Barnes & Noble Announces May Lineup of Free Children’s Storytimes Where Kids Explore Their Imaginations and Discover a Love of Reading

Barnes & Noble, Inc. (NYSE:BKS), the nation’s largest retail bookseller and the leading retailer of content, digital media and educational products, today announced its May 2015 lineup of free Storytime events for children and families, all designed to celebrate the joy of reading. At each event, the stories may be read on the Samsung Galaxy Tab® 4 NOOK®, a full-featured Android tablet that combines Samsung’s leading technology and NOOK’s extraordinary content and reading experience. During all Barnes & Noble Storytime readings and activities, parents and guardians are encouraged to take pictures and post to their personal social media sites using the hashtag #BNStorytime.

The month kicks off with the What Do You Do with an Idea? Storytime on Saturday, May 2, at 11:00 a.m. at Barnes & Noble stores nationwide. Kobi Yamada's story, touchingly illustrated by Mae Besom, reminds us that our ideas can change the world. Activities round out the fun. Additionally, from now until May 18, while supplies last, Barnes & Noble will offer the picture book What Do You Do with an Idea? at the special price of only $7.99 with the purchase of any children’s book.

Mom School and How to Babysit a Grandma Storytime – On Saturday, May 9, at 11 a.m., in celebration of Mother's Day at Barnes & Noble stores nationwide, join us for a special Storytime featuring Mom School by Rebecca Van Slyke and How to Babysit a Grandma by Jean Reagan. In Mom School, a little girl imagines where her mom picked up all her amazing skills, like fixing a bike tire and baking cupcakes. Participants will read about becoming an expert grandma-sitter in How to Babysit a Grandma. Moms and their children will also participate in a variety of fun activities to celebrate the special day.

Fans of the Mom School book can meet author Rebecca Van Slyke, the special guest during a Storytime and book signing at the Barnes & Noble store in Bellingham, WA, located at 4099 Meridian Street, on May 9, at 11 a.m. For more information, please contact Catherine McCarthy, Store Manager, at (360) 647-7018.

Jean Reagan, author of How to Babysit a Grandma, will appear for a Storytime and book signing at the Barnes & Noble in Sandy, UT, on May 9, at 11 a.m. The store is located at 10180 South State Street. Please contact Community Business Development Manager Michelle Sargeant at (801) 223-0203 for details.

Ballet Cat: The Totally Secret Secret – On Saturday, May 16, at 11 a.m., Barnes & Noble stores nationwide will feature Barnes & Noble’s Picture Book of the Month selection, the company’s choice of the most engaging and entertaining stories. In Bob Shea’s book Ballet Cat: The Totally Secret Secret, find out what happens when Sparkles the Pony admits that “Sometimes I don’t want to play ballet!” It turns out, Ballet Cat also has a secret to share—will their friendship end or be stronger than ever? Enjoy activities after the reading of this featured story.

Dragons Love Tacos Storytime – On Saturday, May 23, at 11 a.m., all Barnes & Noble stores will feature Dragons Love Tacos, Adam Rubin’s scrumptious New York Times bestseller that has a whole lot of kick. Dragons love tacos. They love chicken tacos, beef tacos, great big tacos, and teeny tiny tacos. So if you want to lure a bunch of dragons to your party, you should definitely serve tacos—buckets and buckets of tacos. Unfortunately, where there are tacos, there is also salsa. And if a dragon accidentally eats spicy salsa—you're in red-hot trouble! The story is an unforgettable, laugh-until-salsa-comes-out-of-your-nose tale of new friends and the perfect snack. Participants will also enjoy fun activities.

Fans of the book can meet author Adam Rubin and illustrator Daniel Salmieri at a Storytime and book signing at the Barnes & Noble store located at 97 Warren Street in New York City, on May 23, at 11 a.m. For more information, please contact Raymond Pizarro, Community Business Development Manager, at (212) 587-3185.

Peanut Butter & Cupcake Storytime – On Saturday, May 30, at 11 a.m., children will enjoy Terry Border’s tale that asks, “What’s a little piece of bread to do when he’s feeling lonely?” Find a friend, of course! And that’s exactly what Peanut Butter tries to do. But sometimes friends are hard to come by, especially when Hamburger has to walk his (hot) dogs, Cupcake is too busy building castles in her sprinkle box, and Egg laughs so hard he starts to crack up! Does Peanut Butter have a soul mate? Readers will know the answer long before Peanut Butter does and laugh along with each mismatched pairing. Connect the dots, coloring activities and mazes will all be part of the excitement.

Additionally, from May 19 through July 20, while supplies last, customers can purchase Peanut Butter & Cupcake at the special price of only $7.99 with the purchase of any children’s book.

Fans of the book can meet author Terry Border for a special Storytime and book signing at the Barnes & Noble store located at 1251 US 31 North in Greenwood, IN, on May 30, at 11 a.m. For more information, please contact Robert Joiner, Community Business Development Manager, at (317) 859-8089.

Barnes & Noble Storytimes are free and open to the public. All events are subject to change. Customers should visit the Barnes & Noble Store Locator (www.bn.com/storelocator) for more information about events at their local store.

About Barnes & Noble, Inc.

Barnes & Noble, Inc. (NYSE: BKS) is a Fortune 500 company and the leading retailer of content, digital media and educational products. The Company operates 649 Barnes & Noble bookstores in 50 states, and one of the Web’s largest e-commerce sites, BN.com (www.bn.com). Its NOOK digital business offers award-winning NOOK® products and an expansive collection of digital reading and entertainment content through the NOOK Store® (www.nook.com), while Barnes & Noble College Booksellers, LLC operates 717 bookstores serving over five million students and faculty members at colleges and universities across the United States.

General information on Barnes & Noble, Inc. can be obtained by visiting the Company's corporate website: www.barnesandnobleinc.com.

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