KABILIANA

Promoting Substainable Educational Workshops in South Africa

2011-10-10T02:12:00.000-07:00

After providing and buiding libraries and books shelves in Italy and Kenya in the last four years, Kabiliana is now ready to start its own projects in South Africa.
Teachers, educators and parents who live and work in disadvantaged environments (townships, locations), and would like to promote children activities such as substainable libraries and educational workshops can submit a request at
associazionesoggettonomade(AT)yahoo(DOT)com to Valentina Acava Mmaka.
We are now interested in the Western Cape Area but we'll consider all submissions from whole South Africa.

EMPOWERING SUBSTAINABLE LIBRARIES

2009-11-14T00:56:00.000-08:00

Since last year we have started an ambitious project in which we strongly believe, creating substainable libraries for the children who lives in the slums of Nairobi. The first Library we are creating is dedicated to the children of Jericho, a slum in Nairobi.
In January, when the school will be open again after Christamas Festivity, we 'll donate the first library that we managed to create thank's to donors who supported our cause with immense partecipation.
Still we would like to improve it and add more books.
Whoever would love to contribute please can send English or Kiswahili Books at previousely contacting me:
associazionesoggettonomade (AT) yahoo (DOT) com

We are sure of the success of such a project that is why we intend to continue creating a real net of Slum Libraries in Nairobi. So if now you can't contribute you can do it for the future.
Thank's to all.

I remind my new and old friends (educators, writers, teachers) that we are completing a booklet of scripts which illustrates in few lines (max 30 lines) e memoir of your first experience as a reader or anything which tells your relationship since your childhood, with books.

WRITERS TEACHERS PUBLISHERS... WE NEED YOUR VOICE FOR A GOOD CAUSE

2009-08-26T12:31:00.000-07:00

Girls in Nairobi slum

As many of you already knows, we have started collecting books for building a library in Jericho Primary School in Nairobi, our aim is to reach a good amount of books within December, in order to gift the school. Thank's to Amy Bodden Bowllan and some other friends around the world, we have already received books and educational tapes. Thank you all.

TO WRITERS -PUBLISHERS - TEACHERS

I would like to ask to write a max 30 lines script dedicated to the students of Jericho Primary School where you expose the importance of reading, of having a library where to get lost through thepages of extraordinary adventures and also, if you wish, telling a significative episode of your childhood or teeneagerhood when you discovered the beauty of reading books. We'd like to donate the library together with a special "book" of letters from writers and publishers to stimulate the students and offer them a chance to share other's experiences.

Please who is willing to partecipate in this project can e-mail to associazionesoggettonomade (AT) yahoo (DOT) com the script.

The deadline is the the 15th of November.

Street Children in Kenya... Artistical Projects

2009-08-14T05:55:00.000-07:00

Africa News has interviewed author Valentina Acava Mmaka and artist Peter Kuria Asamba on their last projects: a performance " HABARI! A Tragi-comic journey from the slums of Nairobi to the slef occupied Italy", which puts into confrontation the contraddicitions of Italy in this 2009 and reverse all the negative aspects for which Africa and Kenya are usually represented in the western world, into a positive and true vision, and the artistical and social projects in Kenya with street children in Nairobi for who Soggetto Nomade /Kabiliana is working at the creation of a Socio Artistical Training Centre.

JERICHO PRIMARY SCHOOL NAIROBI

2009-07-30T04:56:00.001-07:00

The Ofafa Jericho Primary School in Nairobi doesn't have a library. I met some of the students of the school, here you can see them, and they would really love to have books to read. We had a splendid time with Lavine, Mercy, Juliet, Lucy, Redenpter, Macline... they told me their dreams and their ambitions, how they would love to contribute to the growth of their ocuntry. They'd love to become doctors, teachers and journalist... very ambitious and very brillant, I've seen their excercise books, they have lovely marks even though their life in the slum is full of hardship. When they go home they help their mums, they wash their own clothes and help cooking and taking care of little brothers and sisters. They are lovely and they deserve to have access to books because they all believe that books will help them to open their mind and know what is around the world.

We have to thank Amy Bowllan, her generosity os gourgeous. Thank you Amy for what you do for our causes through your site SCHOOL LIBRARY JOURNAL.

OneAreWe

2009-05-18T00:56:00.000-07:00

As many of you knows I'm in Kenya where I'm collaborating with some organization for street children and also helping a group of artists in building a socio educational project to promote arts among the children and youth of the slums. I also started collaborating with a Kenyan non profit Association called ONEAREWE.
Last week I was brought by brother Ras Moray Mwariama, founder of the Association OneAreWe, to Karioua A and Karioua B, two slums of Nairobi whith a high concentration of street children. Here I met and her father and and her mother. They are two lovely girls that needs urgent surgery operation to get recovered from two bad accidents and to start a new life please read the letter below.

OneAreWe
Streets Families Rehabilitation Trust Fund

One Are We Association is an association of artists legally recognized by the Kenyan Government (Reg.gk-Soc.Rule 1968 – Rule 4 – Coz 95587/26612). It was founded 15 years ago by Ras Moray Mwariama and today can count on his wife's, Marzia Sordoni, precious collaboration.
One Are We main goals are to enrich the youth, children awareness, education exchange, vocational training and initiating sustainable development projects to the benefit of all in society, this is based on Government strategic plans like poverty reduction.
Street youth empowerment is another thing we focus on, this is a main point of our association, where members resolve to utilize every resource they have to bring back the hope of a decent life to the whole street youth located in various African cities. This according to the members can only be achieved when there is oneness hence the name One Are We that simply means we are one.
One Are We is a strong Association and positive, spiritually strong which is here to bring the oneness through life understanding and ready to work with everyone as long is positive, trying to finish poverty through our own ways because we know that only the work of our hands shall free us giving work free for those who need it and bringing people together and being non political.
During the past years our projects have been many and various all focused on the streets. Through many events we have fundraised for children and sponsoring many of them by giving them an education and starting small businesses for entire families in order to help them live a more decent and better life.
This is an Organization founded by Ras Moray that during the past years has been a volunteer doing much with various organizations both private and Governmental. He has been visiting Government Rehabilitation Centres, Children’s Remands, Children Homes, teaching students that attend Universities Nairobi and Catholic Universities as well giving medical treatments through clinics to the streets.
The main project of One Are We now is to tackle the problems of the “Street Families” located in the centre of Nairobi in the Globe Cinema Roundabout otherwise known as Grogon Area. The children of this area are now displaced and scattered in different places of Nairobi. We have been with the Roundabout children for years and having many activities with them since many are acrobats, footballers, actors, poets and singers.
One of the main projects in this moment is to bring two girls aged 4 to be operated in Italy through an organization which we know and works all through the world in helping children to be cured. One case is the case of a girl that was burnt in her own home while her father was attending the burial of his wife and mother of this girl. Once he arrived it was too late because his daughter was trapped in the home.
The second case is the one of another 4 year old girl that was travelling with her mother on a public bus and was involved in a car accident.
These girls are both known to One Are We since they are street girls born on the streets and lived in the Grogon-Globe Cinema roundabout area and have now moved to Karioua A and Karioua B.
These girls are in need of birth certificates and of passports and so do the people that will accompany them. Please any help accorded will be of great use.
Blessed Love to all.

______________________________________________________________________

ONEAREWE
Streets Families Rehabilitation Trust Fund
LE STRADE SI UNISCONO NELL’ANNO 2009

E’ One Are We Associazione che vi invita gentilmente tutti alla nostra camminata in questo giorno di sole. Terremo una camminata in Nairobi nel mese di Maggio che radunerà ancora una volta i bambini di strada di Nairobi, Mombasa, Kisumu, Eldoret, Nanyuki, Meru e Nyeri per i quali io lavoro ed ho sempre fatto soprattutto ora dopo le crisi delle elezioni.
Questo evento si terrà in una data ancora da stabilire comunque nel mese di Maggio, ma state attenti che presto sarà comunicato. L’anno scorso questo evento si è tenuto in una piccola cittadina chiamata Nanuyki a circa 300km dalla capitale, questa scelta a causa delle guerre post elettive. Questa volta abbiamo deciso di farlo nelle capitale dove vogliamo che sia di dominio pubblico ed uno degli eventi più grandi per i bambini di strada. Partirà dalla sede di One Are We in Cianda House in Nairobi - dove siamo gentilmente ospitati dall’organizzazione governativa Street Family Rehabilitation Trust Fund.
Durante questa giornata vogliamo anche fare una proposta di raccogliere delle cose per i bambini di strada di Nairobi centro e più specificatamente: Grogron Roundabout ed Ngara. I bambini di quest’area sono stati mandati in diversi luoghi della città ed sparsi un po’ ovunque. Siamo stati con questi bambini per tanti anni ed ancora adesso stiamo aiutandoli il più possibile tramite i loro talenti: acrobati, calciatori, attori, poeti ed cantanti.
Sono stato per molti anni sulla strada ed abbiamo cercato in vano un terreno che forse finalmente abbiamo trovato una persona che ci donerà 3 ettari di terra dove abbiamo in mente di stabilire una comunità Africana - Europea dove possiamo organizzare varie cose anche sostenere le popolazioni circostanti. Quindi il nostro obiettivo era ed è di collaborare con tutti gli artisti e con tutte le persone che lavorano e vogliono aiutare tutti i bambini di strada iniziando dalle organizzazioni governative con le quali abbiamo collaborato per i passati anni.
Proveniamo tutti dallo stesso luogo cioè dalla strada dove infatti molti artisti famosi provengono almeno il 99%. Quindi crediamo che per aiutare questi bambini che gli eventi il più delle volte li costringono a lasciare le loro case e recarsi a vivere per la strada è di dare a loro quello che abbiamo avuto noi lasciando la strada (anche un ladro non va mai a rubar a casa dei ladri).
Collaborando con S.F.R.T.F. ci permetterà di prelevare alcuni bambini dalla strada e metterli in un posto più pulito e sicuro per poi trasferirli nella nostra casa di accoglienza sulla nostra terra nella quale abbiamo intenzione di costruire una scuola per le materie artistiche.
Crediamo sia ora che gli artisti usino il loro talento per aiutare questi bambini, scendere dal palco e toccare con mano le persone, mostrando loro la retta via per condurre una vita migliore.
Inoltre durante la giornata dell’iniziativa includeremo anche l’Europa - Africa campeggio che quest’anno avrà la durata di soli 7 giorni a differenza di quello precedente che ha avuto la durata di 21 giorni con i suoi problemi ma alla fine lo scopo è stato raggiunto. I problemi sono sorti dovuti alle guerre post-elettive, dove sono visibili ancora oggi le devastanti ripercussioni con più di 2000 persone senza tetto.
Durante questi sette giorni prepareremo le basi per quello dell’anno 2010 che durerà 21 giorni per poi concludersi in Sud Africa dove organizzeremo un concerto.
Dobbiamo renderci conto che il mondo della musica e quello degli artisti ha una platea enorme quindi attraverso la musica possiamo raggiungere i nostri obiettivi in modo positivo.
One Are We si rivolge a chiunque abbia la voglia di appoggiare questo progetto, che ha avuto inizio nel 2004 con molte tribolazioni dalla società circostante e dal governo che ci ha anche arrestato per il solo fatto di avere degli incontri. La vita però ci ha tenuti uniti e siamo andati avanti nonostante tutto fino al raggiungimento della nostra registrazione da parte del governo.
E’ un movimento libero di unità, un movimento senza scopo di lucro basato sulla collaborazione e sul lavoro. Sappiamo tutti che nelle strade non è vita e le cose sono diverse da una vita normale. La vita comunque giù nelle strade la vita va avanti, i bambini vedono le persone che li circondano pulite, con lo stomaco pieno loro che devono aspettare di mangiare i loro avanzi. Non riescono a trovare un lavoro e si ritrovano a vivere una vita loro malgrado la loro volontà.
Un progetto urgente in questo momento è portare due bambine in Italia per essere operate. La prima è una bambina di 4 anni che ha il viso totalmente bruciato. Questa è una storia molto triste, il padre stavo seppellendo la moglie nonché madre della bambina, dico seppellendo perché non avendo i soldi per un degno funerale ha dovuto provvedere da solo. Mentre facevo questo è stato avvertito che delle case stavano bruciando, purtroppo una era la sua. La figlia è rimasta intrappolata dentro ed è viva per miracolo.
L’altro caso è sempre di una bambina di 4 anni che è stata coinvolta in un incidente stradale mentre era su un autobus pubblico ed è rimasta sfigurata in viso.
Stiamo in contatto con un’organizzazione chiamata Armadilla Cooperativa ed un primario di un reparto Ospedaliero di grande ustionati dell’Ospedale Sant’Eugenio a Roma.

