Vroman’s Bookstore will host a Dungeons & Dragons–inspired adventure for children at 11 a.m. Thursday, June 25, part of the Pasadena store’s free summer reading program for young readers.
The event, “Marie’s D&D Workshop,” offers a one-shot role-playing adventure for children ages 6 and older and requires an RSVP, according to Vroman’s. It is one of eight Thursday children’s events in the store’s 2026 program, titled “Dragons, Duels, and Dazzling Reads.”
The free program is open to readers in grades Pre-K through 12 and runs Thursdays at 11 a.m. through Aug. 6, according to Vroman’s website. Children who sign up at the store’s Children’s Department receive a free reading log. To earn rewards, participants are asked to read 10 or more books and attend at least one in-store event.
The series opened earlier this month on the Vroman’s paseo with a performance by the Kingdom of Caid — the Southern California branch of the Society for Creative Anachronism — and a craft in which children built cardboard swords and shields, the bookstore’s announcement said. The SCA is a nonprofit dedicated to recreating pre-17th-century culture.
“The Kingdom of Caid, a branch of the Society for Creative Anachronism (SCA), brings the Middle Ages and Renaissance to life across Southern California, the greater Las Vegas area, and Hawaii,” the branch says on its website. Its listed activities include armored and rapier combat, archery, costuming and calligraphy.
Other events follow the same Thursday-morning pattern. They include “Sophia Sings Sendak” on June 18, a musical storytime led by Sophia, a Vroman’s card and gift clerk and member of the band Cash & Skye, featuring titles by Maurice Sendak. A clay-sculpture workshop with resident artist Kat is set for July 2, also by RSVP.
A July 9 birthday-themed storytime will partner with the Evelyn Swierczynski Foundation and Children’s Hospital Los Angeles. Attendees are encouraged to bring new books — only new books will be accepted — for donation to CHLA patients, and a CHLA blood drive will run that day from 10 a.m. to 4:15 p.m. in the store’s back lot. A Stuffed Animal Sleepover follows on July 16, with plushie drop-off the evening before. A “Summerween” paper-craft workshop with origami artist and author Joel Stern is scheduled for July 30. No event is planned for July 23.
Vroman’s Bookstore is at 695 E. Colorado Blvd. in Pasadena’s Playhouse Village and can be reached at (626) 449-5320. RSVP links and full program details are posted at vromansbookstore.com. Founded in 1894, Vroman’s is described by the Pasadena Chamber of Commerce as Southern California’s oldest and largest independent bookstore.
The season closes Aug. 6 with an End-of-Summer Celebration featuring children’s book illustrator Heidi Moreno, who will read from “But I’m a Pumpkin!: A Summerween Story.” Prizes, including free books, will be handed out that day from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the Kids Info Desk while supplies last, and readers must return their logs on or after Aug. 6 to collect their rewards.
Vroman’s Summer Reading Program: Marie’s D&D Workshop | Thursday, June 25, 2026, 11:00 a.m. |🔗 https://vromansbookstore.com/event/2026-06-25/vromans-summer-reading-program-maries-dd-workshop
