Spring Symposium 2021
We All Have Stories To Tell…and Everyone’s Story is Worth Telling
The images and words of children’s and young adult literature help us tell our stories, to communicate who we are. The illustrations and language of this literature underscore the idea that we can take control of how we want to represent ourselves. More than ever, we need conversations about social justice, inclusion and diversity. These conversations are not always easy ones to have and at the same time we want to have them, we must have them. One place we can look to for some grounding, for ways to open up those conversations, is children’s and young adult literature.
Join in a celebration and examination of how children’s and young adult’s literature
allows us to appreciate one another’s stories at the University of Toledo’s 2021
Judith Herb College of Education Spring Symposium “STORIES MATTER” featuring author/illustrators Innosanto Nagara and Cozbi A. Cabrera.
When: April 15, 2021
Where: Online - virtual 4-part symposium with interactive workshops with local school children and public presentations and panel discussions.
Who:
- Cozbi A. Cabrera, most recently the author and illustrator of Me & Mama that was awarded a Coretta Scott King Honor and a Caldecott Honor for Illustration.
- Innosanto Nagara, most recently the author, illustrator and activist designer of Oh, The Things We’re For!, a rhyming text offering “a vision of where we could go–and a future worth fighting for” that builds upon the tremendous positive response to his first book A is for Activist, written initially for his children, that became a best-seller.
- Benjamin E. Sapp, Director of the Mazza Museum at the University of Findlay,
- Heidi M. Appel, Dean of the Jesup Scott Honors College at the University of Toledo
- Michael Deetsch, Emma Leah Bippus Director of Education and Engagement at the Toledo Museum of Art
- Raymond Witte, Dean of the Judith Herb College of Education, Jenny Denyer & Susanna Hapgood, Faculty in the Teacher Education Department at the Judith Herb College of Education at the University of Toledo
STORIES MATTER! Videos & Resources
Me & Mama
In this video, Cozbi A. Cabrera leads a call and response song with some of the words
from her Caldecott-Honor book Me & Mama. She also explains the story behind the writing
of this book. And, she invites children to write a story about a person they love
to spend time with and the many things they like to do together.
My Hair is a Garden
In this video, Cozbi A. Cabrera and her daughter do hand clapping and sing about an important part of the story in her book My Hair is a Garden. She encourages children to try doing the same kind of singing and clapping about other stories.
My Night in the Planetarium
In this video, Innosanto Nagara reads his book My Night in the Planetarium about a episode from his childhood.
He also answers questions from 3rd graders about his childhood and being a writer and an activist.
My Night in the Planetarium handout
M is for Movement
In this video, Innosanto Nagara, author of the best-selling book A is for Activist, reads from his chapter book M is for Movement (AKA Humans Can’t Eat Golf Balls) about growing up in Indonesia during a turbulent times.
He also answers questions from 5th graders about his childhood and being a writer and an activist.
Mazza Museum Presentation
Full Symposium Panel Presentation
Author/Illustrators' Websites:
Cozbi A Cabrera: http://www.cozbi.com
Innosanto Nagara: https://aisforactivist.org/