Local Authors Kathy Choi and Mia Wenjen to Host Interactive Storytime and Craft Event at Newtonville Books

Newton, Massachusetts families and young readers will have a wonderful opportunity to celebrate diverse cultures and storytelling this weekend as local authors Kathy Choi and Mia Wenjen prepare to host a special interactive storytime and craft event. The community gathering is scheduled for Saturday, November 6th, starting at 11:00 a.m. at the beloved independent bookstore Newtonville Books, located at 10 Langley Road in Newton, Massachusetts.

The upcoming event invites children, parents, and caregivers to experience engaging readings of two acclaimed children’s picture books that highlight rich cultural traditions, family bonds, and the fascinating histories behind everyday foods. The featured titles for the morning are Giving Thanks with Halmoni: Celebrating Chuseok, the Korean Harvest Festival and The Traveling Taco: The Amazing and Surprising Journey of Many of Your Favorite Foods. Following the reading, attendees will participate in a hands-on craft activity designed to spark children’s creativity and deepen their connection to the themes explored in the books.

Giving Thanks with Halmoni, written by Kathleen Choi and Sook Nyul Choi with vibrant illustrations by Il Sung Na, introduces young readers to Chuseok, the major Korean harvest festival. The book captures the warmth of family gatherings, traditional foods, and expressions of gratitude, offering an accessible and heartfelt look at a cherished cultural celebration. Paired alongside it is The Traveling Taco: The Amazing and Surprising Journey of Many of Your Favorite Foods, authored by Mia Wenjen. This notable social studies award winner takes young audiences on a delightful culinary adventure, exploring the surprising multicultural roots and historical journeys behind many of kids’ and families’ most beloved dishes.

The collaboration between Choi and Wenjen brings together passionate voices in children’s literature who are dedicated to creating inclusive stories that reflect the diverse world we live in. Their upcoming visit to Newtonville Books is part of a broader series of community-focused events aimed at fostering a love for reading, cultural appreciation, and creative expression among young learners in the Greater Boston area. Previous events, such as a recent storytime and craft session held at Turtle Books in Brookline Village, have drawn enthusiastic crowds of families eager to meet the authors and dive into interactive literary experiences.

Mia Wenjen’s extensive catalog of children’s and educational books reflects her commitment to diverse storytelling, historical education, and engaging youth literature. Alongside The Traveling Taco, Wenjen has authored several notable works, including Barbed Wire Between Us, illustrated by Violeta Encarnación, which features a downloadable teacher’s guide to assist educators in incorporating its vital historical themes into classroom settings. Her acclaimed biography Postcards from Malcolm X: How Yuri Kochiyama Became a Civil Rights Activist, illustrated by Keith Henry Brown, explores the remarkable life of civil rights icon Yuri Kochiyama and has been celebrated at major regional literary gatherings, such as the 4th Annual Greater Roxbury Book Fair where Lisa Cline-Ransom delivered the keynote address.

Additional works by Wenjen span a wide array of topics, from cultural food histories and sustainable agriculture to sports biographies and sports coaching guides. Titles such as Fortune Cookies for Everyone! (Smithsonian): The Surprising Story of the Tasty Treat We Love to Eat, illustrated by Colleen Kong-Savage, and Food for the Future: Sustainable Farms Around the World, illustrated by Robert Sae-Heng, which was named one of Bank Street College’s Best Children’s Books of the Year, showcase her ability to make complex social, historical, and environmental subjects engaging for young readers. Her bibliography also includes books like We Sing from the Heart: How the Slants® Took Their Fight for Free Speech to the Supreme Court, Boxer Baby Battles Bedtime!, Sumo Joe, Changing the Game: Asian Pacific American Female Athletes, Gnomes and Ungnomes: Poems of Hidden Creatures, The Elusive Full Ride Scholarship: An Insider’s Guide, and How to Coach Girls, co-authored with Alison Foley.

Saturday’s event at Newtonville Books promises to be an enriching experience for local families looking to spend a Saturday morning immersed in storytelling, culture, and community creativity. Attendees will have the opportunity to listen to the authors bring their stories to life, participate in the companion craft activity, and discover a wide selection of multicultural children’s literature.

Newtonville Books is located at 10 Langley Rd, Newton, MA 02459. The storytime and craft event begins promptly at 11:00 a.m. on Saturday, November 6th, and is open to the public. Families are encouraged to arrive early to secure seating and enjoy everything the independent bookstore has to offer.