ADELE BOURNE & PETER KROK The poets read from recent and past works as part of the Monday Poets series. Mon., Dec. 5, 6:30-8:30pm, free. Free Library of Philadelphia, Central Branch, 19th & Vine sts., 215-686-5322.

ALUMNI BOOK ILLUSTRATOR OPEN HOUSE Eighteen University of the Arts alumni book illustrators convene for a holiday open house and book signing. Sun., Dec. 4, 1:30-4pm, free. Children's Book World, 17 Station Rd., Haverford, 610-642-6274.

BARBARA BOXER The Democratic Senator from California discusses friendship, betrayal, fighting corruption and public spin in her new book, "A Time To Run." Thu., Dec. 8, noon, free. Free Library of Philadelphia, Central Branch, 19th & Vine sts., 215-686-5322.

BILL SIMMONS ESPN.com page2's Sports Guy replays the years leading up to the death of the curse of the Bambino in his new book, "Now I Can Die in Peace: How ESPN's Sports Guy Found Salvation with a Little Help from Nomar, Pedor, Shawshank and the 2004 Red Sox." Wed., Dec. 7, 5pm, free. Borders, 1 S. Broad St. 215-568-7400.

CECELIE S. BERRY & LONNAE O'NEAL PARKER discuss their books, "Rise Up Singing: Black Women Writers on Motherhood" and "I'm Every Woman: Remixed Tales of Motherhood, Marriage and Work." Fri., Dec. 2, 3pm, free, Penn Bookstore, 3601 Walnut St., 215-898-5965; Sat. Dec. 3, 2pm, free, Robin's Book Store, 108 S. 13th St., 215-735-9600.

CHRISTOPHER BURSK reads and discuss his prose as part of the Poetry is Life Series. Fri., Dec. 2, 8pm, free. Barnes & Noble, The Court at Oxford Valley, 210 Commerce Blvd., Fairless Hills, 215-269-0442 .

DAVE HOLLANDER discusses his new book, "52 Weeks: Interviews with Champions." Wed., Dec. 7, 7pm, free. Barnes & Noble, 1805 Walnut St., 215-665-0716.

DAVID SCHWERIN discusses his new book, "Conscious Globalism: What's Wrong with the World and How to Fix It." Mon., Dec. 5, 3pm, free. UPenn Bookstore, 3601 Walnut St., 215-898-5965.

DAVID WYGANT discusses dating and the single life in his new book, "Always Talk To Strangers." See Mix Pick on p. 66. Tue., Dec. 8, 2pm, free. Penn Bookstore, 3601 Walnut St., 215-898-5965.

DON SILVER discusses his new book, "Backward-Facing Man." Thu., Dec. 1, 6pm, free. The Book Corner, Free Library of Philadelphia, 19th & Vine sts.

ED ROSENTHAL signs copies of his new book, "The Era of Choice." Tue., Dec. 6, 5pm, free. Penn Bookstore, 3601 Walnut St., 215-898-7595.

ED SCHWARZSCHILD signs his debut novel, "Responsible Men," a family drama chockful of suspense. Sat., Dec. 4, noon-2pm, free. Barnes & Noble, 720 Lancaster Ave., Bryn Mawr, 610-520-0355.

FRANK MCCOURT The Pulitzer-winning author of New York Times bestseller "Angela's Ashes" stops in for a signing. Tue., Dec. 6, 8pm, $6-$12. Free Library of Philadelphia, Central Branch, 19th & Vine sts., 215-686-5322.

JAN KARON reads and discusses her new book, "Light from Heaven," which brings her Mitford Years series to an end. Thu., Dec. 8, 8pm, $8-$12. Free Library of Philadelphia, Central Branch, 19th & Vine sts., 215-686-5322.

JOAN NATHAN discusses her new book, "The New American Cooking." Thu., Dec. 1, 7pm, free. Free Library of Philadelphia, Central Branch, 19th & Vine sts., 215-686-5322.

JOHN BOGLE discusses his book, "The Battle for the Soul of Capitalism." Thu., Dec. 8, 7:30pm, free. Barnes & Noble, 720 Lancaster Ave., Bryn Mawr, 610-520-0355.

JOHN MCPHEE The Pulitzer Prize-winning author reads from his many works. Thu., Dec. 1, 5pm, free. Academy of Natural Sciences, 19th St. & the Parkway. 215-299-1000, www.acnatsci.org.

KASHAMBA WILLIAMS The author of "Blinded and Driven" and other adult and teen novels stops by for a visit. Wed., Dec. 7, 6pm, free. Lucien E. Blackwell West Philadelphia Regional Library, 125 S. 52nd St.

LARRY KANE The respected broadcast journalist talks about his career and his new book, "Lennon Revealed," which focuses on his personal accounts with the great musician. Thu., Dec. 1, 7pm, free. Ursinus College, Collegeville, 610-409-3000.

LEONARD GONTAREK & NATALIE FELIX The Philadelphia poets will read for the web arts journal Hinge Online. Wed., Dec. 7, 7pm, free. Voices and Visions Bookstore, lower level of the Bourse, www.hingeoneline.com.

LONNAE PARKER discusses and signs her new book, "I'm Every Woman." Sat., Dec. 3, 3pm, free. Penn Bookstore, 3601 Walnut St., 215-898-5965.

MATT LAKE discusses his new book, "Weird Pennsylvania." Fri., Dec. 2, 7:30pm, free. Doylestown Books, 16 S. Main St., Doylestown, 215-230-7610.

MICHAEL DEIBERT The Latin American and Caribbean correspondent discusses his new book, "Notes from the Last Testament: The Struggle for Haiti." Thu., Dec. 1, call for time, free. Robin's Book Store, 108 S. 13th St., 215-735-9600.

ROBERT ZEMSKY The Penn Professor discusses the power of market forces in his new book, "Remaking the American University: Market Smart and Mission Centered." Tue., Dec. 6, 1pm, free. Penn Bookstore, 3601 Walnut St. 215-898-5965.

SATURDAY CLUB COOKBOOK Don't miss your chance to get one of the first autographed copies of the 2005 edition of the regional cookbook, featuring more than 200 recipes from Main Line's finest restaurants and culinary experts. Sat., Dec. 3, 10am-4pm, free. Barnes & Noble, Bryn Mawr, 720 Lancaster Ave., 610-520-0355.

SOO KIM ABBOUD discusses her book, "Top of the Class: How Asian Parents Raise High Achievers -- and How You Can Too." Thu., Dec. 1, 5pm, free. Penn Bookstore, 3601 Walnut St., 215-898-7595.

STEPHEN LEVICK discusses the psychological and social ramifications of cloning in his new book, "Clone Being." Wed., Dec. 7, 7pm, free. Free Library of Philadelphia, Central Branch, 19th & Vine sts., 215-686-5322.

TONY JUNKER reads from "Tunnell's Boys" as part of the Brown Bag Lunch Series. Thu., Dec. 1, 12:15-1pm, free. Voices & Visions Bookstore, 4th & Ranstead sts., 215-625-4740.

WALTER LICHT signs and discusses his new book, "The Face of Decline: The Pennsylvania Anthracite Region in the Twentieth Century." Thu., Dec. 8, 5pm, free. atwater Kent Museum, 15 S. 7th St., 215-685-4801.