Pat
Celebrating Bookjoy with Ashley Bryan
In 2013, IBBY/USBBY created this poster for International Children’s Book Day.
What an honor to have Ashley Bryan illustrate my words.
He was a gifted giant in children’s books.
Ashley was always generous. I carry his smile.
Pat
Black History Month
I have been re-reading Nikki Giovanni’s autobiographical essays, Sacred Cows…and Other Edibles. I think I had the pleasure of seeing her jump up on a cafeteria table at UT El Paso years ago to begin a reading. Such a feisty spirit.
In the past, I had the pleasure of reading with Gwendolyn Brooks, Sonia Sanchez, and expressing a teary thanks to Lucille Clifton before we read together. Such an honor to read with these poets. Nikki Giovanni ends Sacred Cows with the following, “It is the willingness to pioneer the one trek we all can make…no matter what our station or location in life…the existential reality that wherever there is life…we are at home.”
Perhaps thanks to education, news and social media more of us are aware of our human diversity and of our responsibility to protect our planet.
Pat
The Feast of the Epiphany, January 6
More widely celebrated in Latin America than in the United States, the Feast of the Epiphany, also known as Three Kings’ Day or Los Tres Reyes, marks the the arrival of the Magi symbolizing that the Christ Child was revealed to the world. The tradition of making (or buying) a Three Kings’ Wreath or rosca de reyes inspired my book, The Bakery Lady: La señora de la panadería. I wrote it to show a close Mexican-American family celebrating this tradition by baking together. I am blessed to have known such closeness in my own life.
As a writer, I love the word epiphany from the Greek meaning a manifestation or striking insight. Wishing you epiphanies in the new year.
Pat
