EDITOR'S NOTE: As you read yesterday, SOTA student Alex Kling has been our intern for the last two weeks. The Volcano participates in SOTA's internship program on a yearly basis, and every time we're amazed by the talents and skills the interns come equipped with ... including Kling. She hasn't blogged as much as past SOTA interns. Kling has mostly shared her talents on the print side of the operation. Tuesday, we sent her to King's Books for The Itty Bitty Kitty Committee book release party. She filed her report below. ...

If you went to The Itty Bitty Kitty Committee book release and signing at King's Books Tuesday, you would have seen that there was nothing "Itty Bitty" about it. It seemed like an endless amount of people, all in support of The Itty Bitty Kitty Committee author Laurie Cinotto. More than 100 people were there throughout the night, filling the never-ending line of visitors just waiting to meet and greet the author. While people were anxious to buy their books, congratulate Cinotto, and get their books signed, others were socializing and talking about the new book.

During my Itty Bitty discussion with sweet pea, the owner of King's Books, he mentioned he has been following Cinotto's blog for a while - which carries the same name as the book - and he was most excited about the book being a "great way to raise awareness about cats generally." He had also said that the event was a good way to do a "lot of fundraising for the Humane Society," that it was a good way to "give back."

Since the book was more "focused on young readers, it gives them some awareness of what's going on," as sweet pea put it, he also said that it was cool how the event was "a Tacoma thing," even though Cinotto is also a "national writer."

Along with the two bookstore cats, cats Ninja Bob and Cinotto's Wylla Stout attended the event. To say the least, all cats onsite were very interested in what was going on. Atticus, King's Books' black cat, was really lovey-dovey to the people he came across. He was up on their shoulders, rubbing against their legs and just itching for the extra attention. Atticus was very engaged with the people and what was going on ... until Ninja Bob showed up. Atticus became very interested in what Ninja Bob was doing. Ninja Bob was very curious about the place he was in; he was walking around and enjoying the attention he got from the visitors. King's Books' tabby cat, Miko, seemed very shy, although he did seem interested in the event. However, he was exceptionally interested in the donated cat food. He tended to stay by that area, until the food was removed, then he returned to his original perch behind the register. Wylla Stout was in her bed, looking super cute as she was soaking up the attention. The cats were really curious about what was happening and they were a big hit at The Itty Bitty Kitty Committee party. The cats seemed to be pretty content with the situation.

In regards to the book, I believe that The Itty Bitty Kitty Committee book will help kittens and cats to be rescued, and be taken care of correctly. With helpful tips from the cats themselves, and cute comics to entertain little ones, this book is definitely for the cat-loving type. As for the cats and their owners, I think this book will be good for them, because it will help owners better understand their cats. It will help cats and their owners to have a better relationship, because Cinotto gives helpful tips on how to train your kittens.

Overall, The Itty Bitty Kitty Committee book release, and signing, was very fun and a lot of cat food was raised for the Humane Society. Cinotto seemed really enthusiastic, and excited for everyone to read her new book. She got to meet a lot of new faces, but she also got to see some of the old.

The next big thing for Kings Books will be Sunday, April 27 when the 10th annual Wayzgoose Letterpress and Book Arts Extravaganza consumes the store. At the event, there will be 40 tables with different artists, printers and illustrators. See local artists create 3-foot by 3-foot art with steamrollers. Make your own art and paper too. According to sweet pea, for the past 10 years, "about 900 people visit throughout the day" during Wayzgoose. This will be the sixth year that the Wayzgoose will include steamrolling.