Bringing books to life with online interactive workshops

“Where Are You From? with Gomez Addams” This bilingual workshop will explore the story of Where Are You From? With Gomez from The Addams Family.

We will explore what it means to talk about where we are from, and how to be accepting and loving to those who are different from us, and even learn a little Spanish along the way!

About The Book: A powerful story about a simple question— “WHERE ARE YOU FROM?” When a young girl is asked where she’s from—where she’s really from—she’s no longer as sure as she was. She decides to turn to her dear abuelo for some help with this ever-persistent question. But he doesn’t quite give her the answer she expects. Yamile Saied Méndez’s lyrical text and Jaime Kim’s stunning illustrations celebrate the importance of family, love, and home through embracing one’s rich heritage and culture.

Join Matilda on a journey in growing up and exploring the power of reading! This virtual experience will allow participants to join Matilda and her imagination in telling her own story, while also promoting the adventures reading can take you on!

In this four-part workshop, we will read and analyze together ‘Bookjoy Wordjoy’ by Pat Mora, where participants will be encouraged to use their imaginations and words to create any story or adventure that they want!

Through a combination of song, storytelling, and craft, together we will explore the challenges Matilda faced and how she was able to find comfort and adventure through both books and her imagination!

Join Princess Fiona as she tells the story of how her life changed when she met an ogre named Shrek. You will sing, dance, and act your way through her story, bringing the fairytale creatures she meets along the way to life. By the end of the story, you will learn that what makes you special makes you strong!

We will also be reading the book Just Ask! by Supreme Court Justice Sonia Sotomayor. Just like the fairytale creatures in Shrek, the kids in this book know that their differences are what makes them amazing. You may even meet a friend in this book who is just like you!

Up up and away- an Adventure with Mary Poppins!

Join Mary Poppins on an adventure to revisit many of her magical stories and the important life lessons she learned along the way. On this journey, we will discover just how important it is to understand someone else’s situation from their point of view.

This class will encourage participants to reflect on their background and discover what truly makes them who they are! Together we will read ‘Where are You From?’ by Yamile Saied Méndez and understand the importance of accepting ourselves and others!

Singing songs Mary Poppins loves to sing such as “A Cover is Not the Book” the children will be encouraged to look deeper and remember that everything is not always as it seems. These are only a few of the things we will learn as we sing, dance, create, and read together!

This workshop will intertwine the story of Julián Is A Mermaid and The Little Mermaid. We will help young readers draw parallels between the two protagonists and how both Arial and Julián dare to be the truest forms of themselves, even when it goes against the norms of their society.

About The Book: While riding the subway home from the pool with his abuela one day, Julián notices three women spectacularly dressed up. Their hair billows in brilliant hues, their dresses end in fishtails, and their joy fills the train car.

When Julián gets home, daydreaming of the magic he’s seen, all he can think about is dressing up just like the ladies in his own fabulous mermaid costume: a butter-yellow curtain for his tail, the fronds of a potted fern for his headdress. But what will Abuela think about the mess he makes — and even more importantly, what will she think about how Julián sees himself? Mesmerizing and full of heart, Jessica Love’s author-illustrator debut is a jubilant picture of self-love and a radiant celebration of individuality.

The town of Gerrilola is a peaceful enclave in the Valley of Maladoo.

The village is renowned throughout the country for its wide variety of produce, ranging from firemelons to lobsterpears.

Two brave adventurers (of your choosing) arrive on the town’s Independence day to join in the local festivities, which include a fishing competition, a scavenger hunt, and an epic fireworks show.

However, our adventurers will find much more than they bargained for as they explore the town and discover its many characters and secrets.

The characters you may choose from are as follows:

1. A Sorcerer and a Centaur

2. A Superhero and a Goblin

3. A Scientist and a Musician

Come relive the tale as old as time as you’ve never seen it before! Sing, act, and dance your way through this interactive story time starring you.

Just as she learned that beauty lies within, you will be encouraged to not judge a book by its cover but what is on the inside. After recreating Belle’s heroic adventures, enjoy a sing-a-long of other princess friends from various far away kingdoms.

Over the course of our playdates, we will explore how the lessons that our favorite fairytale friends learned can be used in our own lives. At the end of our time together we will put together a performance filled with the songs and lessons we learned together.

So come “Be Our Guest” and enjoy Belle’s Enchanted Tales.

Suitable for ages 3+