Questo è un elenco delle organizzazioni che sostengono il nostro progetto:
- Warriors Band che porta avanti un messaggio di sensibilizzazione tramite la loro musica e tramite vari tour come il Ghetto al Ghetto Tour
- Globe Cinema Roundabout Association(Kenya)
- Zingaro Percussions(Kenya)
- Africa Unite(Kenya)
- In and Out Association(Italy)
- Aholy Herbs Creations(Kenya)
- Selassie I Foundation (Kenya)
- Big Dread Sound System(Italy)
- Amref (Kenya&Italy)
- Italy Youth Studio Foundation
- Red Stripes Band(Italy)
- Officina Culturale Diversamente(Italy)
- Tafari Graundation (Ghana)
- Empire Sports Club (abbigliamento sportive) (Italy)
- Membri del Dopo Lavoro Circolo Nautico INPS (Italy) abbigliamento sportivo
- Donatori privati: Michela, Paola, Anna Maria, Manuel, Moira, Elvio, Giuliano.
- Streets Families Trust Fund che lavora in collaborazione con il Governo locale-che rappresentano il Governo Keniano.

If anyone of you wishes to contribute to the cause of the two girls to get their passports , due to the short time, please use Western Union addressing to:

Coloro che fossero ineteressati a contribuire in qualche modo possono donare utilizzando, a causa del breve tempo, Western Union indirizzando a :

MARZIA SORDONI
VIA SILVESTRI, 226
00164 – ROMA – ITALY
Use the password ONEAREWE
and please forward the Western Union number and money amount and your name at
empressfire@gmail.com
OBJECT: onearewegirls

Thank you also for whoever will be able to diffuse the news through blogs, sites and friends.

KENYA

2009-04-24T02:16:00.000-07:00

To all the readers and followers I must apologize for the long time since I'm away from the blog. This is due to the fact that now I' m in Kenya working on an Educational Project. Soon you'll read about it here, so please check in a short while.

Diversity makes us more curious.

2009-01-26T03:24:00.000-08:00

My children are my greatest muses .What a lovely celebration of motherhood! This week author Suzanne Kamata introduces us to her writing career and her motherhood which is not just a living status, a category in which to feel enclosed, but more, a deep in progress experience that allows to see things from a wider perspective. Motherhood for Suzanne, gains value if her identity of woman can be respected and filled with creativity, "...I need to have some sort of identity in addition to Mother. I owe it to my children, as well as to myself." And we definetly believe in this vision of a woman free from fixed roles.

Born and raised in Grand Haven (Michigan- USA), Suzanne now lives in Japan (Tokushima Prefecture) with her husband and twins. Here she arrived in 1988 to participate in the Japan Exchange and Teaching (JET) Program, which places native speakers into English classrooms in Japanese public schools.

Her bibliography is remarkable with over 100 publications appeard in New York Stories, Calyx, Crab Orchard Review, Pleiades, Kyoto Journal, The Utne Reader, The Japan Times, Brain, Child, Skirt!, Ladybug and Cicada. Among her recent works we 'd like to remember her first novel Losing Kei (Leapfrogpress 2008), The Broken Bridge: Fiction from Expatriates in Literary Japan (Stone Bridge Press, 1997); Love You to Pieces: Creative Writers on Raising Children with Special Needs, (Beacon Press) and the new coming Call me Okaasan available from May. Five times nominated for the Pushcart Prize, and two time winner of the All Nippon Airways/Wingspan Fiction Contest, Suzanne is also a very active blogger. Through her Gaijin Mama, she shares her writing and human world giving the reader the feeling of being in touch with a sensitive woman who loves her work and consider motherhood as a source of inspiration. I'm sure you'll love, as I did, her resolution in achieving her beloved goals in writing, struggling against prejudices and misunderstandings. She is also a strong comforting voice for all those women-mothers who find difficult to conciliate creative work and family and who feel scared and unprepared about rising children with special needs.

KABILIANA - Suzanne, can you tell us something about your childhood and your relationship with books? Were you a good reader?
SUZANNE - As a child, I loved reading. I read all the time. I remember reading at family gatherings, which was probably considered rude and antisocial, but no one stopped me. I lived in a small, conservative town in Michigan, yet because of books, my world was large.

KABILIANA - There were somebody in your family who was telling you tales?
SUZANNE - No one in my family told tales much, but my mother took my brother and me to the library from a very young age. Also, my mother always read to me before I went to bed. I believe that I owe my love of books to her.

KABILIANA - You are a very eclectic author, you write novels, short stories, children's and essays. What is the literary expression among these which better represents you?
SUZANNE - I like to think of myself as a novelist. I'm most passionate about writing fiction for young adults and adults, but I do enjoy other forms. I think that writing for children is very difficult.

KABILIANA - Suzanne you are an American living in Japan with your multicultural family. What did you find difficult in living in Japan and what you enjoy most?
SUZANNE - In Japan, conformity is valued. I've heard over and over that Japan is a homogenous country, and it seems to me that the needs of minorities are often ignored. This can make things difficult for us, because our family is quite diverse. My son, especially, sometimes feels that he doesn't fit in, although he was born and is being raised in Japan, and has never lived anywhere else. I don't fit in either, but for me, my outsider status gives me a certain amount of freedom, which I like. No one expects me to fit in, so why bother trying?

KABILIANA - Playing for papa published in a bilingual edition (English-Spanish) by Topka Books and illustrated by Yuka Hamano, is your first illustrated book featuring a bicultural family in Japan. What inspired this story?
SUZANNE -Like the father in the story, my husband is a very busy high school baseball coach. My son asked me to write a story about playing baseball with his father, and Playing for Papa was the result. He wasn't overly thrilled with it at first, because it's mostly about a boy wanting to play baseball with his absent father, not about actually playing. Also, I was driven to write about a bicultural family much like my own so that my kids could find themselves in a book. There are very few books in Japanese about non-Japanese people in Japan. The United States is very diverse, but most picture books published in Japan seem to presuppose that everyone is the same, everyone has the same experiences and abilities. I can't think of a single Japanese picture book that features a child with a disability, or a child from another culture. And yet I know many children in Japan who have disabilties, and I know many children who have at least one foreign parent. At first, I thought a family like mine was too marginal, or too unusual to appeal to readers from different kinds of families, but then I started to read Allen Say's books. His family was also quite multicultural, and quite unusual, and yet his stories touch many people.Finally, the Japanese have a reputation for being xenophobic, yet imagine if they were exposed to diversity from a young age - if only in picture books.

KABILIANA - The story celebrates the love for what really matters for each child:sharing with parents, their time for playing, talking and listening ... How would you describe japaneese childhood in "your" Japan? And which differencies do you recognise from children rising in the US (also how differently spend their free time)?
SUZANNE - Japanese fathers tend to be very busy, which puts a lot of pressure on mothers. My own husband works seven days a week, sometimes twelve hours a day. Sometimes Japanese men live apart from their families, because it's too much of a hassle to move kids from school to school after a job transfer. I spent a lot of time with my father, and I think most American kids spend more time with their fathers than Japanese kids do. I think that a lot of Japanese men become estranged from their children, because they never see them. That's a huge difference. Japanese kids also spend a lot more time studying than American kids do. Academics are very important from a young age. I feel kind of sorry for them. I think it was Rudolf Steiner who said that play is children's work, and I agree. I'm always very happy when my children play imaginatively, or when they are outside in the fresh air using their bodies, but my Japanese husband frets that they aren't studying enough.

KABILIANA - The story is also on losing and I loved it. In modern societies children get easily the message that to be somebody they have to be the first, they have to win. Your story focuses on how losing sometimes can be worthy because it shows you the value of other things even more important. Did you want to convey also this message?
SUZANNE -Yes. In the United States, there is a saying: "It's not whether you win or lose that matters, but how well you play the game." I think that good sportmanship is more important than winning. And I think that the love and support of a family can always make us feel better at the worst of times.

KABILIANA - How are japaneese children related to reading books? Do they like reading? Do they have easy access to books?
SUZANNE - Japan is one of the most literate countries in the world, if not the most literate. Kids love to read here. There are lots of libraries and bookstores. Manga (Japanese comics) are very popular, but kids also read a lot of novels in original Japanese and in translation. Americans are notorious for not publishing and/or reading books in translation, but Japanese adults have access to many books from around the world. So although Japanese books tend not to show diversity, translations often provide a window to other cultures.

