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September 2022
Imagination Friday with Meg Medina
Meet Meg Medina, author of the Newbery Medal winner, Merci Suárez Changes Gears! Meg will share her newest middle-grade novel, Merci Suárez Plays It Cool, in which Merci faces school drama and changing family dynamics. When one of the popular kids starts talking with her at school, she faces difficult decisions on who has her loyalty as a friend. Meg will talk about her new book and share the process of creating the story, invite children to write about their…
Find out more »October 2022
Imagination Friday with Ana Aranda
Meet Ana Aranda, the author/illustrator of a new picturebook, Our Day of the Dead Celebration. This picturebook is about a family who gathers to enjoy favorite foods, play games, and tell stories to celebrate the lives of family members for Día de los Muertos. Aranda's whimsical, bright illustrations are full of joy and love, and the story is a powerful reminder that our loved ones are always with us. Ana will share her new book and invite children to draw…
Find out more »November 2022
Imagination Friday with Adam Rex and Laura Park
Meet Adam Rex and Laura Park, the creators of a new picturebook, Digestion: The Musical. This hilarious picturebook is about the most basic process of the human body—digesting food! Candy has finally made it into the human body and her "big break" is to be successfully digested. The scientific process of digestion is told through a musical with Candy as a small-town kid who wants to make it big and includes cameos for body parts that help transform food from…
Find out more »February 2023
Imagination Friday with Michaela Goade
Meet Michaela Goade, illustrator of We Are Water Protectors, winner of the Caldecott medal. Michaela is the first Indigenous illustrator to win this award. We are celebrating her book in the Big Read initiative due to its focus on water as the first medicine that affects and connects all of us. When a black snake threatens to destroy the Earth and poison the water, one young water protector takes a stance to defend Earth's most sacred resource. Michaela will talk…
Find out more »September 2023
Imagination Friday with Adam Rex
Meet Adam Rex, the author and illustrator of The Story of Gumluck the Wizard, a new early chapter book series. In this absurdly silly and heartfelt book, a wee wizard is on a quest to become a helpful hero by doing the bidding of rude, ungrateful townspeople. Narrated by a sarcastic raven, this noodlehead tale introduces a goofy magical kingdom along with questions about truth and lies. Adam will share his new book, his process in creating the story, invite…
Find out more »October 2023
Imagination Friday with Joanna Ho
Meet Joanna Ho, the author and illustrator of Say My Name. Names reveal generational ties and histories, weaving an intricate tale of the past. Names -- and correctly saying them -- are important. Each one carries the hopes, dreams and traditions of those that came before us. Six captivating kids of Chinese, Tongan, Persian, Diné, Mexican and Ghanaian descent proudly celebrate their names, languages and cultures. Joanna Ho's lyrical story explains how saying a person's name is the only way…
Find out more »November 2023
Imagination Friday with Raúl the Third
Meet Raúl the Third, presenting his newest ¡Vamos! book. ¡Vamos! Let's Go Read is a joyful story about literacy as Little Lobo and his friends visit a book festival at the local library, each hoping to find the book of their dreams. Bilingual celebration of Mexican American culture and books. Raúl the Third will introduce his new book, share his process of writing and illustrating, invite children to sketch along with him, and answer questions. Host: Kathy Short, UArizona Regents…
Find out more »December 2023
Imagination Friday with Chris Grabenstein
Meet Chris Grabenstein and celebrate his new graphic novel, Escape from Mr. Lemoncello's Library. This bestselling book is now a full color, fun-packed graphic novel in which a group of game-loving kids must solve every clue to find the hidden escape route out of the town's new library. Visual clues and book covers are embedded into the panels. Chris will introduce his new book and process of writing, invite children to solve puzzles, and answer questions. Host: Kathy Short, UArizona…
Find out more »September 2024
Imagination Friday with Loren Long
Meet Loren Long to hear about his new book, The Yellow Bus, in which a forgotten school bus finds joy and purpose in unexpected places. The stunning black-and-white illustrations erupt into color when the yellow bus finds joy and the author’s note tells how Loren built an entire tiny town as a model for the illustrations. Loren introduces his new book and process of writing and illustrating, invites children to sketch and answers questions. Loren Long is the author/illustrator of…
Find out more »May 2025
Bilingual Story Time with Ying Wang
Join us for a fun and engaging bilingual Mandarin-English story time led by Chinese Immersion teacher Ying Wang. Ms. Wang will share stories about Mother's day, the Dragon Boat Festival and Traditional Chinese toys. After the stories, kids and families are invited to participate in hands-on cultural activities! This event is hosted in collaboration with the Center for East Asian Studies. Ticketed parking is available in the Second St. Garage and metered parking is available on the street/surface level through…
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