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Kew Gardens Children's Writer To Read From His New Book at Astoria Bookshop

 David Ezra Stein’s “Tad and Dad” was published earlier this year. 
Kew Gardens Children’s Writer To Read From His New Book At Astoria Bookshop
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QUEENS — Just in time for Father’s Day.

Kew Gardens writer David Ezra Stein will be reading his new book, “Tad and Dad,” at the Astoria Bookshop this Saturday.

The story is about a tadpole who won't leave his dad's side, learns new skills like singing and catching flies, and practices them at night — disturbing his dad's sleep.

Stein, 37, a father of two, said the book was inspired by his own relationship with his 5-year-old son, Sam, who often jumps into his parents bed and keeps kicking them at night, he said.

“And of course we love him and we want to be near him, too,” he said. “But it’s like that tension between wanting your kids to leave you alone and then missing them when they go away.”

Stein, who in 2011 received the prestigious Caldecott Honor, has written more than a dozen books for kids, including “Interrupting Chicken,” about a chicken who keeps interrupting others, and “Leaves,” which tells a story of a little bear surprised by falling leaves.

A graduate of Parsons School for Design, Stein also illustrates his books.

The author, who has lived in Kew Gardens most of his life, said that in order to write a good story for kids, writers have to find their “inner child ... who knows what’s appealing to kids and what’s funny.”

It’s also important, he said, to write from the child's point of view, otherwise books are “didactic” and that’s “insulting to a kid.” 

The real goal, he said, is to try "to teach a kid how to be human.”

David Ezra Stein will be reading from his latest book "Tad and Dad" on June 6 from 11:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. at The Astoria Bookshop at 31-29 31st St. in Astoria.