KABILIANA - Playing for Papa also feature on disability, children literature seems not very much interested in stories that focuses on this theme. What are the main reasons according to you?
SUZANNE - There seem to be quite a few young adult books featuring disabled characters these days, which is heartening. And there are also some books "explaining" disablities, but there are very few children's books featuring kids with disabilies in more or less normal situations. I think many people don't like to think about disability because it seems depressing, or because they are afraid of disablity. But ignorance breeds contempt.

KABILIANA - Still today diversity, either we are talking about foreigners or disable or disadvanatged people, are seen as class B people. How is it possible to struggle prejudices and share the value of diversity?
SUZANNE- I think that if children - and adults - are regularly exposed to people with disabilties in books, movies, TV shows and real life, they will be more accepting and tolerant of those who are different. But I think they need to be exposed to people with diverse backgrounds engaged in ordinary activities. These days, there are a lot of Middle Eastern terrorists in American movies and on TV. Americans need to see more movies about ordinary Middle Easterners doing ordinary things.

KABILIANA - Suzanne you are mother of two children one with special needs. Special children need special parents, do you think that being creative and in your case, being a writer helped you in rising your children ?
SUZANNE - I think that writing about my feelings and experiences raising a child with special needs has helped me to make sense of them. From reading novels, we can develop empathy for people who are different from us. Writing from the point of view of a disabled character or a bicultural character, also helps me to empathize with my children. I think it's also good for them to see me writing. My daughter is just learning to write, but she often draws picture stories, where she is the heroine in a wheelchair. By example, I think I have taught them a way to express themselves.

KABILIANA - In which terms would you say diversity is a value?

SUZANNE - I didn't realize the importance of diversity quite so much before I came to Japan. Here, where everyone is taught to think and act alike, I can see that lack of diversity leads to narrow mindedness and a lack of imagination. We have learned many things from my daughter Lilia. My son is a kind, sensitive person, perhaps because he has been brought up with a deaf sister who uses a wheelchair. He is interested in other cultures. I think that diversity makes us more curious.

KABILIANA - I liked when you said that motherhood, which supposed to be a very busy role, has increased your creative work and the more you became busy rising two children the more you're committed in writing. How would you explain this to those worried mums aspiring writers who thinks that they cannot make it?
SUZANNE - I think that if a person really wants to write, she will find the time. You can write anywhere. There's a lot of waiting time in motherhood - waiting for kids to finish soccer practice, waiting for dance lessons to be over, waiting for the pot to boil - and you can use those ten or fifteen minutes to dash off a page. The other great thing about motherhood is that it provides a lot of material. My children are my greatest muses.

KABILIANA - Can you tell us three children books you enjoyed in the last 12 months?
SUZANNE - Shark Girl by Kelly Bingham ,Child of Dandelions by Shenaaz Nanji, Ghosts for Breakfast by Todd Terasaki.

KABILIANA - Will you continue writing for children?
SUZANNE - Yes, definitely! I've got some stories cooking.

KABILIANA - Next May your new anthology Call me Okaasan will be issued. It is a collection of stories written by authors on their experience as expat parents. Without anticipating much of the book (I'll interview later on this) can you use 5 adjectives to describe how is rising children between cultures as an expat with a multicultural family?
SUZANNE - Interesting, surprising, challenging, perplexing, fun.

In occasion of the release of Suzanne's Call me Okaasan, we'll be interviewing Suzanne and other expat authors on how is rising children oversease.

Afternoon with Amadi

2009-01-19T04:27:00.000-08:00

Before Christamas I ran a two hour workshop with a small group of 11 children at Giunti Bookstore in Lerici. The workshop was dedicated to Katia Novet Saint Lot's book Amadi's Snowman illustrated by Dimitrea Tokunbo (Tilbury House). The workshop started with exploring Amadi's World through a hand made Tree Book (to some of the partecipants I previousely assigned them to find pictures, cut them nd stick them on the orange pages of the tree ) through which pages I introduced the children into Amadi's world: let's turn the pages together.

Shali, Virginia, Florin and Monika introducing to the Tree Book

The cover was lovely welcomed by the children, it shows all small paper handmade books representing children's literature's classics sourrounding AMADI'S SNOWMAN (that is a good wish for you Katia and Dimitrea that your book may become part of the history of children's books).

Amadi's Snowman and the others...

Here the first page, where children where introduced to Amadi's World, there is the Nigerian Map, the African Map, The Nigerian Flag and most popular tribes and languages... they could not believe about the hude nuber of languages spoken in Nigeria!!!!

Where is Amadi?

Here the second page illustrating Foods, Religion and Habits.

Daily Life - Foods

Music and Celebrations

Here children enjoyed talking about their favorite feasts and instruments.

Traditional costumes and artcrafts

They were all amazed by the gorgeous hair creative wrappings and also discussed about the role and meaning of the masks.

WHO? Famous people from Nigeria
Wole Soyinka - Chinua Achebe, Princess Aminatu, Olaudah Equiano and of course Dimitrea Tokunbo and Katia Novet Saint-Lot

Nothing to say... Princess Aminata captured their attention ... but also surprisingly Olaudah Equiano who struggled against slavery

WHY DID YOU ENJOY AMADI'S SNOWMAN?

After introducing the children to Amadi 's World, I started reading the book and they were all very attentive and at the end they all wanted to share their ideas about this story.

I liked Amadi's story because at the end he changes idea about reading and decides he wants to learn how to read. FLORIN MMAKA

I love this story because this afternoon I've met another child from another country and also Mrs Chikodili who cares about him. VIRGINIA BRACCO

I loved Amadi because he is able to change idea and his mom is happy for this. CHIARA BONTEMPI

I liked Amadi because is an Igbo and didn't know about Igbo people before. SHALI MMAKA

I enjoyed Amadi's story beacuse if you don't know how to read you cannot learn and if you cannot learn you cannot travel. MARISA CIURLI

Amadi is not a boy who easily takes decisions, he thinks and then feel that something is missing . LUISA CHIAMPARINO

I enjoyed Amadi because his story shows how you can get passionate of something. MONIKA MARKU

The time to draw and focus their artistical veine came ...

Amadi holding his book

Mrs Chokodili showing Amadi the Snowman book

Mrs Chikodili and Amadi

Amadi and his friends

Celebrating Amadi

Mrs Chikodili

Here children has been impressed by the role Mrs Chikodili played in the story and I think they are right. She is a very important character.

Dear Amadi...

Children wrote short messages to Amadi suggesting him books to read

(obviousely some don't have an English version)

Dear Amadi, My name is Virginia. Finally you went to school like us. I suggest you to read Gianni Rodari, he is a great author. He wrote so many funny stories , I read them and I enjoyed, I hope you'll like it too. What is your favorite book? I like Hansel & Gretel, Snow White, Geronimo Stilton, Mary Poppins and Gianni Rodari. VIRGINIA BRACCO

Dear Amadi, my name is Monika and I come from Albania. I'm very happy you learned how to read and that you now attend the school. Are you happy to be in school? How many new freinds do you have? I would like to meet you once. Ciao or... better Kodi or if you wish in Albania we say Pacim. MONIKA MARKU

Dear Amadi, I'm Marisa and never been to Africa. I'd like to meet you and also visit your village. I like reading adventourous books and also "Fairy Oak" series. Do you know them? Is your mum reading stories? MARISA CIURLI

Dear Amadi, I come from Morocco. Today we have read the book that talks about you. It has been so emotionally. Today I've also learned things about your country. I will sugegst you a book by Gianni Rodari "Favole al telefono" and "Alice in the wonderlands". Here are my questions: What books do you like to read? How is your school? Thank you for sahring with us your adventures. ILHAM EL ESNAOUI

Dear Amadi, I'm Aisha and comes from Africa too, exactly from Kenya. I'm eight and would like to know: do you like orange juice? What is your favorite animal? What is your favorite color? What's your father's name? I recently read Tom Sawyer and enjoyed it. Kodi - AISHA MMAKA

Dear Amadi, this year I enjoy reading funny stories, sometimes I get bored because the story is slow and I get confused if there are so many characters. I like to read mistery books like the Brividosi. CHIARA BONTEMPI

Here are some of the 11 partecipants at work (I 'could only publish the photos of the children I've been given the permission by their parents... sorry for this).

Shali and Ilham drawing Amadi

Aisha Florin Monika Shali answering "Why reading is important"?

Inside Amadi's book . Virginia turning the pages

Ilham and Aisha writing to Amadi

Then as you can imagine the discussion grew and we tried to focus on why is important reading for them. So we completed the last page of the Tree Book .

Children saying Kodi to Amadi

Virginia Bracco - Reading is important because you learn many things

Shali Mwanalulu Mmaka - Reading is knowledge and also you can meet many different people

Monika Marku - When I read I go inside the book and live the adventure

Aisha Mmaka

Reading means travelling and discovering many things. I like reading many times the books I loved. I don't understand how reading can be boring for someone?

Momi (Mohammed) is the only boy ...lucky Amadi is there!

I want to learn...

Florin Mmaka

When I read I feel good. I suggest all the children to read

Ilham El Esnaoui - Reading is adventure and fun. When I read a sad story that ends up in a nice way I feel happy. Some books end up in a bad way and I feel sad.

Bye Bye Katia and Dimitrea

And thank's to...

Katia Novet Saint-Lot and Dimitrea Tokunbo for their lovely story
Sarah Mc Ginnis at Tilbury for sending the book in time
Signor Giorgio, director of Giunti Bookstore in Lerici who hosted this event and gifted each kid with a lovely colorful blanket
The children who partecipated Virginia Bracco (8), Aisha Mmaka (8), Monika Marku (10), Mohammed El Esnaui (5), Florin Mmaka (9), Ilham El Elsnaoui (8), Shali Mmaka, Chiara Bontempi (8), Luisa Chiamparino (10), Marisa Ciurli (8).
And last but not least Thank you Amadi to have spent a lovely afternoon with us talking about Africa and how lovely is reading books. And also very soon you'll be invited once again to meet other children who will surely become your friends.

The colors of us

2009-01-07T01:23:00.000-08:00

Once upon a time a teeny tiny baby was born.

I held the photograph in my hands.

We looked at this tiny baby, in yellow pajamas, laying on a mattress with no sheet.

She looked very fragile, yet strong.

"You need to decide right this minute if you want to adopt her"".

We had the photo for five minutes.

