It wasn’t too long ago that I was running the Children’s Literary Salon, a monthly gathering of topics presented to children’s literature enthusiasts, in the hallowed halls of NYPL. Times change, people move, and lo and behold here I am on the outskirts of Chicago (if Evanston can really be designated as “the outskirts”) bringing you a whole new Lit Salon. Yes! It’s Children’s Literary Salon 2.0 and we’re doing it Illinois-style. So if you happen to find yourself in the Midwest this coming Saturday, I’d very much like to interest you in the following program:
The Evanston Public Library presents on Saturday, January 9th at 3:00 p.m.:
“Bringing Books to the Border: Jeff Garrett and the Refugee Children of the Rio Grande Valley”
When 70,000 children crossed the southern border into the United States it sparked a humanitarian crisis. And until July of 2014 the Customs and Border Protection (CBP) Department was unable accept donations of kids books to these children. When that changed, local bookstore owner Jeff Garrett of Bookends and Beginnings worked as part of REFORMA’s Children in Crisis Project, to help bring children’s books to the unaccompanied refugee children currently arriving in the Rio Grande Valley. Speaking about his experiences, Jeff touches on many of the issues surrounding the border today and what we can learn from those who are working with refugee children every day.
This event will be held in the Community Room on the first floor.
No reservations necessary.
If you have any questions about this event, please email me at [email protected].
This is to date the first time I’ve wished I were in Illinois, in January, instead of in Manhattan. Will there be a recording available?
I may actually livestream it. We’re ironing out the details right now. More as I learn of it!
B — You totally should. A lot of us will be in Boston, and I know I’d love to see it!