Join Newbery and Caldecott honoree and New York Times bestselling author Grace Lin for an engaging conversation about her journey to become an award-winning author and illustrator. Learn about her latest middle grade book, Chinese Menu: The History, Myths, and Legends Behind Your Favorite Foods, a beautifully written full-color book that explores the whimsical myths and stories behind your favorite American Chinese food, and learn how you can draw your own stories. Evanston Public Library Children’s Librarian Brian E. Wilson joins Grace in conversation.

Before she was a bestselling author and illustrator of picture books, early readers and middle grade novels, Grace was the only Asian girl going to her elementary school in Upstate NY. That experience, good and bad, has influenced her books—including her Newbery Honor Where The Mountain Meets the Moon, her Geisel Honor Ling & Ting, her National Book Finalist When the Sea Turned to Silver and her Caldecott Honor A Big Mooncake for Little Star. Grace advocates for diversity through her TEDx talk – “The Windows and Mirrors of Your Child’s Bookshelf” – and a PBS NewsHour video essay, “What to do when you realize classic books from your childhood are racist?” She continued this mission with her podcasts kidlitwomen. In 2016, Grace’s art was displayed at the White House and Grace, herself, was recognized by President Obama as a Champion of Change for Asian American and Pacific Islander Art and Storytelling.

This event is made possible by Illinois Libraries Present, a statewide collaboration among public libraries offering premier events. ILP is funded in part by a grant awarded by the Illinois State Library, a department of the Office of Secretary of State, using funds provided by the U.S. Institute of Museum and Library Services, under the provisions of the Library Services and Technology Act (LSTA).

Click here to register for this free event.

Please note: You must select The Hayner Public Library District from the How Did You Hear About This Event? drop-down menu when registering for this event. Libraries are listed alphabetically by our full formal names (The Hayner Public Library District).

In addition to an evening with Grace Lin, the following programs are also part of the  2023-2024 Illinois Libraries Present season:

Wednesday, November 8, 7:00 p.m. — Netflix’s Bake Squad star and owner of the Chicago-based bakery Justice of the Pies Maya-Camille Broussard shows us how to bake with love.

Wednesday, December 6, 7:00 p.m. — Psychotherapist and New York Times bestselling author Lori Gottlieb helps us survive the holidays.

December (Date and Time TBD) — A stream of The Nutcracker, danced by The Royal Ballet, with music played by the orchestra of the Royal Opera House