Librarians and other professionals working with children’s literature, this webinar is designed especially for you!
During the event we are going to present Nordic Children’s books that embrace cultural and linguistic diversity and are written by creative professionals who once decided to move to Nordic region, and have made it their home.
Join this event to meet two of these writers, Wende Luvinga and Sergio Augusto Sánchez, in person. They will tell a bit more about their books and share also tips on how to reach out diverse and multilingual audiences as library customers.
After the talks, expert Ivonne Carlos will present a listing of about 80 children’s books written by the Nordic minority writers.
The event is part of Lifting Minority Stories project funded by the Nordic Culture Point. It’s implemented in cooperation of Cooperative 3E, Kotte, MiR and Slaturhusid Performance Art Center.
Wende Luvinga is a Tanzanian author living in Finland. Wende has written several children’s books, for example Hamisi, the Complaining Lizard, published in English and Swahili, and My Beautiful Pond together with Minna Komulainen, which is published in English, Finnish and Turkish. Hamisi, the Complaining Lizard has been illustrated by Louise Michaels and My Beautiful Pond by Özge Deniz Tastan.
Wende’s most recent book, Kokonainen minä, is a participatory book and a result of a co-creation process involving children and experts. The book’s illustrations have been created by Noora Ketolainen and Maryam Abuzaid-Ryu. Kokonainen minä is published by Familia, an expert organization of intercultural families, who also coordinated the co-creation process.
Sergio Augusto Sánchez is a writer from Colombia who currently lives in Finland. His first published children’s book, Pikku avokadon tarina, illustrated by Manuel García Plata, was published in Spanish and later translated into Finnish by Sofia Perhomaa. In 2024 the book was selected as Helmet’s book gift for first graders in the greater Helsinki area.
Sergio’s short stories for adults have also appeared in several magazines, most recently in Nuori Voima, and he has published two collections of short stories — Sade piiskaa asfalttia and Oman tiensä eläimet — both collections were translated into Finnish from Spanish.
PROGRAMME:
**Kindly note the possible time difference. The meeting takes place 14-15 (EET).
14-14:45
Presentation, Writer Wende Luvinga
Presentation, Writer Sergio Sánchez
Presenting a listing of children’s books written by the Nordic minority writers, Expert Ivonne Carlos
14:45-15:00
Discussion in groups
This webinar is meant for professionals working in libraries or otherwise with children’s literature in Finland, Sweden, Norway and Iceland. The event is organised in English, but will be supported by an AI-based translation programme.
REGISTRATION:
Kindly register by using this form by 24 November.