems follows a family of four as they spend a day visiting sights and experiencing all that makes London a vibrant and wonderful city. Illustrations by Sam Usher are a sheer delight.

Her next picture book, PICK A PINE TREE, celebrates the holiday tradition of turning a pine tree into a Christmas wonder. It will be released in September 2017.

For more information please call the bookstore at (630) 584-8600.

“From ’20 to ’70 in 90 Minutes”
We are delighted to welcome back vocalists Candy Kless and Sammi King along with pianist Dr. Jim Pritchard for their 9th year of performances at TownHouse Café! Come enjoy a fun and entertaining show featuring the music of George & Ira Gershwin along with popular music of the 1960’s!

$20 admission: by pre-paid reservation only. Seating is limited. Purchase dessert, wine, beer and coffee before the show & at intermission. Call (630) 584-8603.

• Crab bisque or chilled strawberry soup
• Our signature salad topped with crumbled blue cheese and bacon, toasted pecans, dried cranberries and buttermilk ranch
• Town House eggs benedict with Creole potatoes or brioche French toast stuffed with peaches, blueberries and cream cheese, with applewood-smoked bacon
• A selection of homemade desserts

Town House Books & Café is pleased to welcome back local author and friend D. C. Brod to our Dinner with the Author Series. Getting Taken by D.C. Brod, is the third book in her Getting Even series. For more information about the book, visit her website. The author will greet people and sign books in the Garden Room of Town House Books from 6-7pm. Reception is free of charge and open to the public.

Dinner following the reception is by reservation only, cost is $40 per person which includes the program, a three course dinner, tax & gratuity. Beer and Wine are available for purchase. For additional information please call the café at (630) 584-8603.