Writers' Lunch: Crafting Books and Stories for Children and Youth

Join Mechanics' Institute for a discussion on the topic "Crafting Books and Stories for Children and Youth" with Lisa Brown, Glodean Champion, and Oliver Chin. This event will be moderated by Sheryl J. Bize-Boutte.

This session of Writers' Lunch celebrates Children's Day, which is celebrated on May 5 in South Korea/Japan, on the second Sunday of May in Spain/United Kingdom, and on the second Sunday of June in the United States.

Come celebrate children at Mechanics' Institute on Satrudays, May 17 and June 21 - and every third Saturday of each month - from 10:00 to 11:00 at our Family Story Hour, which happens onsite at Mechanics' Institute's gorgeous second-floor library! We’ll read 2-3 stories appropriate for children age 8 and younger, plus make a fun craft to take home.

This Writers' Lunch will be held on Friday, May 17 at 12:00 pm online via Zoom.

FREE - all are welcome!

LISA BROWN is a New York Times bestselling illustrator, author, and cartoonist. Her award-winning picture books include: The Airport Book, The Hospital Book, How to Be, Mummy Cat by Marcus Ewert, Emily’s Blue Period by Cathleen Daly, and The Two Mutch Sisters by Carol Brendler. She has collaborated on three books with author Lemony Snicket: The Latke Who Couldn’t Stop Screaming, 29 Myths on the Swinster Pharmacy, and Goldfish Ghost, and is the creator of the “Baby Be of Use” series of board books for McSweeney’s, (including the absolutely essential Baby Mix Me a Drink). Her comics include a graphic novel for teens,The Phantom Twin, and a collection of comics, Long Story Short. Lisa teaches picture book writing and illustration at the California College of the Arts and is on the board of 826 Valencia, a writing and tutoring center for students in San Francisco.

GLODEAN CHAMPION is a two-time TEDx Speaker and Keynote Speaker who pulls from her mother's influence - her first authentic leader - to create stories about life, leadership, and acceptance that connect with people. She is a master storyteller whose thought-provoking ideas are shared with honesty, authenticity, and vulnerability. She is a Six Sigma Black Belt with over 20 years of experience as a Lean Six Sigma leader, DEI disrupter, and master educator. And, she is the celebrated author of the award-winning coming-of-age novel Salmon Croquettes and loves her Tibetan Terrier, Tashi, her weighted blanket, breakfast for dinner, and Self-Love Sunday is her favorite day of the week.

OLIVER CHIN founded Immedium, an independent San Francisco publisher of wonderfully diverse children’s books. More than 50% feature multicultural characters and 25%+ are bilingual. Immedium published the original stories of The Octonauts, which inspired the hit animated TV show worldwide. Oliver has written more than 20 books for youth, including The Year of the Dragon from the Tales from the Chinese Zodiac series, The Discovery of Chess, the illustrated anthology More Awesome Asian Americans, and Julie Black Belt. Previously, he wrote the sports commentary The Tao of Yao: Insights from Basketball’s Brightest Big Man and the graphic novel 9 of 1: A Window to the World. A magna cum laude graduate of Harvard, he was the cartoonist for The Harvard Crimson. Earlier in his career, Oliver helped introduce anime and manga (such as Pokemon and Dragon Ball Z) to the United States. Called a “comics expert" by the San Jose Mercury News, he regularly presents at schools, libraries, and cultural associations. Follow Immedium on instagram @immediumbooks.

About the Moderator

Award-winning author and Pushcart Prize nominee SHERYL J. BIZE BOUTTE is an Oakland multidisciplinary writer whose autobiographical and fictional short story collections, along with her lyrical and stunning poetry, artfully succeed in getting across deeper meanings about the politics of race and economics without breaking out of the narrative. Her writing has been variously described as “rich in vivid imagery,” “incredible,” and “great contributions to literature.” Her first novel, Betrayal on the Bayou, was published in June 2020 and a poetry collection she has written with her daughter Dr. Angela M. Boutte, titled No Poetry No Peace™, was published in August 2020 and is the namesake of the No Poetry No Peace™ series at the Mechanics Institute of San Francisco. Her in progress novel first chapter, “The Burden Keeper,” was the 2021 fiction category winner for the San Francisco Writers Conference writing contest anthology. An inaugural Oakland Poet Laureate runner-up, she is also a popular teacher, literary reader, presenter, storyteller, curator, and emcee/host for literary and poetry events.