Oak Parker DJ Corchin has made a career out of using children’s books to help children and caregivers start complex conversations.
After early career stints as a high school band director, Apple Store worker and unicycling trombonist — yes, you read that correctly — Corchin is set to release his 25th book since inking a “life-changing” deal with Naperville-based publisher Sourcebooks, which has published 18 of his books. Corchin will kick off the book’s release with an event at Dandelion Bookshop, 139 S. Oak Park Ave., on Aug. 31, before setting off on a Midwestern promotional tour.
“It’s nice to have a home store, as an author,” Corchin said. “Someone who understands the hustle and grind at that retail level reality.”
His collaboration with the local bookseller has also included setting up tools for schools and people he meets on tour to order their copies of his books through Dandelion, he said. Dandelion Bookshop owner Jamie Ericson, herself an author of young adult fiction said building relationships with local writers is a key part of the business.
“It’s definitely a good thing to be working with authors, and there’s so many of them around Chicago,” said Ericson, whose store opened last February. “It benefits both sides, it feels really good to be working with a real person instead of a huge corporation. It’s more flexible.”
About half of the store’s catalogue caters to young readers, so it’s a fitting collaboration, Ericson said.
Corchin has also set up methods for schools and others from around the country to order his books directly through Dandelion Bookshop.
His work has centered around using the storybook medium to explore topics like feelings, friendship, creativity and communication. His books are often used in child psychology settings, he said.
“My lane is to provide the words to start the conversations, and then the professionals do what they’re supposed to do from there,” Corchin said. “I just hope that my writing legacy can be that I leave just a little bit of the wisdom that I’ve received from children’s books and pass that along.”
His new book “A Million Yes’s” — a follow-up to the Barnes & Noble bestseller “A Thousand No’s” — has a core message around healthy boundary setting.
“It’s about setting healthy boundaries, which is another lesson we don’t teach really well,” he said. “How you still be kind but have boundaries, kind of like the oxygen mask on a plane. You put yours on first, then you can help others.”
Corchin regularly visits elementary schools to speak with schoolchildren about his work, and he said he’s looking to bring some of that energy for the Oak Park neighbors who turn up to Dandelion Bookshop later this month.
“I hope it’s a celebration of literacy and community,” Corchin said. “I really want to have the community not just celebrate the book, but to make it an Oak Park celebration. An Oak Park author, an Oak Park bookstore and that’s a chance to show support at a time when bookstores of all things are being attacked.”