NINE INSPIRED WEEKS OF DISCUSSIONS, PERFORMANCES, AND FEASTS JANUARY 19 through MARCH 17, 2011 CALENDAR OF EVENTS Join Philly’s biggest book club at freelibrary.org/onebook One Book, One Philadelphia is a joint project of the Mayor’s Office and the Free Library of Philadelphia. The mission of the program is to promote reading, literacy, library usage, and community building throughout Greater Philadelphia. 2011 Featured TitleS War Dances by Sherman Alexie Winner of the PEN/Faulkner Award, Sherman Alexie’s War Dances is a collection of short stories and poems that examine with humor and grace the intricate facets of human relationships. Using skillfully crafted prose that Two compelling books by prize-winning author Sherman Alexie occupy center is at turns shocking, funny, and poignant, War stage for the 2011 One Book, One Philadelphia program: War Dances, a bittersweet, Dances takes readers on a grand tour of life in emotionally resonant collection of poems and stories, and The Absolutely True Diary all its complexity. of a Part-Time Indian, a heartrending and humorous autobiographical novel based on the author’s teen experiences growing up on the Spokane Indian Reservation. The Absolutely True Diary Read together, they will provide a synergistic reading experience, offering of a Part-Time Indian perspectives of youth and maturity, with subject matter that includes a full range by Sherman Alexie, with art by Ellen Forney of modern relationships and current issues, as seen through the lens of a Native Inspired by Sherman Alexie’s childhood American author, poet, and filmmaker. Alexie has said aboutWar Dances: “I thought experiences and winner of the National Book of it as a mix tape. It’s kind of a love letter to my family on one level. On another level, Award, The Absolutely True Diary of a Part-Time it’s about urban Indians. You could say it’s a book telling my reservation family what Indian is filled with the candid observations my urban Indian life has become.” According to a review in the Philadelphia Inquirer, of Arnold “Junior” Spirit, who leaves his school the book “seeks to understand the causes of modern men’s alienation, whatever on the Spokane Reservation to attend the all- tribe they’ve wandered from or tried to claim.” Readers will find their own meanings white high school 22 miles away. Highlighted by within both books and be deeply moved by powerful writing that transports them illustrations from Junior’s diary, this humorous into other lives while reminding them of their own. and heartbreaking novel tells the inspirational Inspired by Alexie’s poems and stories, many of the 2011 One Book programs will story of one teen’s search for identity as he focus on aspects of Native American history and culture, including the contributions struggles to overcome the circumstances of of Philadelphia’s first residents, the Lenni Lenape. Programs will include author poverty and disability to achieve success in life. visits, book discussions, music and dance performances, poetry readings, writing and illustration workshops, craft-making sessions, and screenings of Alexie’s films,Smoke Signals and The Business of Fancydancing. CHILDREN’S Companion Book We cordially invite you to attend the events described in this calendar, all designed to The Good Luck Cat deepen and expand your reading experience. Once again, we celebrate the truth that by Joy Harjo, with illustrations by Paul Lee emerges every One Book season—that we are all enriched by Philadelphia’s diversity and, most importantly, we share a common humanity. Acclaimed Native American poet Joy Harjo tells the story of a young girl’s pet cat Woogie, To further enhance your One Book experience, please visit freelibrary.org/one book, who encounters angry dogs, tumbles from where you will find everything from lists of Native American sites in Philadelphia a tree, and even takes a spin in the family’s to book discussion questions and lists of related books and films in the Library’s clothes dryer. Illustrated with beautiful acrylic collection. We hope that these online materials will enrich the time you spend with paintings that subtly weave in details about this year’s featured selections and foster an interactive experience with members of the narrator’s Native American heritage, The our community. Along the way, we encourage you to join the conversation on our blog Good Luck Cat invites readers to follow Woogie at freelibrary.org/onebook and on Twitter @onebookonephila. on his many misadventures. Marie Field, Chair One Book, One Philadelphia 2 3 AUTHOR EVENT WORKSHOP PERFORMANCE PRESENTATION DISCUSSION STORYTIME SCREENING FILM MISCELLANEOUS CHILDREN/FAMILY TEEN