Northshire Bookstore Event: David Toomey – The Kingdom of Play

(Manchester Center, VT) Join us in person at the Northshire Bookstore in Manchester Center, VT on Saturday, March 29th at 6pm for a special event featuring acclaimed science writer David Toomey, in honor of his book The Kingdom of Play. This event is co-presented by Northshire Bookstore and  Red Fox Community School, and will feature a musical intro by Maxine Linehan. 

Karen O’Neill Thomson, the Head of School at Red Fox Community School said “David Toomey’s book, Kingdom of Play, aligns with the mission of Red Fox Community School, and our commitment to fostering a vibrant, joyful learning community where curiosity and connection are central. The book’s exploration of play as a universal and essential behavior resonates with the mission to nurture the whole child—intellectually, socially, and emotionally.”

Acclaimed science writer David Toomey will take us on a fast-paced and entertaining tour of playful animals and the scientists who study them. A “lively, informative, and scientifically entertaining animal behavior study” (Kirkus Reviews) Kingdom of Play is an illuminating look at a little-known aspect of the animal kingdom. 

From octopuses on Australia’s Great Barrier Reef to meerkats in the Kalahari Desert to brown bears on Alaska’s Aleutian Islands, we follow adventurous researchers as they design and conduct experiments seeking answers to new, intriguing questions: When did play first appear in animals? How does play develop the brain, and how did it evolve? Are the songs and aerial acrobatics of birds the beginning of avian culture? Is fairness in dog play the foundation of canine ethics? And does play direct and possibly accelerate evolution? 

David Toomey is a Professor of English at the University of Massachusetts, Amherst, where he teaches courses in writing and in the history of science. He is the author of several books of nonfiction, including Weird Life and The New Time Travelers. In his lifetime he has known and played with a great many animals, both human and non-human.

Singer, writer, producer, and actress Maxine Linehan will kick this event off with an acoustic introduction. Linehan is an interpretive artist that uses popular songbooks and theatrical presentations to share intimate truths and build communal bonds. The Irish performer’s masterful productions reimagine beloved music catalogs with courageous and emotive storylines, and immersive experiences. In doing this, she enriches our bonds with our favorite music.

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For more information on these or other events, email events@northshire.com, or visit the Northshire Bookstore website at www.northshire.com.

Northshire Bookstore, originally founded in 1976, has locations in Manchester, Vermont and Saratoga Springs, NY as well as at Northshire.com. Our large but intimate general bookstores carry the largest selection of categories and genres including new & used fiction, history, cooking, arts and rare author-signed editions. We also have entire floors devoted to Children’s Books and toys, a full line of stationery, magazines, music, cards, calendars, locally-sourced foods and many fine gifts from clothing to jewelry. Open to the public daily from 10:00 AM to 7:00 PM and 24/7 online with free shipping at www.northshire.com