My husband and I went into another room and sat together.
We looked at her and at each other.
"Yes, this is our child. We love her already. Yes, we want to adopt her".

And that was the beginning of our adoption story...

... a story one filled with tears and anxiety but also passion and spirituality.

These are the emotions author and illustrator Karen Katz shares about her adoption story which is also in her illustrated book Over the Moon. Karen is Kabiliana's first guest of 2009. What a lovely way to start the new year than going through her interesting human and professional experience on writing about diversity ? Somehow is a way to wish a world with no more racial barriers and no more intolerance.

How would it be the world without colors? Black is just black and white is just white or behind these two colors there is more? Karen Katz really guide us in a "delicious" (read the book to know why) journey of tastes where brown is not really brown, it can be: "butterschocth", " and white is not really white, it's "french toast"or "peach" . This and more you'll find in The Colors of Us. This book that explores the various hues of us, in its simplicity conveys a very important message: there's not only one way to see things, to define who we are. And the more creative way we choose to describe the world around us, more is the capacity to live in harmony and understanding.

KABILIANA - Karen you started your career as a costume deisgner, a graphic designer and a quilt maker, how did it end up you became a children's author and author?

KAREN- I have always been interested in folk art from around the world: Indian miniatures, Mexican cermaics, fabrics, Chagall, Matisse, Children'a art and primtive paintings. The careers I have hadve taken all these interests into account. ooking back I can see that these passions and career choices have played a large part in influencing me to become a children's book author and illustrator. But, most importantly was when my husband and I adopted our daughter from Guatemala I decided I wanted to illustrate children's books. For nine months I painted pictures of kids and anything that looked like it could be in a children's book. My first book Over The Moon was the story of that magical experience of welcoming our daughter Lena into our lives. Twentytwo books later my daughter - now 14 years old - still is an inspiration for me.

KABILIANA - Lena is originally from Guatemala, when she became part of your life did you ever thought that onde day you would be asked about your different skin color and diversity?

KAREN - Yes, I knew one day that question would come. I thought I was ready when she asked but still it was a touching conversation. Over the years she never asks anymore because she understands and is proud of her color.

KABILIANA- Let's talk about The Colors of Us. When did you have the idea to write this story?

KAREN- When my daughter was five years old in kindergarten she asked why she was a different color than my husband and me. We talked about it. The next day I was at her shcool looking at all the beautiful kids in her class and I thought:" These kids are brown and tan and peachy they aren't just black or white. It was then I decided to do this book as a celebration of the beautiful colors of kids.

KABILIANA- The Colors of Us is a lovely journey through the world of diversity starting from skin colors and its many shades and nuances. Choosing food metaphors meant children easy, close to their world and fun to identify the different colors of the skin ?

Yes, and I didn't plan in that way. It has just happened as the book took place shape.

KABILIANA - How did Lena's coming in your family changed your life as a person and as an artist? Did you ever-faced racist behaviors from outside?

KAREN - Lena coming into my life changed it because now I was a mother and I had the greatest gift to love in my life. we have always thought our daughter is the most beautiful girl in the world. As an artist I've always admired the beauty of diverse peoples around the world so having Lena, as a daughter was just an extension of those feelings. Of course now we have a special place in our heart for Guatemalans! We never experienced any racism towards our daughter but we do live in NYC and it is a multicultural and sophisticated city.

KABILIANA - What a kid should know to struggle against intolerance?

KAREN- I'm not an expert on intolerance but I can give you my opinion as a mother and person. I would say there is no recipe but to teach your child that there is intolerance in the world and remember it is only other people's ignorance. It does hurt and kids will be hurt by prejudice but if you have a strong sense of self that will carry you thorugh. Children learn by your example so make sure you are aware of your own feelings.

KABILIANA - How did you and your husband valorize Lena's diversity? Does she has any relationship with her country of origin?

KAREN - We have always talked about Guatemala to her and showed photos. Last year we made bulenos, Christmas cookies from Guatemala. This winter we are taking a trip there. She is very proud of her heritage. It's just a natural part of who she is.

KABILIANA - Can you tell us something about your creative process?

KAREN- (here a selection ) Have an idea- Write it down - Write it in a lot of different ways, think about it , picture the art in my mind and skeep on it - Research the idea to see who else has done it, and then make sure I do it my way with my voice - Do little thumbnails sketches in color - Take manuscript and thumbnails to your editor and hope she likes it - Make a lot of mistakes and have some bad days - Make a lot of great art and have some good days - Finish art and spend a few days gluing papers down and cleaning up mistakes - send your work out - go to school and read your book to some kids and remember why you love making books.

KABILIANA -Do you have any advice for who'd love to start writing for children?
KAREN- Get the seat of your pants into the seat of your chair and make time to do teh work. It will never be the perfect time and you will never have enough to do everything. But do it. Read Read Read amd look at great children's book writers and illustrators. Love what you're doing. Send your stuff out. Keep at it.

KABILIANA - What kind of reader you were as a child? What were your favorite books?

KAREN- When I was ten I actually didn 't read much. I played with a lot of paper dolls. I do remember at the paintings in an edition of Grimm's Fairy Tales. The paintings of Snow White and Red Rose, Rumpelstiltskin and Thumbenila were very scary, but I loved them. They were mysterious and ornate and fed my imagination. I think that is what a good illustration or story does. What strikes me is that now I am an avid reader and I adore children's books... so its never too late to learn to love books.

KABILIANA- Does your daughter Lena love reading?

KAREN- Actually my daughter is dyslexic and does not really enjoy reading. she is an excellent athlete and a great student. But she does love my books!

KABILIANA - Can you tell us at least three titles of children's books you recently enjoyed as a reader?

KAREN- Mama do You love me? by Joosse; Abiyoyo by Pete Seeger; Tar Beach by Faith Ringgold; The Patchwork Quilt by Valerie Flournoy;Isla by Arthur Dorros and Elisa Kleven; Diego by Jeannette Winter; Why The Sky is far Away by Mary Joan Gerson; Bud, Not Buddy by Christopher Paul Curtis.

HAPPY HOLIDAYS WITH A BOOK

2008-12-25T01:57:00.000-08:00

As we believe that reading is the most important tool for gaining freedom and self consciousness, and because our mission is to bring books where there are no, we'd love to wish you all a lovely, full of peace and creative new year with a book. Here some virtual gifts from authors and illustrators who have enjoyed reading children's stores and would like to share them with you.You can also post your favorite titles to share.

SUZANNE KAMATA

Amadi's Snowman by Katia Novet Saint-Lot, illustrated by Dimitrea Tokunbo

Tilbury House, 2008

AMUSING-INSPIRATIONAL- ENLIGHTENING

The Wakame gatherers by Holly Thompson, illustrated by Kazumi Wilds

Shen's Books, 2008

COLORFUL - HOPEFUL - DELICIOUS

LAURA ATKINS

Bird by Zetta Elliott, illustrated by Shadra Strickland.

Lee & Low Books 2008

LYRICAL - SAD. BEAUTIFUL

ZETTA ELLIOTT and DIMITREA TOKUNBO

The snowy day by Ezra Jack Keats

Puffin

DELIGHTFUL - ENDEARING - ENTERTAINING
DELIGHTFUL - BEAUTIFUL - FUN

AMY BODDEN BOWLLAN

Hip Hop Speaks to Children by Nikki Giovanni
Sourcebooks Jabberwocky; Har/Com edition 2008
INSPIRING - STIMULATING- PURE FUN

KATIA NOVET SAINT-LOT

The London jungle book by Bhajju Shyam

Tara Books

VISIONARY - CREATIVE - HUMOROUS

UMA KRISHNASWAMI

Wave by Suzie Lee
Chronicle 2008 (Wordless book)
PERFECTLY METICULOUSLY CRAFTED

READING IS.... LEGGERE E'... LIRE EST...

Suzanne Kamata e Dimitrea Tokunbo - An adventure

Zetta Elliott - Essential!

Katia Novet Saint-Lot - Power

Laura Atkins - Loosing yourself in another world

Uwuigiaren Omoruyi - Fun
Philippa Ya de Villiers - between the pages of a book
I discovered all I have ever wanted
all I have ever lost the adventure of life
Amy Bodden Bowllan - is the answer to all of life's greatest questions.
Every answer is there, you just have to read to find it

Uma Krishnaswami - is an act of creation when you turn these pages, because the pictures beg for a conversation."

WHEN FIVE FAITHS BECOME OPEN WINDOWS

2008-12-17T21:58:00.000-08:00

How is it possible that six children with five different faiths become friends and share their life experience in peace and harmony? Author Rukhsana Khan respond to this important question through her last book for young readers Many Windows published by Napoleon and co-written with authors Uma Krishnaswami and Elisa Carbone. The story introduces us to six linked stories of six kids who share a classroom, a teacher and a love of basketball. TJ, Natalie, Jameel, Deepa, Benjamin and Stephanie, each comes from a different faith, but in sharing their stories, they open windows into their world. What is really remarkable of this book is that each child's faith instead of being a barrier in social relationship and understanding becomes an open window on their interesting and different cultures promoting friendship, sharing and tolerance.

KABILIANA - When did you start knowing that you wanted to tell/write stories?
RUKHSANA - When I was about 13 I had a teacher who told me I should be a writer. I had never even considered it up till then, but after that I began to dream about it.

KABILIANA - How was your childhood? Did you use to read books? Which were your favorites?
RUKHSANA -My childhood was lonely and isolated. I grew up in a small town with few friends. We were the only Pakistani Muslim family in town. I loved books! I liked all kinds of books from picture books like Ping, to Nancy Drew mysteries and then historical fiction like Geoffrey Trease and Maia Wojcheschowska to action adventure and fantasy like Tolkien. I also loved the classics like Charlotte Bronte and Mark Twain and Harper Lee’s To Kill a Mockingbird.

KABILIANA - Did you grow in a family where somebodye was telling you stories?
RUKHSANA- My father is a storyteller, although he doesn’t do so professionally. He also read to us every night from the Quran (our holy book).

KABILIANA - How did you think about writing a book whith characters of different faiths like those of Many Windows?
RUKHSANA - This was actually Elisa Carbone’s idea to write a set of stories about kids from different faiths who were friends, like the three of us.

KABILIANA - How did you involve Uma Krishnaswami and Elisa Carbone?

RUKHSANA - Uma and Elisa were on board with the project from the very beginning. It was originally going to be a much more balanced piece with each of us writing two stories. We each wrote one story of our respective religious celebrations and shopped the project around but got no interest. Then when I approached Napoleon, she agreed to publish it but being Canadian and relying on Canadian grants, she needed me to write 80% of the book because I was the only Canadian on the panel, so I took charge of the project.

