Gaithersburg Book Festival to Host Diversity Discussion on June 24
Gaithersburg, MD (June 16, 2020) – On Wednesday June 24 at 7 p.m. ET, the Gaithersburg Book Festival will host a panel of four authors for a live YouTube discussion entitled “How Diverse Stories can Open Minds and Change the World.” This timely event is an extension of this year's virtual Gaithersburg Book Festival, which counts among its goals the promotion of literature as a means to enrich the human experience.
“Our country’s struggle with race relations is once again at the forefront – as it should be,” said Gaithersburg Mayor and Book Festival Founder and Chair Jud Ashman. “Throughout history, literature has played a unique role in the fight for social justice. On June 24, we have the unique opportunity to hear from four authors who write for young audiences, discussing how diversity in literature can foster understanding and empathy.”
The event will be moderated by author Wade Hudson, and features Dhonielle Clayton, Adam Gidwitz, and Hena Khan. While the authors primarily write books for young people, the roundtable discussion is appropriate for all ages. It is intended to foster a dialog about how parents can encourage a broader understanding of our world through their children’s book choices. For more information please visit www.gaithersburgbookfestival.
About the speakers:
·Wade Hudson's career as a writer spans more than three decades. An accomplished and award-winning author, he has written more than 25 books for young people including, "AFRO-BETS Book of Black Heroes," "Poetry from the Masters: The Pioneers and Jamal's Busy Day," "Pass It On: African-American Poetry for Children," and most recently, “We Rise, We Resist, We Raise Our Voices." Hudson's passion for writing and a life-long mission to help foster positive self-image within the Black community prompted him and wife Cheryl to launch Just Us Books, the nation's leading independent publisher of Black-interest books for young people. https://www.wadehudson-
·Dhonielle Clayton is an American author and chief operating officer of We Need Diverse Books. Her works include "The Belles," which was a finalist for the 2019 Lodestar Award for Best Young Adult Book, "Tiny Pretty Things," "Shiny Broken Pieces," “Black Enough: Stories of Being Young & Black in America,” and most recently, "The Everlasting Rose." Clayton was born in Washington, D.C., graduated from Wake Forest University, earned an M.A. from Hollins University, and an M.F.A. in creative writing from The New School. She also serves as a sensitivity reader and advocates for books to better represent people of color. https://www.
·Adam Gidwitz is the author of the Newbery Honor winning "The Inquisitor's Tale," The New York Times best-selling Grimm trilogy, and The Unicorn Rescue Society series, for which he has teamed up with other authors from the cultures the series visits. In his writing, Gidwitz hopes to lead children to a deeper, more emotionally connected and integrated understanding of the world. https://www.adamgidwitz.com/
·Hena Khan of Rockville, Md. is a Pakistani-American author for children and young adults. She has written "choose your own adventure" books, as well as books highlighting her culture and religion, such as "Night of the Moon," "It's Ramadan," "Golden Domes and Silver Lanterns," "Zayd Saleem: Chasing the Dream," and "Amina's Voice," among others. Khan is a frequent guest at schools, where she talks about writing and books and her experiences as an American Muslim. https://www.henakhan.com/
