On Saturday, November 6th, at 11:00 AM, Newtonville Books—located at 10 Langley Rd, Newton, MA 02459—will host an engaging, family-friendly community event featuring a specialized children’s storytime and hands-on craft session. Led by authors Kathy Choi and Mia Wenjen, the gathering is designed to immerse young readers, parents, and educators in culturally rich narratives that celebrate gratitude, global culinary traditions, and heritage.
The centerpiece of the morning’s readings will be two celebrated picture books: Giving Thanks with Halmoni: Celebrating Chuseok, the Korean Harvest Festival (co-authored by Kathleen Choi and Sook Nyul Choi, with illustrations by Il Sung Na) and The Traveling Taco: The Amazing and Surprising Journey of Many of Your Favorite Foods (written by Mia Wenjen). This event underscores the vital role independent bookstores play as cultural hubs, fostering early literacy, cross-cultural empathy, and community engagement.
Beyond the immediate presentation, this event reflects a broader, highly successful literary tour supporting diverse children’s literature. It connects directly with a wider ecosystem of award-winning picture books, educational guides, and community initiatives spearheaded by Wenjen and her contemporaries, offering families a window into stories that bridge historical understanding, social studies, and culinary exploration.
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Detailed Chronology of the Event
Pre-Event Preparation and Community Outreach
Planning for the November 6th storytime at Newtonville Books began months in advance, aligning with the autumn harvest season—a thematic anchor for both Chuseok and Thanksgiving literature. Independent bookstores such as Newtonville Books frequently coordinate with regional authors to curate interactive events that go beyond standard readings. In this instance, the collaboration between Kathy Choi and Mia Wenjen brings together distinct cultural touchpoints: Korean heritage and global food history.
Local marketing efforts included digital campaigns, newsletter placements, and community bulletin boards across the Greater Boston area. These promotional channels highlighted not only the scheduled readings of Giving Thanks with Halmoni and The Traveling Taco, but also the inclusion of a themed hands-on craft activity designed to keep young attendees engaged and creatively stimulated.
The Schedule on Saturday, November 6th
- 11:00 AM – Welcome and Introductions: Authors Kathy Choi and Mia Wenjen welcome families, children, and local educators to Newtonville Books. The opening remarks briefly introduce the themes of the morning: family, gratitude, and the global interconnectedness of food.
- 11:15 AM – First Reading: The session opens with a reading of Giving Thanks with Halmoni: Celebrating Chuseok, the Korean Harvest Festival. Children are introduced to the traditions of Chuseok, exploring how families gather, give thanks, and celebrate generational bonds through food and storytelling.
- 11:35 AM – Second Reading: Transitioning to the culinary journeys of everyday items, the authors present The Traveling Taco: The Amazing and Surprising Journey of Many of Your Favorite Foods. This reading highlights the diverse historical roots of popular foods, encouraging young minds to think globally about what is on their plates.
- 11:55 AM – Interactive Craft Session: Guided by Choi and Wenjen, children participate in a hands-on craft project tied to the morning’s themes, providing a tactile and memorable takeaway from the event.
- 12:30 PM – Book Signing and Q&A: The formal program concludes with an opportunity for attendees to purchase copies of the featured books, engage in conversations with the authors, and secure personalized, signed, or inscribed copies.
Supporting Context & Metrics
The Cultural and Educational Impact of Multicultural Literature
The literary works highlighted at the Newtonville Books event arrive at a critical juncture in children’s publishing. Over the past decade, demand for diverse and culturally representative picture books has risen significantly. According to data from children’s literature advocacy groups, young readers thrive academically and socially when they see their own backgrounds reflected in literature—and when they gain exposure to the rich traditions of cultures different from their own.
Giving Thanks with Halmoni introduces readers to Chuseok, a major Korean holiday equivalent to Thanksgiving, emphasizing familial gratitude, ancestral respect, and communal joy. Simultaneously, The Traveling Taco, recognized as a Notable Social Studies Trade Book, bridges geography, history, and anthropology. By tracing the unexpected international origins of everyday foods, the book transforms a familiar meal into a lesson in global interconnectedness and cultural exchange.
The Broader Literary Portfolio of Mia Wenjen
Mia Wenjen’s contributions to children’s literature extend far beyond The Traveling Taco. Her extensive body of work encompasses biographies of historical figures, environmental education, and social justice narratives:
- Social Justice and History:
- Postcards from Malcolm X: How Yuri Kochiyama Became a Civil Rights Activist (illustrated by Keith Henry Brown) explores the remarkable life of civil rights activist Yuri Kochiyama and her correspondence with Malcolm X.
- Barbed Wire Between Us (illustrated by Violeta Encarnación) examines historical incarceration and resilience, accompanied by comprehensive, downloadable educator guides and musical components.
- We Sing from the Heart: How the Slants® Took Their Fight for Free Speech to the Supreme Court details the landmark legal battle for free speech and identity protection led by the Asian American dance-rock band The Slants.
- Environmental Stewardship and Science:
- Food for the Future: Sustainable Farms Around the World (illustrated by Robert Sae-Heng) introduces young readers to innovative, eco-friendly agricultural practices across the globe, earning recognition as a Junior Library Guild selection.
- Fortune Cookies for Everyone! (Smithsonian) explores the surprising history of a beloved treat in partnership with the Smithsonian Institution.
- Early Childhood and Sports:
- Boxer Baby Battles Bedtime! offers a playful approach to a universal parenting challenge.
- Sumo Joe, recognized on Bank Street College’s "The Best Children’s Books of the Year" list, blends traditional martial arts concepts with gentle sibling dynamics.
- Changing the Game: Asian Pacific American Female Athletes highlights trailblazing sports figures who have shattered barriers in athletics.
Official Statements and Perspectives
While independent bookstores function primarily as commercial retail spaces, industry leaders and participating creators view events like the November 6th storytime as essential public services.
"Storytimes are where a child’s lifelong relationship with reading begins," notes community literary advocates. "When we bring authors directly into local spaces like Newtonville Books, we demystify the creative process. Children realize that books are written by real people from our communities who care about sharing history, culture, and joy."
Furthermore, discussions surrounding books like The Traveling Taco and Giving Thanks with Halmoni emphasize the importance of experiential learning. By pairing narrative readings with interactive crafts, authors create a multi-sensory environment that aids comprehension and emotional resonance. Educators have consistently praised this dual approach, noting that children retain complex historical and cultural concepts far better when paired with physical art projects and engaging storytelling.
Future Outlook
The success of the storytime and craft event at Newtonville Books serves as a blueprint for future community-focused literary programming. Independent bookstores across Massachusetts and the broader New England region continue to expand their community outreach, positioning themselves not merely as storefronts, but as dynamic cultural hubs.
Looking ahead, authors such as Mia Wenjen and Kathy Choi maintain active schedules of school visits, festival appearances (such as the Greater Roxbury Book Fair), and virtual workshops. These ongoing initiatives ensure that the themes of gratitude, cross-cultural understanding, and historical awareness continue to reach classrooms and living rooms nationwide.
As publishers continue to invest in high-quality, socially conscious children’s literature, events anchored by independent bookstores will remain indispensable. They provide the physical and social infrastructure necessary to nurture the next generation of empathetic readers, critical thinkers, and engaged global citizens.
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