KABILIANA - You are from Pakistan and raised in Canada where you currently live, how did you grow in a non muslim country? Did your faith ever caused you difficulties in friend's or other social relationships or as a writer?
RUKHSANA - Yes, many times my faith seemed like an obstacle. In fact when I wanted to become a published author I had family members tell me I’d never make it because of the way I dressed. I’ve often felt that it has closed some doors for me. And yet in other ways people have been able to see past the superficial differences and accept my stories too.

KABILIANA - Nowadays we live in multicultural societies where children of different cultures meet and attend the same school. What do you think about those countries where religion (we intend the main religion of that country for expamle Catholicism in Italy) is taught at school?

RUKHSANA -I grew up during a time when Bible stories were taught and Christmas was established as the ‘norm’. I know the feelings of alienation and imposition that some kids feel as a result of this. But we were always taught to respect them and yet maintain our own faith. I think religion can be taught in schools as long as it’s taught in a respectful but not imposing kind of way. Where children who don’t share the same religious values are not looked down upon for being different. That didn’t happen when I was growing up. I was often looked down upon for not eating pork and for having different values even though when I was very young I didn’t dress that differently. I think it’s right that schools try to accommodate the religious practices of their students of all faiths.

KABILIANA - How did your children, differently from you, live their cultural heritage in a foreign country? How is Canada nowadays in terms of understanding, tolerance and confrontation among different culturess?
RUKHSANA - All three of my daughters are grown and have decided to not only wear the Islamic head scarf but also cover their faces. They did this of course as a result of their own choice. They are even more strict in some ways, in terms of religious observance, than I am. I think Canada is pretty understanding and tolerant. I have travelled all across the country and seldom felt any sort of confrontation from other people. People tend to be very warm and friendly, although my daughters with the way they dress find it much less accommodating.

KABILIANA - Rukshana how in daily life faith can become a bridge of connection instead of being a barrier in human understanding and tolerance?
RUKHSANA -That’s easy. Most of the religions share similar values. Generosity, hospitality, honesty, etc. If people apply their religious principles in dealing with others, respect them, treating them as they would want to be treated, it’s really not very hard to get along at all. I constantly remind myself that God has given everyone freedom of choice, and He is the ultimate judge, and we will all return to Him. All I need to do is live my life to the best of my ability.

KABILIANA - In many countries around the world still millions of children don't have access to books, in some other countries fundamentalists regimes don't allow female to attend school... what can a writer do to encourage and promote literacy in those difficult realities?
RUKHSANA -I don’t think there’s much other people from other cultures can do to change literacy among females in other cultures. What needs to be done is for people from that culture to make the change. For example, the approach I would use in dealing with Muslims who don’t want to allow their girls to be educated is bring forward the example of the Prophet (peace be upon him) from religious scriptures and show how this is not part of our faith. Show that all Muslims, including girls, are encouraged to become educated, and point out the historical fact that many early Muslim women were scholars of the faith, so education is encouraged.

KABILIANA - If you would have raised in Pakistan do you think you would have become a writer as well?
RUKHSANA -I doubt very much that I would have been a writer in Pakistan. My extended family circumstances are not very ‘literary’. They’re mostly tradesmen. That’s one of the reasons my father took us away from Pakistan, so he could explore educational opportunities for us in Canada.

KABILIANA - In your writings, Islam seems to be your wallpaper, how is it possible to write about universal values through a specific background without influencing the reader or without imposing the reader a specific point of view?
RUKHSANA - It hasn’t been hard at all. In writing about Muslim characters I recall my own feelings of being Muslim. Being Muslim is something I take for granted, and then I write the story, tell the story within that parameter and I often try to use aspects of being Muslim to create a bit of humour or suspense. For example, with my book Muslim Child (also published by Napoleon) when writing about the prayer I wrote about a boy who has to fart during the prayer. That’s a big deal because before we pray we have to make an ablution and if we fart or go the bathroom, it nullifies the ablution and we have to go back and wash again. So in the middle of his prayer this boy has to fart but he doesn’t want to wash up and pray again so he just squeezes and hopes nothing slips out. It’s very funny. Any kid can relate to such a dilemma, so I accomplish two tasks. I educate the reader about a major aspect of Islam and I tell a funny story at the same time. I’m not imposing anything. I’m just relating this child’s circumstances.

KABILIANA - What will you suggest to who is thinking to get involved in children's writing?
RUKHSANA -I would tell anyone thinking of being a children’s author that in some ways perseverance is more important than talent. When I was beginning there were other authors who were better than I was, but they couldn’t take the rejection. I outlasted them and now I have almost eleven books published. But after a while, talent is what separates your work from the mundane, so don’t forget to keep trying new things and working at your craft.

KABILIANA - Can you tell us at least three illustrated books or children's stories you liked in the last year?

RUKHSANA - Oh I’ve read so many, it’s hard. I really liked Mo Willem’s “Don’t Let the Pigeon Drive the Bus”, Christopher Paul Curtis' Elijah of Buxton, and The Tale of Despereaux. By Kate di Camillo.

Living Between Cultures

2008-12-05T01:57:00.000-08:00

This week our special guest is author Mitali Perkins who talked about her writing life and her last novel Rickshaw Girl published by Charlesbridge. Mitali attracts our attention to important issues related to life between cultures. Born in Kolkata from a Bengali family and raised in New York since she was seven, Mitali used to borrow books from the local library every week spending her time reading and reading, feeding her fantasy and creativity. At eleven she moved to California with her family and that time she was the only kid at school not born in America and the only kid who was not "white". This background inspired Mitali's writing life, her books explore and focus on the "strange place" called life between cultures.

We love her vision of stories saving lives... Mitali says that "stories have a mysterious power to help us process hard experiences and believes that "giving your kids stories, sitting side by side with them , reading them stories sometimes is a lot more effective than a face to face conversation." We believe in these words. Thank's Mitali for sharing with us.

KABILIANA - Mitali, you were born in Kolkata and raised since the age of six in the USA. What did it mean to you living in a different place from yours?

MITALI - I have learned how to make myself at home in many places, but sometimes, on harder days, no place feels like home.

KABILIANA - What did you family do to maintain your original traditions and culture alive far from home? Did they leave you a strong Bengali cultural heritage?

MITALI - Yes, we were a very traditional household, and my parents brought Bengali art, music, dance, and poetry into our home.

KABILIANA - Can you choose five adjectives to define your childhood far from India?

MITALI - Lonely, creative, rootless, inventive, private

KABILIANA - How did you start writing? And why did you chose to write for children and young readers?

Because I was lonely, I started writing as a child. And because I started writing as a child, and books helped me so much in this strange new world, I decided to write for young readers.

KABILIANA - You have a blog “Mitali’S Fire Escape”. It’s a virtual place where you discuss on multiculturalism and related issues. This name suggests that “ discussing, confronting each other, dialoguing means avoiding ignorance, misunderstanding” , is that what you intended for this space?

MITALI - I see my blog as a safe place where anyone, teens and adults alike, is welcome to chat about cultures and books and writing. It’s not a place to run away, it’s stepping out of the heat for a bit to sit and reflect and learn through good conversation and congenial company.

KABILIANA - Many migrants face big difficulties in living in a new place, job, housing, schooling etc… As identity is a process of metamorphosis, how is it possible according to your experience to create a connection between one’s original culture and the new adoptive one, dealing with daily practical issues?

MITALI - Children can creatively fuse cultures when they have a community of people nearby who are also living between cultures, and also by expanding their imagination through stories. Traveling to the culture of origin, if possible, can be a big help, as are connections with grandparents and other members of the child’s extended family.

KABILIANA - You have written several books for young readers, let’s talk about Rickshaw Girl. What inspired you setting a story in small traditional village in Bangladesh?

MITALI - My parents grew up in Bangladeshi villages.

KABILIANA - Naima, the main character, is a 12 years girl living in a traditional Bengali village with her family. She is the best alpana's painter in her village and wants to use her artistic talent to help earn money for her family. Her father is a rickshaw driver and is getting sick and tired, she wonder if she was a boy she could have helped her father. She believe she can do something, she doesn’t know how but her faith in her talent will make her succeed in her purpose. Naima it’s a strong, ambitious girl and the beginner of a new change in her family . Does this story represents what is really happening in countries like Bangladesh or India? What are the main big changes in this direction?

MITALI - Yes! This is beginning to happen in Bangladesh and India, starting in the cities in India, and in the villages of Bangladesh, thanks to organizations like Grameen.

KABILIANA - Your novel introduces us to another important theme: microfinance. We remind our readers that the founder of Microfinance , Muhammad Yunus, was awarded the Nobel Prize. From your report at the end of the book and general statistics, microfinance has more success with women in developing with success their socio economical status. How do you explain this success?

MITALI - Generally, when women earn money they are more likely to invest it into the household for the children’s sake. Also, if a woman is educated, it is more likely that her children will be educated.

KABILIANA - You frequently meet children in schools and libraries. What are their most frequent questions about diversity, living between cultures, understanding the other?

MITALI - Children are quite open to learning about different cultures. They really connect to the feeling of not fitting in — that’s what they tend to focus on. And when they get a bit older, they ask about dating and marriage since I grew up in a really strict, traditional home.

KABILIANA - What would you say to parents of mixed culture's kids and teachers to encourage their children to build a solid identity made of their full multicultural background?

MITALI - Travel if you can afford it. Invite friends in your home from many cultures. AND READ THEM STORIES!

KABILIANA - Can you list some children’s books you read in the last year you enjoyed?

MITALI - "North of Beautiful"by Justina Chen Headley (YA novel), "Amadi's Snowman" by Katia Novet Saint-Lot (picture book), "Lady Liberty"by Doreen Rappaport and Matt Tavares (nonfiction story of the Statue of Liberty, which was built by many immigrants).

KABILIANA- As a writer what would you say to a beginner writer who means to write about diversity? What to avoid and what to deepen in order to break common stereotypes?

MITALI - I would send them to browse around my blog, and to these posts in particular: “Straight Talk on Writing Race” and “Six Critical Questions To Ask About A Story”.

Mitali's new novel Secret Keeper will be issued on January by Random House .

