Author Kathy Sager and illustrator Eliska Liska have just released their first book, Suzie’s Sourdough Circus, which introduces kids to baking with sourdough.
Sager will be in Courtenay Sept. 30 at the Public Library (300 Sixth St.) at 10:30 am. Here, she will read from the book, in which a cast of sourdough performers get into all kinds of trouble as they blow bubbles to make the bread rise.
At noon on the same day, she will sign copies of the book at the Laughing Oyster Book Shop (286 Fifth St. in Courtenay).
These events are a great opportunity to experience the magic of sourdough first hand. After the kids see Liska’s bright and playful sourdough creatures cavort and frolic, they will want their very own sourdough starter.
Sager will show off her 100-year-old starter, and she will have some available that eager sourdough bakers can bring home.
Suzie’s Sourdough Circus, written in rhyming prose, will appeal to young children and their grown-up sous-chefs. Young readers are sure to be inspired by little Suzie and her zany sourdough circus as they learn a simple method to bake wholesome and tangy sourdough bread.
Also included are illustrated recipes for other delicious sourdough baking, like authentic Yukon flapjacks, whole grain sourdough bannock and chocolate vanilla sourdough cake, all tested by Suzie.
Sager is a certified early childhood educator with a background in nutrition. She bakes with sourdough every week, at home and at Serenity Cove Children’s Centre where she works. Born in Toronto, Ontario, she now lives in Cobble Hill.
Liska is a world-travelling freelance artist currently based in Victoria. She has a master’s degree in Contemporary Art and New Media from the University of Ostrava, Czech Republic.
This free event was made possible with support from the Canada Council for the Arts.
— Harbour Publishing