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

Families, young readers, and local book lovers are invited to join authors Kathy Choi and Mia Wenjen for a special morning of storytelling and creative crafting at Newtonville Books. The public event is scheduled for Saturday, November 6th, beginning at 11:00 a.m. at the independent bookstore located at 10 Langley Road in Newton, Massachusetts.

The interactive community gathering will highlight two celebrated children’s picture books that explore culture, family traditions, and the fascinating global roots of everyday foods. Attendees will have the opportunity to listen to live readings, participate in a hands-on craft activity, and engage directly with the authors.

Celebrating Cultural Traditions and Culinary Journeys

During the morning session, Choi and Wenjen will read from their respective works, bringing vibrant stories and distinct cultural perspectives to the young audience.

The featured selections include Giving Thanks with Halmoni: Celebrating Chuseok, the Korean Harvest Festival, written by Kathleen Choi and Sook Nyul Choi, and illustrated by Il Sung Na. The book introduces readers to Chuseok, the major Korean harvest festival, through themes of gratitude, family connection, and traditional heritage.

The second featured title is The Traveling Taco: The Amazing and Surprising Journey of Many of Your Favorite Foods, written by Mia Wenjen. The acclaimed book takes young readers on a delightful, educational exploration of how popular foods travel across borders, cultures, and generations, highlighting the diverse global influences found right on our plates.

A Growing Body of Notable Children’s Literature

The Newtonville Books appearance is part of a broader series of local author events celebrating multicultural children’s literature, community engagement, and social studies education. Mia Wenjen’s literary catalog includes several award-winning and recognized titles that span biography, history, and cultural exploration.

Among her notable works is The Traveling Taco, which has earned recognition as a Notable Social Studies Award Winner. Wenjen’s extensive bibliography also features Barbed Wire Between Us, illustrated by Violeta Encarnación, which comes with a free, downloadable teacher’s guide to assist educators in classroom discussions. Her biographical picture book, Postcards from Malcolm X: How Yuri Kochiyama Became a Civil Rights Activist, illustrated by Keith Henry Brown, sheds light on an influential figure in civil rights history and was recently highlighted at the 4th Annual Greater Roxbury Book Fair.

Other prominent works by Wenjen include Fortune Cookies for Everyone! (Smithsonian): The Surprising Story of the Tasty Treat We Love to Eat, illustrated by Colleen Kong-Savage, and We Sing from the Heart: How the Slants® Took Their Fight for Free Speech to the Supreme Court. Her children’s books also extend into diverse topics ranging from sustainable agriculture with Food for the Future: Sustainable Farms Around the World, illustrated by Robert Sae-Heng, to playful family dynamics in Sumo Joe and Boxer Baby Battles Bedtime!, as well as athletic achievement in Changing the Game: Asian Pacific American Female Athletes.

Event Details

The storytime and craft event is free and open to the public, making it an ideal weekend activity for families with young children. Attendees are encouraged to arrive early to secure seating at Newtonville Books, located at 10 Langley Rd, Newton, MA 02459, ahead of the 11:00 a.m. start time on Saturday, November 6th. Copies of the featured books and other works by the authors will be available for examination and purchase at the independent bookstore.