THE MALDEN ADVOCATE–Friday, September 2, 2022 Page 11 Boston Book Festival’s Shelf Help program returns this school year Libraries at UP Academy Holland in Dorchester and Malden High School to get infusion of high-quality books, author visits O n August 26, the Boston Book Festival (BBF) in partnership with the Boston-based nonprofit literacy organization Wondermore announced that UP Academy Holland in Dorchester and Malden High School are the 2022 recipients of this year’s Shelf Help grants, which will include an infusion of new books and author visits by “Frizzy” author Claribel A. Ortega and illustrator Rose Bousamra, and Malinda Lo, author of “A Scatter of Light.” The BBF’s Shelf Help partnership is a competitive grant program that provides two Greater Boston area school libraries (one K-8 and one 9-12) with new books to expand and update their collections. In addition, each school will have a visit by an author or illustrator curated by Wondermore, a local organization dedicated to inspiring young readers. The Shelf Help author school visits will take place on Friday, October 28. “Literature can change lives and the Boston Book Festival, through our Shelf Help initiative, strives to put great children’s literature on the shelves of under-resourced schools where kids can read and be challenged, entertained, and inspired by them,” said BBF Founder and Board Chair/Executive Director Deborah Porter. “As always, it is a pleasure to work with our fabulous partner, Wondermore, in accomplishing this goal.” The purchase of new books for the school libraries is made possible by donations from anyone wanting to help stock the school libraries. From now until the end of October, the BBF is accepting monetary donations at bostonbookfest.org/year-roundevents/shelf-help to hit each school’s goal of $1,500. Books for the new libraries will be delivered in November. At UP Academy Holland in Dorchester, “Frizzy” author Claribel A. Ortega and artist Rose Bousamra will visit. “Frizzy” (MacMillan) is a middle-grades graphic novel that will be released on Oct. 18, 2022. Malden High School (77 Salem St., librarian Mary Liberge) will have an in-person appearance by Malinda Lo, author “A Scatter of Light” (Dutton Books for Young Readers). Fresh off the success of her book “Last Night at the Telegraph Club,” which won the National Book Award for Young People’s Literature in 2021, among other honors, Lo’s novel will be released on Oct. 4, 2022. UP Academy Holland’s librarian, Iris Santana, said that in addition to the gift of the books is the lasting lesson for the students of seeing themselves in the characters and their authors. “Representation is very important. If students can see themselves in people who teach them, it empowers them to achieve equal greatness,” Santana said. “It can inspire students when they see members of the world at large not only for young girls of color, but as an opportunity to look through their own mirrors and experiences. It will perhaps provide a window to diff erent perspectives, too.” BBF is partnering with Wondermore, which originally began in 1983 as The Children’s Literature Foundation. As Wondermore, the organization now focuses on connecting Boston-area students to authors and illustrators who reflect the region’s diverse and vibrant communities. In 2017, BBF launched its Shelf Help partnership program, a community-driven, youth-focused initiative aimed to expand a love of reading in children and young adults. A competitive annual grant program, Shelf Help awards two Boston-area school libraries: • Brand-new, high-quality, culturally relevant books to fi ll their libraries in an eff ort to draw in more readers, to increase the number of books in schools that often have little or no funding for new collections and to ensure that books are meeting the needs and interests of the students in that particular school • A memorable school visit by a celebrated children’s/young adult author or illustrator curated by Wondermore’s experienced team. BBF Deputy Director Jessica Kent said Shelf Help off ers a lasting way for students to connect with reading. “We've all experienced it: there was something incredibly special about holding a new book in your hand and wondering what new adventure you'd fi nd inside,” said Kent. “As a kid, meeting an author in person—someone who wrote the FESTIVAL | SEE PAGE 20 SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 10 2-4PM SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 10 (FREE GIFTS) H ANG | SALSA | EO AEHALL | TAP | E | SIC & DANCE RA | UAL THEATRE Contact lilphunk2@aol.comformore information I ~ Letter to the Editor ~ Endorsement of State Representative Steven Ultrino am here to offi cially endorse State Representative Steven Ultrino for another term in offi ce. The kindness and outreach, that he has extended to me over the years is heartwarming. Even though we are not of the same political party, some things transcend little things like that. I encourage everyone to put their faith and trust in Rep Ultrino and to support the good work he is doing for our Malden community. Sincerely, Joseph Gray Ward 6 School Committee Member 295R Lebanon Street Malden, MA 02148 (781) 248-7354 maldentalks@outlook.com As seen on: PHUNKPHUNK PHENOMENONPHENOMENON DANCEDANCE COMPLEXCOMPLEX https://www.phunkphenomenon.com/ 1886 Revere Beach Pkwy, Everett, MA Register at:
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