Page Turner

Children and their parents will have an opportunity to meet best-selling Dutch author and illustrator Dick Bruna at 7 p.m. today at the Zany Brainy Store, Northgate Center, 111 S. Westlake Blvd., Thousand Oaks. Bruna created the popular character Miffy in 1955. Bruna, a graphic designer, began drawing the mischievous white bunny for his own children as a hobby.

“It all started during a holiday at the beach in Holland,” said Bruna. “We always saw a rabbit running away.”

Bruna’s style of simple contours and vivid colors have won many awards for his Miffy books. More than 80 million copies of his books have sold all over the world, translated into 33 languages.

“At the time, I thought most books were too complicated for children,” Bruna said “They were nice for the parents, but I wanted to leave room for the children’s imagination.”

Each book has 12 illustrations, accompanied by a four-line poem. The books’ small size makes them very popular with toddlers.

At 71, Bruna plans to keep writing.

“I’m not going to retire, because it’s still a hobby for me,” he said.

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Borders, 100 S. Brand Blvd., Glendale, (818) 241-8099, offers an eclectic blend of live music all weekend. Joe Lopiccolo will perform Brazilian jazz at 8 p.m. today; pianist Matthew Galasso performs his own original music at 8 p.m. Saturday, and the jazz trio Pacific Standard Time takes the stage at 3 p.m. Sunday.

Also, for little ones, Lyle the Crocodile will be visiting story time at 4 p.m. Saturday and 1 p.m. Sunday.

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Dark Delicacies, 3725 W. Magnolia Blvd., Burbank, (818) 556-6660, which specializes in gothic, horror and fantasy titles, will have authors Philip Nutman, Bernie Wrightson, Brad Parker, Jesse McCann, Hart Fisher, Mark Andreyko, Leonardo Jiminez and Daerick Gross Sr. signing their books at 2 p.m. Saturday.