Harlow Gallery, Hallowell, Maine

For: Teachers, librarians, parents, community organizers, and anyone wishing to prompt discussions on welcoming immigrants.

Book advocate Kirsten Cappy and author-illustrator Anne Sibley O’Brien will share the project they co-founded, “I’m Your Neighbor Books — Welcoming Immigrants, Refugees, & Migrants as Neighbors Through the Sharing of Children’s Literature and Other Stories“ (https://www.imyourneighborbooks.org/). This online searchable database features picture books through young adult novels portraying the contemporary immigrant experience, and enrichment activities to further the discussion.

They will present the newest project of I’m Your Neighbor Books: The Welcoming Library (https://www.imyourneighborbooks.org/wl/), a traveling collection of acclaimed immigration-themed picture books and their embedded discussion questions, which can be requested by Maine schools, libraries and community organizations. The Welcoming Library will be available to view at the Harlow Gallery until November 29.

The presentation will conclude with Anne Sibley O’Brien‘s sharing of her companion titles, I’m New Here and Someone New, about three young immigrants and their new classmates, along with resources to enrich the books including an event kit, “Creating a Conversation About Welcoming Immigrants & Refugees.”

These titles and a few others will be available for purchase and titles in the Welcoming Library can be ordered to donate to area schools.