Dedicated to all the children in world, especially those who still don't have access to books

2008-12-03T03:50:00.000-08:00

It has been already a month since I interviewed Katia Novet Saint Lot on her Amadi's Snowman , recently on virtual tour, is going to be the main character of a whole afternoon dedicated to all the children in the world, especially those who still don't have access to books.
During the "Afternoon with Amadi" , Amadi and Mama Katia together with Mama Dimitrea and her beautiful drawings.... will take the children directly to Nigeria, exploring through a hand made Tree Book all the main curiosities about this country and its culture.
The afternoon will be divided in three different moments:

Reading of Amadi's Snowman/Exploring Amadi's world
Discussion about reading and the right of sharing knowledge
Drawing and Writing to remember the experience

The best venue we could find is a Bookstore.Yes we'll be surrounded by books ad what a lovely place to talk about reading and books....! Thank's to Giunti al Punto Bookstore who wanted to guest this event.
The meeting is included in the campaign "Un libro per un bambino / One book for one child promoted by Kabiliana, to share awareness about children who don't have access to books and education.

W H E R E & W H E N ?

GIOVEDI' /THURSDAY 11 Dicembre 2008
GIUNTI AL PUNTO BOOKSTORE
Lerici - Via Roma 49
16.30- 19.00

Building Libraries

2008-11-10T02:01:00.000-08:00

It's not long time that I came to know through the surprising "world wide web" Amy Bodden Bowllan and I'm very happy about that because she inspires people like me and many other mothers and educators that what is really needed to build up an ambitious project, are small constant continuous actions, actions that everyone of us caould do. Amy is mother teacher and builds libraries for low-income people. She is one of those active eclectic person who never rejects new challanges and share her 24 hours between family and work, building libraries and teaching technology, reading and blogging. Maybe we can think she is a "superwoman" and in a way she is, but Amy is also a humble person who recognize in her own family the source and insipration of her socio educational committment in favour of disadvantaged people. A family who gave her strenght and encouraged her to pursue the value of sharing and respect for the others.

KABILIANA - Amy would you like to tell us something about your childhood and background ? Where is your family originally from?
AMY - In my immediate family – my father’s side - we have ancestry from Jamaica, Portugal and Belize and on my mother’s side from Savannah, Georgia and the Bahamas. But I was born and raised in Hollis, Queens, which is a suburb of New York. My parents are also both native New Yorkers, had seven children and adopted 3 additional children from my mother’s sister who was unable – at the time – to raise them, so all together – growing up – there were ten kids in my home. As you can imagine, the quarters were tight but we grew up in a disciplined and a Catholic environment. My father knew that our neighborhood, while family oriented, had some bad elements happening during the 1980s: drugs, crime, crack epidemic, etc. Therefore, my parents made sure we were out of the community and playing tennis every day. We really couldn’t afford it, so we played during off-peak times and truly mastered the game. Hence, I received a full tennis scholarship to college. I am also grateful my parents were so vested in our upbringing.

KABILIANA - How did your background influence your commitment in socio-educational projects?
AMY - As a kid, I remember my older sister, Joanne, she use to call me the civic-minded social worker because I always crying for the world’s people. Those who were suffering in the newspapers touched me at an early age. So crying for them was my way of helping. But that’s a good question and one I never connected with my background and now that you ask there are certainly definite correlations. As far as my commitment to projects, well, that started once I entered high school. You see, my Catholic school was one that fostered good behavior; meaning if you were “good” you did well academically. Unfortunately, there were really no expectations for academic excellence. Then when I went on to high school, I was overwhelmed by how much more the other students knew and how little I knew. I could tell right away I was out of my league, so I decided to approach college with a vengeance. I wanted to learn as much as I could as fast as I could. I will never forget what it was like to feel “stupid” and I always believed that the foundation wasn’t strong, academically. My parents did their best and I had to do the rest. But as far as resources, there wasn’t much. And back then I didn’t know they were important. It was only when I got older that I realized how important it was to be informed. It’s funny how people see America as this land of opportunity, and don’t get me wrong, it is. However, there are varied levels of the basics and needs that are not balanced in schools. If you come from wealth, you have the SmartBoards, whiteboards, technology, books, travel, language options, sports options, etc., in schools. If you are like me and did not come from wealth, then you’ll have the chalkboards, sitting in the same seat all day, and hope to have, maybe, one field trip a year. So my goal as an educator, blogger, and former journalist is to change that paradigm and help the world’s people. We have to be able to equip all students with the same tools. It’s only right!

KABILIANA - From your resume I see you are a very eclectic person with lots of activities on your board. One of your main activities is building libraries for low income families. Can you tell us more about this? How does the project works in details?
AMY -About ten years ago, and after working as a journalist, I decided to get my start as an educator. I wanted to take my news experience and infuse into the students who needed it most, so I set out to work at a small Catholic school on the Lower East Side of Manhattan. It’s important to point out that with the exception of the principal, no one knew that I had just left a very successful career as a journalist - I wanted to be a part of the norm. What I found was that, again, these students in this school did not have resources – no library – no technology – no yard to play, “truly the concrete jungle.” And I was again catapulted to my past and saw, “my gosh this is not right.” It was almost as though time was standing still for these kids. I noticed there was no library or technology at the school, so I decided to work with the principal to bring in the right people who could make it happen. There are so many good people in this world who care and who are very giving. I’ve been trying my best to help schools ever since. I certainly don’t do enough, since I work full-time and am a mother but every little bit helps. One book at a time.

KABILIANA - Can you share some experiences you did concerning this activity?
AMY - Over the past several years I’ve worked with a woman named Verne Oliver who is truly the maverick behind this endeavor. She is well into her 80s and visits underpriviledged schools in an effort to build libraries for them. It’s amazing what she’s been able to accomplish…over 100 Building Libraries initiatives! I am on my fifth so there’s way more to go for me. I do, however, feel that she has taken me on for the ride. Not to mention, I’ve learned so much from Verne. Barcoding, spine lables, Dewey, she teaches it all! But the best part is, when we finish a job, those students will have a place they can call THEIRS – a place where they can explore the world – a place to read. That’s the reward.

KABILIANA -You are also Promoting and Fostering Diversity Through Media and Information Literacy, can you explain us more about this activity?
AMY - Having worked in a newsroom, I was able to interview people from all walks. By the way, diversity is more than just color. It’s so broad and needs to be inclusive, so that everyone is welcomed in this world. Reporters know that they have to be the eyes and ears and break through the stereotypes in order to get the story. That’s why now, as an educator I use the same skills – TEACH LIKE A REPORTER – to infuse diversity related materials and train teachers on how to be inclusive throughout their curriculums. It’s basically looking through different lenses.

KABILIANA - You are directly involved in promoting educational technology program. How much important is to prepare the young generation to become part of the world wide web?
AMY - That to me goes hand-in-hand with promoting the need to have libraries in schools. Technology opens up the gates of information. We did not grow up with the internet but our children will/are. Students having access to a wealth of resources on the Web will broaden them to new heights! Can you imagine what the world would look like if all children, all over the world had access to the same information? We would learn so much more from our world’s children. Educational technology is the framework to build on this and it encompases so many areas: teacher training; Web site evalaution; safety; digital presentation tools; etc.

KABILIANA - Do you think that also in third world countries access to technology will allow them to achieve a new perspective on their problems?
AMY - I believe it’s crucial for third world countries to join hands with the world through the Web. I am not sure it will provide a new perspective but I do think it will open their perspectives to solve some of the problems they endure. But that’s probably another issue.

KABILIANA - Don’t you see any risk of losing identity for the “poorest” countries? How will technology in the next future wil let preservation of cultural heritages coop together with an eye on the world?
AMY - People preserve their heritage in more ways than we give them credit for. The fear is always the unknown. But technology is the tool, it’s not the oracle or the bad guy, so to speak. Technology can enhance cultures by being able to find information that wasn’t accessible before. The only way of not being able to preserve ones culture is through genocide. And that is a huge fear of mine, not the technology. Although I do understand your point.

KABILIANA - How can literacy change disadvantaged people’s life?
AMY - Literacy can take a socio-economically, deprived child and put him in Harvard.
Literacy can take a single mom, raising five kids alone and place her in the right job for her family, once her application is complete. Literacy can take a gang member who’s married to his gang and transform his life, by understanding just one word, PEACE. Literacy can take an aged person who may never have had the opportunity to write a letter and send the stamp of LOVE. Literacy is the key to unlock any door! I truly believe that.

KABILIANA - Amy you have a blog at School Library Journal . Who are the main followers of it? Teachers, Readers, students?
AMY - My blog readers are from all over the world. I have met the most inspiring people. I have librarians, authors, teachers, speakers, students, and my mom.

KABILIANA - Can you tell us three children‘s books you recently read and loved?
AMY - Oh gosh – Not fair!!! I read so many children’s books it’s hard to name just three. Here you go:
Snow Falling in Spring By Moying Li
The Mzungu Boy by Meja Mwangi
Hip Hop Speaks to Children by Nikki Giovanni

KABILIANA - You are mother of two children. How do you transmit them the love for reading ? Do they love reading? What are their current favourite authors or titles?
AMY - Honestly, I would love for my children to love reading, so what I try to do is to have them review the books I receive from authors. Some they like, and some they don’t, but getting them to love reading is a work in progress. One that, ironically, I struggle with. As my children grow older, I’ll know if I succeeded. My daughter loves the Junie B Jones series and I am trying to move her to more age appropriate books, while my son enjoys a variety of sports and Goosebump books.

KABILIANA - Do you have any suggestions for parents, teachers and librarians on how to encourage reading among their children/students/readers?
AMY - Yes – I would say for students – they should be encouraged to read everything that comes into their hands, from newspapers, to press releases, sports, EVERYTHING. I teach students that reading is like tasting food. Eat it all – Read it All! Teachers and librarians should continue to be creative with their displays and they should get the books off the shelves – spread them out. Have an all day Book-a-Thon! Make it a party! Bring the librarians into the classrooms on a regular basis. Write to the authors. Recognize the illustrators. Invite the authors in. There’s so much to do to make reading fun and a lifelong habit. But first, the books on the shelves make it hard to see the beauty inside. I use that analogy with my students, get yourself off the shelf and live.

The dream is closer...

2008-11-05T11:49:00.000-08:00

Today is a special day not only for the Americans but for the whole world. Barack Obama is the first black President of the USA. Obama represents what we dream since ever. My daughters are still little but they felt emotionally involved with this election. Barack Obamas' father was Kenyan, they are half Kenyan, they believe that he will do something special for his own mother land and for everyone. We all hope he will...They felt so involved that this evening after a whole day spent out of home, school, one friend's birthday party, after having a hot shower and hair washing they sat all around the kitchen table and asked me lots of questions... why Obama represents a big change for the world? what is Obama background?etc... I was delighted and I tried to answer in the best way.

