Submitted by the Bedford Parents Diversity Council
The Parents Diversity Council invites everyone to join in for an evening of literary wonder with noted children’s author Mitali Perkins.
Perkins, who writes books for pre-K through teens, will be visiting Bedford students at the Lane School and John Glenn Middle School on Wednesday, May 29 and making a special evening appearance open to the public the night before.
At this public event from 6 to 8 p.m. on Tuesday, May 28, in the Davis School cafeteria, Perkins will talk about her childhood, her writing, and share excerpts from her latest books.
Mitali Perkins was born in Kolkata, India, and moved around the world frequently as a child – from Ghana to Cameroon to New York City to England to Mexico and finally landing again in California in middle school. These experiences have shaped her perspective as a storyteller. Her fiction often revolves around family, identity, and crossing borders.
She has been nominated for a National Book Award, and several of her books have been nominated as Junior Library Guild Selections, along with numerous other awards and honors.
The May 28 event is open to all and no registration is required. Light refreshments will be served, and children are welcome.
Following the event, Perkins will sign books, several of which can be purchased onsite. Books available to buy will be her latest, “Hope in the Valley;” the picture book “Home Is In Between;” and the elementary grades novel “Rickshaw Girl.” For details about these or any of her other books, please visit https://www.mitaliperkins.com. (Guests are welcome to bring copies of their own for her to sign.)
The Parents Diversity Council has already donated copies of these books to the Bedford Public Schools. Donations also will be accepted that night to fund additional books for school libraries and classrooms.
Caregiver and Child Book Club
In anticipation of Perkins’ visit, some parents are organizing a book club for caregivers and children to read one of her books together – “Rickshaw Girl.” Participants will meet at 6 p.m. on Thursday, May 23 in the Lane School Library to discuss the book.
“Rickshaw Girl” takes place in India, focusing around themes of family, art, and gender expectations, and was just made into a film in 2021 (view the film trailer at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=p2gVkngEg2M). The book is aimed for students in grades 2-6 and is only about 100 pages long. Participants also will get a chance for a private meeting and photo op with the author right before the May 28 event. To register or purchase a copy of “Rickshaw Girl” for the book club, click here: https://forms.gle/ZnmofKwaF9tB5Krd8.
The PDC is excited to partner with a number of organizations to bring Perkins to Bedford. They thank the South Asian Association of Bedford (SAAB), MSPA, BEST PTO, the Bedford Free Public Library, and the Bedford Public Schools for supporting these events.
For more information about either of these events, email [email protected].
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