Local Author Kao Kalia Yang: The Shared Room
Author Kao Kalia Yang will perform a reading of her new picture book The Shared Room for an intergenerational audience at a virtual event. She will lead community conversation about the themes of the books that include the heavy but important topics of a child's death grief, family, and love. Time for audience questions about the author and her writing will be provided.
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Children will listen to a quality story by a local author; learn more about writing; participate in a conversation that helps them explore themselves and others around them- improving social skills and empathy. People in the community will have a chance to ask questions and learn more about their communities and themselves. They will engage with a Hmong author whose writing and illustrators honor and represent Hmong culture.
Patrons were able to listen to Kao Kalia Yang's picture book, The Shared Room. Patrons got to listen to Kao Kalia Yang speak about her writing process and the inspiration for the book, The Shared Room. Patrons learned how to use the book The Shared Room as a tool to discuss difficult topics such as death with their children and families. Patrons were able to share their own personal and childhood stories with Kao Kalia Yang and other participants. Patron feedback: "Kao Kalia Yang speaks so personally about her writing and her motivations. I have heard her speak a few times and each time I think, 'Wow- she is so powerful. This must be something she is especially passionate about. Then I think back to other times and I realize, 'No- she is always like this.' Thank you for sharing so much of yourself through not just your writing, but in talks like these." Thanks!