Then one of my daughters did a quick drawing, (above). Actually she has not putted so much effort in the drawing, as usually she does in a lovely way, but more than the style she wanted to express her thoughts, as it happens when we have something urgent to say... and I felt deeply stirred reading the texts... "there is no discrimination, we are all the same" - "hooray equality"- "if the world would be like this, would be a beautiful one" - "Hooray for the world". Then I remembered Martin Luther King's words... I have a dream... is our dream, is their dream.

The Power of Reading

2008-11-01T07:34:00.000-07:00

As I said in my latest post here the fist interview to a children's author and illustrator. The guests of this first Writing Room are author Katia Novet Saint-Lot and illustrator Dimitrea Tokunbo who will introduce their "Amadi's Snowman". Amadi share with us the wonderful and mysterious world of books. His initial scepticism, his doubts on the importance of reading will turn into the most exciting discover of every child, learning the sounds of words and their meaning.When I first read this book to my daughters they were really partecipating at Amadi's journey through the awareness that reading can take you far and I'm sure many children will recognise themselves in Amadis' great adventure.

KABILIANA - Katia, you've lived in Nigeria for quiet some time and now you are living in India since 4 years, why did Amadi's story came out only now?
KATIA - The publishing process is long, and arduous, as you probably know. It also depends on so many things. I've heard editors at conferences or in interviews say that they sometimes have to reject a book that they would have loved publishing, for financial reasons, because the marketing department rejected it, etc, etc. The editor at Tilbury, Audrey Maynard, loved the story when I first sent it, but it was at the beginning of the war in Iraq, and school library budgets had been drastically cut, and she had to reject it. She sent me an email two years later, asking if the story was still available. I had made quite a few changes in the meantime, and they liked them. And then, there is the whole illustration process, and that takes quite a while, as well. And then the printing, etc. It takes time to publish a picture book.

KABILIANA- Would have Amadi been written if you didn't have the chance to live in Nigeria?
KATIA - Absolutely not. The story was born within a certain context, and even though Amadi's experience has a universal feeling to it, and children all over the world can relate to it, it could only have been born in Igbo Land.

KABILIANA - What is your relationship and feeling with the African Continent?
KATIA - This is a difficult question. I strongly resist discussing the continent as a whole. First, I don't know that many countries in Africa. I have lived in Nigeria, and I have visited Benin and The Ivory Coast, and that's it. I'm familiar with several cultures of West Africa, because I have friends who are from Senegal, Mali, Cameroon, etc. I also did a lot of Senegalese dancing when I lived in New York. It's called Sabar, and I used to take 4 to 5 classes a week. That's how much I loved it. But I don't know East Africa, nor the south of the continent. People who know Africa quite well always say that they're very different.
KABILIANA - In which way literacy can help economically disadvantaged population to change their life/future?
KATIA - Education is key. It's not only a matter of knowing more, it's also that an educated people can better defend themselves, against abuse, ignorance, superstition, and so much more.
Amadi has also a multicultural view as it introduces to Nigeria and a small village's life.
KABILIANA - How /When does diversity becomes a value when different people confront each other?
KATIA - Exposure to diversity opens up the world and the mind. If you experience others' ways of living, whether directly or through books, it becomes easier to realize that there is not one way of doing things, but millions of them, and your horizons broaden. My children have lived in Nigeria and India, they know life in France, the US, Spain and Haiti, and they take it all in stride. In India, people eat with their right hand, sitting on the floor. Fine. In France, or I should say the western world, we eat with a fork and a knife. That's not halfway as much fun as eating with one hand, but Oh well, if that's the way it's done. They understand that languages change from one place to another. They also understand that customs change from one place to the other. In India, Ganesh, Durga, Diwali, etc, are celebrated. In France, they'll go to the baptism of a cousin. They have been in churches, temples, mosques, and they understand that people worship in diverse ways, and none is better than the other. The risk that these children grow up to be narrow-minded and convinced that there is only one way to speak, eat, dress, act, worship, and/or think, is really quite unlikely. Tolerance is a component of their psyche. And the world certainly needs more tolerance.

KABILIANA - You have started presenting the book in Indian Schools, what was your first impression meeting directly the students? What do they like most reading and what do they ask you when you share Amadi's message with them?
KATIA - Children love Amadi because he's so real. He's nto perfect, but he's smart, and he grows throughout the story, and the ending is satisfying. A lot of them, here, also seem to relate to the fact that he has never seen snow.

KABILIANA - As a mother and a writer how would you propose a book to somebody who is not interested in reading? What will you suggest him/her or which kind of approach will you think to stimulate him/her?
KATIA -I find it very hard to believe that a child would be totally opposed and allergic to books. So, it's really a matter of offering the kind of material that will stimulate them, and catch their attention, exactly like Amadi in the story. He won't hear about learning how to read, but as soon as his curiosity is peeked, that's it, he's caught.

KABILIANA- We writers all know that without reading we would never be able to write… how much do you read children's literature and how do you choose what to read in this field?
KATIA -I read constantly. And my tastes and interests influence what I choose to read, of course. Anything multicultural is likely to interest me. I also keep informed, see what comes out, what my friends read and recommend, etc, etc.

KABILIANA - Can you give us three titles of the three children's books you ever loved in the last year?

KATIA - "Henry's Freedom Box," by Ellen Levine, illustrated by Kadir Nelson. It's the story of Henry "Box" Brown, a slave who mailed himself to freedom. It's a story of amazing bravery, and Kadir Nelson's illustrations are absolutely stunning.
"Burn My Heart" by Beverly Naidoo, about the uneasy friendship of two boys, one white, one black, in colonial Kenya. It's about hard choices and children being caught in political turmoil and the kind of frightening mess that adults are so good at creating.
"Amazing Grace" by Mary Hoffman, illustrated by Caroline Binch. I only discovered this book, and others in the series, recently. They are wonderful. Grace is an energetic, confident, imaginative child, and a perfect role model for any girl.

KABILIANA - Officialy from today Amadi is on a World Virtual Tour. Would you like to explain how does it work and who will involve?
KATIA - The idea is to engage children from several countries around the world in a conversation about reading, books, and each other. As I've mentioned before, kids are not encumbered by the many prejudices that adults carry around - unless they've already been influenced by those adults, of course. They are naturally interested and curious about other children. Having lived in many places, and having also contacts in quite a few, I thought it would be fun to virtually visit schools, libraries, etc. We'll see children in Nigeria, in the US, in India, in Italy (thanks to you), and maybe in Ethiopia and in Haiti (we're still working out the logistics, but it's looking good.) There will be interviews, conversations about the process of writing, and reviews on blogs dedicated to children's literature. We'll have some video clips, quizzes and trivia, and a photo challenge, and there will be prizes at the end. I didn't realize, as I embarked on this adventure, that it would entail so much work, but it's been great fun, and I made some wonderful contacts all over the world. What I want, aside from trying to get the book out there as much as possible, is for children to have fun, to learn about each other, and to acquire or renew their conviction that reading is THE thing to do.

KABILIANA- What inspired you to become a children’s book illustrator?

DIMITREA -I think my mom was my first inspiration to become an illustrator. She encouraged me to draw from the time I could hold a crayon, she would ask me what story went with my picture and then she would write it on my drawing word for word. Looking back at some of the drawings she saved from before I was two are pretty funny. Anyway, she taught me to associated words and pictures as a team, which is what children’s picture books often do.

KABILIANA - Which emotions inspires you when you have to transform words in pictures?

DIMITREA -I think emotions are broadcasted from our faces. I’ve always been interested in drawing faces. Happiness, Anger, Curiosity, Fear are a few emotions that are very clear expressions to paint and draw. I also think that color conveys an emotional state and I absolutely love to play with color.

KABILIANA - Dimitrea you are from Nigeria and living in the Us. How does your african background feeds your American Life and viceversa, how does the mutlicultursl US society enrich your being African?

DIMITREA - My father was born in Nigeria and my Mother was born in the US. I was born in the US. My last name Tokunbo is actually my middle name and I had it legally changed a few years back because it means Born Away from Home which I feel speaks to that part of me that longs to no more about Africa and Nigeria specially. My daughters and I are going to Nigeria soon and they are very excited to be visiting for the first time. Sometimes I feel isolated by my differences to the two sides of my family but most times I feel luck and blessed because I feel it broadens my experiences and gives me more things to love.

KABILIANA- I know Amadi in travelling far also in Africa, did you have the chance to notice any difference in the perception of the story with African children and Us ones?

DIMITREA - That is an interesting question, I have only read it to American children so far and I look forward to sharing it with my Nigerian cousins soon. I will have to revistit the is question later.

KABILIANA- Amadi’s illustrations looks so captivating, they have essential shapes and the colours are wonderfully warm and deep. It seems that the colour was much more important then anything in this book.Isn’t it? Can you also tell us the tecnique and how do you choose your style every time.

DIMITREA - You are very right about the importance of the color in this book. One of the things that struck me during my visits to Nigeria was the vibrancy of the color. From the fabrics to the landscape to the baskets and wood carvings, I felt a warmth and energy. I was really hoping to give that same feeling to the readers of Amadi’s Snowman.

KABILIANA - According to you what children and parents, same or differently, look for in an illustrated book?

DIMITREA - Hmmm…according to me, I think children look for repletion of sounds and a musical quality to the narrative. I also think children like to see children that look like themselves and people they know. I think parents are concerned with teaching opportunities books can provide. They want the books to influence good behavior but they also want the books to feel fun, since most kids I know want to hear their favorite books over and over again. I think both children and parents are attracted to beautiful paintings whether they are soothing, scary or funny.

KABILIANA - How did it happen that you were asked to illustrate Katia’s Book?

DIMITREA - I think the publisher was looking for diverse artists and they found work I had done for another publisher that create great multicultural titles.

KABILIANA - How was your collaboration with Katia?

DIMITREA - Katia and I didn’t actually have any direct contact until the book was completely finished.

KABILIANA - How does reading contribute in helping disadvantaged children to raise looking forward a different future for themselves?

DIMITREA - I think that reading opens up worlds and choices that don’t otherwise occur to disadvantaged children because of the limitations of their environments. I speak from personal experience. From the time that my daughters were very small (we lived in Indiana for the first seven years of my eldest daughter’s life) we stayed in the library. We took out tons of books of stories from all over the world. People were often surprised at how cultured and sophisticated my children were to be so young and not to have traveled farther than New York. It was the books that allowed us to travel and to dream of things outside our experience. Now that we live in New York City we get to meet people from all these places and we truly appreciate the diversity.

