Illustration of kids dancing in a classroom
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Xuan Le, Illustration from First Friends: Bodies by Mk Smith Despres (Barefoot Books). © 2026 Xuan Le. 

Special Storytime: Mk Smith Despres

Artists & Authors
For Families
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Reading Library

Free with Museum Admission

Join local author and librarian Mk Smith Despres for a storytime featuring their latest books in the First Friends board book series: Bodies and Feelings!

In First Friends: Bodies, it’s time to move our bodies! Can you raise your shoulders up and down? How about scrunching your face and spinning around? Let’s dance and shake our wiggles out  before settling down on the rug for circle time.

In First Friends: Feelings, it’s time for lunch! Some friends are feeling cranky, frustrated, or downright hangry. But caring friends and teachers help everyone deal with their big feelings.

A book signing will follow the program. Can’t make it? You may reserve signed books.

Who You'll Meet
Author Mk Smith Despres

Mk Smith Despres

Mk Smith Despres is the Youth Services Librarian at the Meekins Library in Williamsburg, MA. In addition to the First Friends series, they are the author of There’s That Sun Again and Night Song, one of Bank Street’s Best Children’s Books of the Year.

Author website
Visit the shop

In the Bookshop

Cover of Night Song by Mk Smith Despres, illustrated by HyeWon Yum

Night Song

Cover for There's That Sun Again by Mk Smith Despres, illustrated by Julie Benbassat

There's That Sun Again

Illustration of different kinds of children playing

First Friends: Opposites

Illustration of different kinds of children painting

First Friends: Colors

Illustration of kids in various poses

First Friends: Bodies

Illustration of a diverse group of children

First Friends: Feelings