Portland Public Library to host reception and slide talk for: “That’s My Story!”

Immigrant and Refugee Children in Picture Books 

Thursday, November 19, 2015 from 4:30-7:00pm

in the Sam L. Cohen Children’s Library

Portland, Maine - In celebration of Picture Book Month, there will be a reception for “Picturing New Neighbors,” Anne Sibley O’Brien’s exhibit of her picture book illustrations as well as a slide talk, ”That’s My Story” a review of recent, recommended titles featuring refugee and immigrant children.

“Picturing New Neighbors” is an exhibit, currently on view in the Sam L. Cohen Children’s Library. It highlights four of Anne Sibley O’Brien’s picture books featuring immigrant children and their families in the United States. The books include I’m New Here, Path of Stars (both of which she authored), Moon Watchers (by Reza Jalali), and What Will You Be Sara Mee? (by Kate Aver Avraham.)

The exhibit reception will be followed by a slide talk, “That’s My Story” in Meeting Room #5.  The talk will focus on books which portray the countries of origin of families currently settling in Maine. The audience will explore how these books can be used to support students – and their mainstream classmates as they move through stages of adjustment. Resources will be shared for librarians, teachers, and parents to continue to explore the literature of immigration.

The event will include book sales and signing. Light refreshments will be served.

Anne Sibley O’Brien is a children’s book creator who lives on Peaks Island. She has illustrated thirty-two picture books. O’Brien’s passion for multiracial, multicultural, and global subjects grew out of her experience of being raised bilingual and bicultural in South Korea as the daughter of medical missionaries.

Picture Book Month is an international literacy initiative that celebrates the print picture book during the month of November.