Guide to the 2021 Virtual Gaithersburg Book Festival
Another year, another Gaithersburg Book Festival (GBF). But for the second year in a row, the festival will operate virtually.
Gaithersburg Mayor Jud Ashman, the founder of the popular event, spoke to MyMCM about what to expect at this year’s Virtual Gaithersburg Book Festival:
The Virtual Gaithersburg Book Festival begins Saturday, May 1 and there will be activities for four consecutive weeks. All author discussions (listed below) will premiere on the GBF’s YouTube page. Most programs are prerecorded, but authors will participate in the YouTube Premiere chat discussions.
The first two weeks of programming will be geared toward adults and the final two weeks of programming are aimed at children and young adults.
Independent Bookstore Day Adapts to Covid By Ed Nawotka and Claire Kirch | Apr 20, 2021
Independent Bookstore Day, administered by the American Booksellers Association, takes place this coming Saturday, April 24. More than 740 stores are participating, which is up from last year’s event, which was moved from April to August, and attracted 650 stores. As is customary, a catalog of exclusive items will be for sale, including signed editions of
Sharks in the Time of Saviors by Kawai Strong Washburn (Picador) and
Cook, Eat, Repeat by Nigella Lawson (HarperCollins); a stencil with the George Orwell quote, “In a time of deceit telling the truth is a revolutionary act;” and a box of IBD branded Blackwing Pencils, among other items.
ByTamara Shiloh
Little ones will love turning the pages of “The ABCs of Black History,” a book filled with lively verse and colorful faces (illustrations by Lauren Summer) in all shades of brown just like theirs!
Author Rio Cortez also scrolls the alphabet letter by letter giving lessons in important words, words that our children need to not only hear every day but know and live: A is for the anthem; B is for beautiful, brave, bright, bold; C is for the community, church, civil rights … and more.
Layers of history will unfold like the pages of this accessible resource are turned. An education in pride is definitely offered in this one.
2 Picture Books Celebrate the Poetry and Promise of Black Lives
In “Have I Ever Told You Black Lives Matter” and “The ABCs of Black History,” U is for Unfinished.
From “Have I Ever Told You Black Lives Matter.”Credit.Bobby C. Martin Jr.
By Jabari Asim
HAVE I EVER TOLD YOU BLACK LIVES MATTER
Written by Shani Mahiri King
Illustrated by Bobby C. Martin Jr.
THE ABCS OF BLACK HISTORY
Written by Rio Cortez
Illustrated by Lauren Semmer
The week I wrote this review, Kamala Harris became the first woman, first African-American and first Asian-American to take the oath of office as vice president of the United States. At the same event, Amanda Gorman, the nation’s first National Youth Poet Laureate, dazzled the world with her inaugural poem. Roughly two weeks before that, Bianca Smith joined the Red Sox organization, becoming the first Black woman hired to coach professional baseball. There will be more firsts before the sun sets on this day, and already Black authors a
Credit book cover
February marks Black History Month. And, Delmarva Today begins with a look at two books. Host Don Rush talks with Rio Cortez co-author of the children s book The ABC s of Black History and then explores a new novel by Robert Jones Junior, The Prophets about a plantation in the antebellum South.
Listen