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Storytime: Amah Faraway
November 5, 2022 @ 10:30 am - 10:50 am
FreeA delightful story of a child’s visit to a grandmother and home far away, and of how families connect and love across distance, language, and cultures.
Kylie is nervous about visiting her grandmother–her Amah–who lives SO FAR AWAY.
When she and Mama finally go to Taipei, Kylie is shy with Amah. Even though they have spent time together in video chats, those aren’t the same as real life. And in Taiwan, Kylie is at first uncomfortable with the less-familiar language, customs, culture, and food. However, after she is invited by Amah-Lái kàn kàn! Come see!-to play and splash in the hot springs (which aren’t that different from the pools at home), Kylie begins to see this place through her grandmother’s eyes and sees a new side of the things that used to scare her. Soon, Kylie is leading her Amah-Come see! Lái kàn kàn!-back through all her favorite parts of this place and having SO MUCH FUN! And when it is time to go home, the video chats will be extra special until they can visit faraway again.
Portland Book Festival General Admission Passes are required for entry into all events. Passes are $15 in advance and $25 day of Festival. Youth 17 & under, or with a valid high school ID get in FREE. All full-priced General Admission Passes include a $5 book fair voucher and entry into Portland Art Museum. Passes admit attendees to the Festival; individual events are first-come, first-served. More info here.
Margaret Chiu Greanias is children’s book author who writes picture books with heart and humor, including Maximillian Villainous. The daughter of Taiwanese immigrants, she grew up in New York, Texas, and California, while her amah lived far away in Taipei. She currently lives in the San Francisco Bay Area with her husband, three children, and a fluffle of dust bunnies. Her most recent book is Amah Faraway.
Tracy Subisak can’t stop thinking about being back in Taipei, eating yóutiáo and dòujiāng with her amah and mama. Tracy is the daughter of a Taiwanese mother and Polish American father. Currently living in Portland, Oregon, she is the author-illustrator of Jenny Mei Is Sad, and has illustrated books including the award-winning Shawn Loves Sharks by Curtis Manley and Wood, Wire, Wings: Emma Lilian Todd Invents an Airplane by Kirsten Larson. The latest book she has illustrated is Amah Faraway.
Emily Arrow creates songs about books! Formerly a K-6 music educator, Emily’s passion for books led her to create music that promotes literacy. Formerly in Tennessee, now based in Texas, Emily brings picture books to life by collaborating with bestselling authors and publishers. Emily’s YouTube Channel is a classroom sensation with over 19,000 followers and an average of 800,000 views per year, and she makes over 60 classroom and library visits a year. Emily also shares her passion for literacy and music by offering workshops, classes and weekly story times. Studio: A Place for Art to Start is Emily’s first book for children.