KABILIANA - How are American children readers according to your experience? What do they prefer most?

DIMITREA - The American children readers I know the most about are my children. My mom just retired after many years of teaching kindergarten and special reading. She says that if a book is written at their reading level, the kids like to read books that have characters that are familiar to them. They like funny pictures and bright colors. She agrees that repetitious and musical phrases are attractive to American children. I think that her observations are probably applicable universally.

KABILIANA - Which illustrators do you admire? Why?

DIMITREA - I love Trina Schart Hyman, Leo & Diane Dillon, Brian Pinkney, Kadir Nelson and Patricia Polacco. Something that they have in common is the richness of their art and their ability to tell a story, even without words. They have all done books where they were both the author and illustrator and that is what I would like to do soon.

KABILIANA - Have you ever tried to write yourself a story?

DIMITREA - I am working on a few right now.

KABILIANA - Would you tell us three illustrated books you read and liked most in the last year?

DIMITREA - I recommend The Girl Who Spun Gold by Virginia Hamilton, illustrated by Leo and Dianne Dillon, The Fortune-tellers by Alexander Loydd, illustrated by Trina Schart Hyman and The Shark God by Rafe Martin, illustrated by David Shannon.

Thank's to Katia and Dimitrea and best luck for the Virtual Tour! And many thank's to Katia Dimitrea and Tilbury Publisher or donating their copy of "Amadi's Snowman" for the Kabiliana Library Project.

________________________________________________
MORE LINKS

Katia Novet Saint-Lot Website

Katia and Dimitrea Amadi's Virtual Tour

Authors & Illustrators

2008-10-29T14:37:00.000-07:00

A new space will be soon hosted on this blog. I'm going to do a virtual world's trip meeting authors and illustrators, librarians and teachers talking about books, reading, writing for children, multicultural issues, living between cultures and so many other themes. As Kabiliana supports literacy projects where reading and studying is still a privilege of few, it will be interesting and stimulating bringing alive a world's community of people involved in promoting reading at all levels. It will definetly help the project, extend the cause and empower the dialogue on bringing literacy in disadvantaged places. I'm very happy to announce that the first author and illustrator who will appear in this space are Katia Novet Saint-Lot and Dimitrea Tokunbo, who will be talking about their "Amadi's Snowman".

Fund Rising

2008-10-26T03:51:00.000-07:00

Friday evening we had a nice time presenting the Kabiliana Project at San Terenzo's Auditorium. A part from the heavy rain that fell down for the whole day, there were about 35 people who enjoyed the reading performance sharing their thoughts on our cause. There was also a nice number of children following their parents who were really attentive even though the performance wasn't for them. Thank's to all for the efforts done to support our cause. We started presenting the project, the aim of bringing literacy where reading and studying is still a privilege of few children. Then the lights turned off and the reading started. For the scenography we haven't found much, as the hall is used for several purposes it looks very neutral, but there was a Moroccan Carpet on the floor with several coloured pillows and the actresses were sitting there waiting for their turn to read. Each actress read one of three monologues and the fourth one had the role as a second voice for each monologue. The monologues have this particular "language game" where words or sentences are reapeated to empower the inner message. We organised a small buffet and a table with copies of my books. At the end we chatted with the guests and joined links with new interesting people.

Hopefully we'll repeat this experience but this time for children with a special afternoon dedicated to them.

Kabiliana on School Library Journal

2008-10-22T00:21:00.000-07:00

A fantastic news welcomed me this morning, our project is on THE SCHOOL LIBRARY JOURNAL, and this thanks to the fantastic and super active Amy Bodden Bowllan who plays an important role in building libraries for low-income families. Currently holding the position of Director of Diversity, Amy teaches Broadcast Journalism and Technology classes at The Hewitt School in NYC/USA. Will soon read about her here.
Thank you Amy, you did a wonderful work!

Reading, Always Reading

2008-10-18T14:03:00.000-07:00

I recently had the pleasure to read Katia NovetSaint-Lot 's "Amadi's Snowman" which tells the story of a Nigerian boy who dreams to become a trader that at a certain point discovers the wonders of books. Katia has published on her blog a meme on "first time writing experience" and I'm very happy to answer these questions too. Also as Kabiliana aims to promote reading and literacy projects...

Do you remember the first book you ever read on your own?

I cannot remember the very first book but one of the first books that really impressed me and signed my passion for reading was "Around the World in 80 Days" by Jules Verne. Was a huge volume with a blue leather hardcover with colourful illustrations. I was very jelous about it, you can imagine at night after reading, I was wrapping the book with a red woolen cloth putting it under my pillow , just to be sure to find it the next morning. I borrowed that book it from my aunt and I remember I never returned it back!

Do you remember how you felt?

I felt very committed in the achievement of understanding a story by my own, I felt I was travelling with P. Fogg and Passepartout on the balloon visiting different countries , smelling differents shents and dressing soft coloured clothes. I realized that you could see places and things without being anyewhere. I found that words were extraordinary instruments to express ideas and feelings...I was even jelous that others would have the same thought.

Do you remember a book that you read again and again as a child?

I love re-reading books. One of the book I kept on reading and re reading was Pinocchio by Carlo Collodi. It was and it is an extraordinary book. Surely I understood its deep meanings more as an adult then as a child, but I was fascinated by this story of a piece of wood becoming alive, laughing, enjoying, surprising, loving, suffering, with its innocence and curiosity.

Why that book? Have you read it again as an adult?

Pinocchio is wonderful story either for children either for parents... I read it several times as an adult and shared it with my daughters twice, we read it together, every evening for a period, they also read it at school and they all enjoyed as well as I did. They followed Pinocchio becoming a donkey in the world of donkeys populated by all the children who didn't want to read and study, disappointed because they know that reading and studying is something marvellous and could not think that Pinocchio and his friends were ready to live without those things. I had the opportinuty to feel their emotions in front of big important themes. I believe that Pinocchio is one of the greatest books ever written, there is this beautiful metaphora of being something else and becoming a human being thank's to hardship, love and awareness.

Why do you read?

I read as I need to. Books are my hoxygene, I need them for my soul and my mind in the same way I need food for my body. Raeading allows me to live different lives, to confront emotions and ideas, to travel without physically moving, to experience things by different point of views and to enrich my identity. Also without reading I could not be a writer!

Amy, Martha , Susan , Max , Laura, Linda, Elizabeth, Cat , Colleen, Kathryn , Susie, Naomi and anyone who reads you are tagged... would you like to continue the tour on First Time Reading? Then just cut, paste and answer these questions on your blog/site.

24 October 2008

2008-10-14T03:48:00.000-07:00

Associazione Soggetto Nomade and Valentina Acava Mmaka are happy to invite you to the FUND RISING EVENING for supporting Kabiliana Project. The Project is called ONE BOOK FOR ONE CHILD. To make sure that reading and studying won' t remain the privilege of few but the right of all the children in the world.

During the evening :

THEATRE READING from the Play

I... immigrant...woman.... to want to say to write (Io...donna...immigrata... volere dire scrivere - EMI 2004) by Valentina A. Mmaka

ARTEM Theatre Company

Director: Cinzia Sbrana

Interpreters: Tatiana Magni, Paola Biaggini, Lorena Cappellini, Enrica Ventarelli

WHERE-WHEN

Friday 24th October 2008

AUDITORIUM San Terenzo - Sp

h. 9.00 p.m.

Public will contribute with a free donation.

Invitation to writers and illustrators

2008-10-13T13:17:00.000-07:00

Yesterday I was intending to meet some staff of a children's Library in La Spezia to see if it's possible to organize a reading for children but when I reached the place I found it was closed due to a not specified reason. Anyway the lights were on and I could see inside through the windows ... I saw a colourful warm place with red and orange tables, green, blue and pink chairs and the walls full of books ordered in wooden shelves... but what I enjoyed most standing outside, was reading some sentences on wallpapers hanged on top of the shelves, sentences that underline the pleasure of reading, a clear invitation about discovering the joy of reading. And because we are involved in supporting reading as a very important need for everyone I want to share these sentences here.

Rospo che legge diventa re = Toad who read becomes a King
Chi legge guarda lontano= Who read can see far
Chi legge ascolta la musica della vita = Who reads listen to the music of life
Esci dal gregge e bruca un bel libro = Go out of the flock and browse on a good book.
Chi legge vola alto= Who read flies high
Chi legge non ha paura= Who read doesn't fear
Chi legge non è mai solo= Who read is never alone
Tenera è la notte con un libro per sognare = Sweet is the night with a nice book to dream
Chi legge ha sete di sogni = who read is thirsty of dreams
Chi legge viaggia con la mente = Who read travels with the mind
Chi legge cerca pace =Who read looks for peace
Chi legge non si fa lavare il cervello=Who read never allows a brainwash

I discovered that Fatatrac Publisher distributes these wallpapers, I thought why don't ask writers and illustrators to write /illustrate their own sentence on how is reading...for them trying to find nice and stimulating metaphoras.

More Books coming...

2008-10-13T03:21:00.000-07:00

I was out of town for a couple of days and on my return back I've found two huge parcels: one from Tilbury Publisher and the other one from a dear friend from France.

I must forward many thank's to Katia Novet Saint-Lot, Dimitrea Tokunbo and Sarah Mc Ginnis from Tilbury House for donating "Amadi's snowman" and Nancy who send me an old English version of Pinocchio and a book by Meshack Asare (Noma's Sand).Thanks so much, our library is growing "pole pole" (a kiswhaili expression to say slowly), but we are happy, and soon we'll achieve more books with the first big fund rising at the end of the month.

Thank you all... I've decided to put on this blog the interviews to authors who donate their books so to have the chance to undesrtand from different point of views the big importance of reading and bringing literacy in disadvantaged countries.

Soon you'll read interviews to Author Katia Novet Saint Lot and illustrator Dimitrea Tokunbo.

One book for one child... fund rising evening

2008-10-07T01:36:00.000-07:00

ARTEM Theatre Company is preparing the Stage Reading from my play "I...immigrant...woman..." (Io...donna...immigrata...volere dire scrivere published by EMI 2004) in occasion of the fund rising evening for Kabiliana project.
Details coming soon.

These photographs were taken during one of the performances staged in Italy and the artists in the pcitures are Astrid Mamina Kayembe and Imane Combes.