Thursday, Jan. 24, 2019
A conversation with bestselling and award-winning author Matt de la Pena about the power of children's literature to nurture diversity.
Mixed-status families – those whose members have different immigration statuses – are one aspect of America's immigration landscape. By one estimate, there are 16 million mixed-status families.
Bestselling author Matt de la Pena sets his latest work, "Carmella Full of Wishes," in one such household, telling the story of a young Dreamer on her birthday. One review praised the book for how "it touches on immigration, class, and loss without belaboring each."
De la Pena was the first Latino author to win the prestigious Newberry Medal in children’s literature for "Last Stop on Market Street" for its handling of class and diversity in one’s community.
As he visits Charlotte for Trinity Episcopal School’s Freedom Fete, we talk with Matt de la Pena about immigration, diversity, and literature’s role in furthering it.
GUESTS
Matt de la Pena, New York Times bestselling author and Newbery Medal recipient; author of, most recently, Carmela Full of Wishes (@mattdelapena)
AUTHOR EVENT
Matt de la Pena will be speaking at Trinity Episcopal School's Freedom Fete on Thursday, Jan. 24, from 7-9 p.m. More information can be found here.