Cuban-American Author Margarita Engle to speak September 25

Date: Friday, September 25, 2009
Time: 6:00 p.m.
Place: Unitarian Universalist Church of Fresno
2672 East Alluvial Avenue (just west of Willow
Clovis, CA

Clovis resident Margarita Engle is the Cuban-American author of three novels, written in free verse, for young people. The Poet Slave of Cuba : A Biography of Juan Francisco Manzano , won the Pura Belpré and the Americas awards. The Surrender Tree : Poems of Cuba ’s Struggle for Freedom is a 2009 Newbery Honor book. Tropical Secrets: Holocaust Refugees in Cuba , published in April 2009, is winning rave reviews.

The Arne Nixon Center Advocates, support group for the Arne Nixon Center for the Study of Children’s Literature at California State University , Fresno , invite everyone to hear Margarita Engle speak at their annual meeting. The meeting will be held at 6:00 p.m. on Friday, September 25, at the Unitarian Universalist Church of Fresno , and hosted there by the Norelma Walker Youth Library. The church is located at 2672 East Alluvial Avenue (just west of Willow ) in Clovis , California .

Following a reception at 6:00 p.m., the program will begin at 6:45 p.m. The author’s PowerPoint presentation, “Finding the Poetry in History,” will include family pictures.

The program will include a presentation of Jane Addams Award-winning books to the Arne Nixon Center by community activist Ellie Bluestein. The Jane Addams Children’s Book Award is a national award, given annually by the Women’s International League for Peace and Freedom and the Jane Addams Peace Association to the children’s book that most effectively promotes the cause of peace, social justice, world community, and the equality of the sexes and all races, as well as meeting conventional standards for excellence. The Surrender Tree won for 2009.

The author’s books will be available for sale and autographing.

There is no admission charge for this event. Children aged ten and older are welcome if accompanied by an adult. Reservations are required by sending e-mail to mrianto@csufresno.edu or by calling (559) 278-8116.