Bookish Events in Philadelphia: April 2nd to April 9th

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This weather is slammin’ (see what we did there) and we are totally ready to slam. It’s officially National Poetry Month and we are squirming in our seats with excitement. What incredible things are all you poets cooking up? We’re too curious & oh so excited for what’s to come. If you’re doing the 30 poems in 30 days challenge, we are too and can’t wait to read/hear/experience what cosmic poetic shift April will bring. Some guy once said that April is the cruellest month, but we’re going to have to veto that one, Eliot, because April is proving to be anything but cruel. Here are this week’s Bookish Events:

Tonight! First Friday means The Philly Pigeon is back at it, this time welcoming 5 time New York City Grand Slam Champion (phew!) Jread Singer. There are only a couple slams left this season so do not miss out! Workshop led by Jared Singer begins at 7pm, slam starts at 9pm. Wanna compete? Make sure to arrive at 8:30pm to enter your name the slam. PhilaMOCA.

Chapter & Verse welcomes Carlos Soto-Ramón, Warren Longmire, and Frank Sherlock for this month’s reading at Chapterhouse Cafe on 9th and Bainbridge. Grab a smoothie and head on down to the basement on Saturday to enjoy an evening of written word. Saturday April 4th at 8pm.

Join Kelly Writers House as they welcome award winning Japanese poet Hiromi Itō on Monday April 6th. In addition to Itō, come enjoy the work of Philadelphia poet Lucas De Lima. Itō’s work has won multiple awards and is considered one of the most prominent voices in women’s poetry wave during the 1980’s in Japan.  Itō’s reading will be translated by Jeff Angles. 6pm at Kelly Writers House.

Moonstone Arts Center hosts a new series titled Who Do You Love? and this time they’re featuring Irish poet Seamus Heaney. Join host Warren Longmire on Tuesday April 7th as he welcomes guests Natalie F. Anderson and John Lavin who will discuss their love of Heaney’s work. Event will take place at PhillyCAM. 6:30pm.

Wednesday, April 8th brings us the book release for Octavia’s Brood at Wooden Shoe Books, 704 South Street. Editors adrienne maree brown and Walidah Imarisha have gathered a wide spectrum of sci-fi and speculative fiction that ties in to social justice. Thinks about it–a world without prisons, war, or capitalism is a speculative world. This event will open your eyes to the thought-provoking possibilities. Wooden Shoe Books & Records, 7pm.