Arts, Leisure and Sports
There wasn’t much of a stand-up comedy scene just a few years ago, but the founder of the Comedy Lab at Shishka in downtown Roanoke says now there’s clearly an appetite for it. WFIR’s Ian Price has more:
Johnny Camacho joined The Roanoke Valley’s Morning News live in-studio recently. Hear that complete interview by clicking here.
Jessica Taylor and John McBroom from FloydFest – C Palmer photo
FloydFest 19 is right around the corner and remaining tickets are scarce. More than 100 performers are scheduled to appear on 9 stages. An update from WFIR’s Gene Marrano:
Hear our complete in-studio conversation below:
Showers and storms have resulted in the City of Roanoke having Fireworks on the 5th tonight. There will no related activities like music and food trucks, but shuttle buses will again operate from Patrick Henry High School starting at 8:00 pm. WFIR’s Ian Price has more:
For more details about the planned fireworks show tonight click HERE
Two boys teams and one girls squad from the Roanoke Star travel program are on their way to Sweden next week (after a stop in Denmark for a few “friendlies”) to take part in the Gothea Cup competition. Its the 31st year that executive director Danny Beamer and his coaches have brought Star teams to play in Europe:
Assuming you can pry them away from their phones, tablets or TV’s, an award winning author some have called “the Judy Blume for a new generation” has suggestions for summer reading your kids may enjoy. She spoke with WFIR’s Gene Marrano:
Meg Medina’s complete list:
Picture books
A Big Mooncake for Little Star by Grace Lin
Hello Lighthouse by Sophie Blackall
Papi Has a Motorcycle by Isabel Quintero
Under My Hijab by Hena Khan and illustrated by Aaliya Jaleel
Bilal Cooks Daal by Aisha Saeed
Chapter books and early middle grade
A Boy Called Bat by Elana Arnold (others in series: Bat and the Waiting Game and Bat and the End of Everything)
Juana and Lucas: Big Problemas by Juana Medina (other titles in series, Juana and Lucas)
The Magnificent Mya Tibbs: Spirit Week Showdown by Crystal Allen (other titles in series, The Magnificent Mya Tibbs: The Wall of Fame Game
Dory Fantasmagory by Abby Hanlon (Four books in series; next installment this fall.)
Middle Grade
The Last-Last Day of Summer by Lamar Giles
The Fresh New Face of Griselda by Jennifer Torres
New Kid by Jerry Craft
The Parker Inheritance by Varian Johnson
The True History of Lyndie B. Hawkins by Gail Shepherd
Raymie Nightingale, Louisiana’s Way, in preparation for Beverly, Right Here by Kate DiCamillo
The Vanderbeekers series by Karina Yan Glaser
The Jumbies series by Tracy Baptiste
For poets:
A Maze Me: Poems for Girls by Naomi Shibab Nye
Emma in the Key of Code by Aimee Lucido
Young Adult
With the Fire on High by Elizabeth Acevedo
Spin by Lamar Giles
Far From the Tree, new in paperback this summer, by Robin Benway
York, The Clockwork Ghost by Laura Ruby (Book 1 was The Shadow Cipher)
When Dimple Met Rishi by Sandhya Menon
More Happy Than Not by Adam Silvera
