2 award-winning authors to hold readings at Eastern

Caldecott honoree Grace Lin and novelist Teresa Messineo conclude Visiting Writers Series

Willimantic, CT (04/04/2023) — Grace Lin, best-selling author and illustrator of children's books and winner of the Caldecott and Newberry honors, will speak at Eastern Connecticut State University on Wed., April 5, as part of the Eastern Visiting Writers Series supported by Connecticut Humanities. She will speak at 5:30 p.m. in the Student Center Theatre and will sign books and answer questions.

The series will conclude on April 27 with a fiction reading by historical fiction writer Teresa Messineo, author of "The Fire by Night" and "What We May Become," novels dealing with social justice themes and World War II. Messineo's reading will be at 4 p.m. in the Johnson Room at Smith Library and also will be followed by a book signing. The events are open and free to the public with parking available in Cervantes Garage.

Lin, a National Book Award finalist, is a native of upstate New York, where she developed an adoration for writing fantasy, realistic fiction, Chinese fairy tales and mythology. A Rhode Island School of Design graduate, she published her first book, "The Ugly Vegetables," in 1999. Her book, "Dim Sum for Everyone!" was recently challenged in Duval County, Florida, for violating the state's ban on discussing race in school.

"So many students have read one of Grace's novels, middle grade, early readers, picture books, and/or board books," said education Professor Susannah Richards. "This is an amazing opportunity for students to embrace how children's literature may be a 'window, mirror, and/or sliding glass door' for young people,'" she added, quoting Rudine Sims-Bishop, a pioneer of multicultural children's literature and professor emerita at The Ohio State University.

Many of Lin's stories express the importance of accepting inclusivity and diversity. She is a long-time advocate and supporter of the cause, "We Need Diverse Books." The nonprofit organization is one of the nation's most influential proponents of including equity, diversity and the representation of every race, ethnicity and religion in children's books. Its goal is to allow every child to see themselves in the pages of their own books.

Lin's published works include picture books, early readers and books for older children. Among them are Caldecott Honor "A Big Mooncake for Little Star," "A Big Bed for Little Snow," "Where the Mountain Meets the Moon," "Starry River of the Sky," "When the Sea Turned to Silver," "Once Upon a Book" and the "Ling and Ting" series.

The Eastern Visiting Writers Series, a forum for writers of national standing to read from their work, is supported by a Quick Grant from Connecticut Humanities. Earlier this spring the series featured Marilyn Nelson, former poet laureate of Connecticut and three-time National Book Award finalist.

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