FRIENDLY hanDs-on tours at the rosenBach museum Friday, January 21, 3:00 p.m. Rosenbach Museum and Library, 2008 Delancey St., 215-732-1600 Delve into the museum’s collection of rare books and manuscripts to discover more about the cultural confrontations between Native Americans and the writers, artists, and politicians represented in the museum’s collection. Visit rosenbach.org for details. Battle oF the Bios Friday, January 21, 6:00 pm Book Discussion: WAr DAnCes Philadelphia’s Magic Gardens, 1020 South St., 215-733-0390 Wednesday, January 19, 3:00 p.m. In celebration of War Dances by Sherman Alexie, Philadelphia’s Magic Gardens presents Free Library of Philadelphia, Northeast Regional Library, 2228 Cottman Ave., 215-685-0522 Battle of the Bios, an opportunity for local authors and storytellers to compete for a Keith Kessler will lead an interactive discussion of this year’s featured selection. $100 Grand Prize. Up to 20 writers and performers are invited to perform their own short, autobiographically inspired pieces for a chance to win three excellent prizes. The evening storytelling: shareD legenDs anD rhythms will be guest-hosted by a Philadelphia celebrity and will feature free local beer, light Wednesday, January 19, 4:00 p.m. refreshments, and the opportunity to explore PMG’s exhibition, Remnants of a City: Leroy Free Library of Philadelphia, Whitman Branch, 200 Snyder Ave., 215-685-1754 Johnson’s Philadelphia. Come with your own tale AND your friends to vie for the awards— the winners are selected by the audience! Admission is $10 for adults; $8 for members. Master storytellers Carla Wiley and Ron Carter will share how stories from African, African American, and Native American cultures share similar themes and rhythms. This program is intended primarily for children and their caregivers. story craFts: women’s Adornments saTurday, January 22, 2:00 p.m. Book Discussion: WAr DAnCes Free Library of Philadelphia, Greater Olney Branch, 5501 N. 5th St., 215-685-2846 Wednesday, January 19, 6:00 p.m. Learn the art of beading small bags, bracelets, and earrings, and hear the stories of the Free Library of Philadelphia, Walnut Street West Branch, 201 S. 40th St., 215-685-7671 tribes that created these patterns and motifs. This program is for children and their caregivers. Join Daniel Ryan for a discussion of this year’s featured selection. Book Discussion: WAr DAnCes KICKOFF eVENT monday, January 24, 6:30 p.m. One Book, One Philadelphia kickoff Event with intercultural Free Library of Philadelphia, Oak Lane Branch, 6614 N. 12th St., 215-685-2848 Journeys anD reD Blanket SINGERS AND DANCERS Wednesday, January 19, 7:00 p.m. storytime: The Good LuCk Cat By Joy harJo Free Library of Philadelphia, Parkway Central Library, Montgomery Auditorium, 1901 Vine St., 215-567-7710 Tuesday, January 25, 10:30 a.m. One Book 2011 kicks off with a special video welcome message from featured author Sherman Free Library of Philadelphia, Fox Chase Branch, 501 Rhawn St., 215-685-0547 Alexie as we celebrate the ninth year of Philly’s biggest book club. The evening will feature a special dance performance by the Red Blanket Singers and Dancers of the local Nanticoke Preschool-aged children and their caregivers are invited to hear the story of Woogie, the Lenni Lenape Nation, as well as a unique musical offering from Udi Bar-David, cellist with the beautiful but mischievous cat of a young Native American girl. Woogie survives a series of Philadelphia Orchestra and Executive Director of Intercultural Journeys, and Grammy Award- misadventures as though she has nine lives, but can she also bring good luck to anyone winning Navajo-Ute flutist R. Carlos Nakai. who pets her? STARS comic Book workshop story craFts: women’s Adornments Thursday, January 20, 4:30 p.m. Tuesday, January 25, 3:30 p.m. Free Library of Philadelphia, South Philadelphia Branch, 1700 S. Broad St., 215-685-1866 Free Library of Philadelphia, Blanche A. Nixon/Cobbs Creek Branch, 5800 Cobbs Creek Pkwy., 215-685-1973 This workshop complements the comics featured in Alexie’s The Absolutely True Diary of Learn the art of beading small bags, bracelets, and earrings, and hear the stories of the tribes a Part-Time Indian. Skilled comic book artists will assist children and teens in interactive that created these patterns and motifs. This program is for children and their caregivers. reading and drawing in order to create their own comic book stories. STARS comic Book workshop natiVe nations Dance theater Tuesday, January 25, 4:00 p.m. Friday, January 21, 10:00 a.m. Free Library of Philadelphia, Fumo Family Branch, 2437 S. Broad St., 215-685-1758 Free Library of Philadelphia, Joseph E. Coleman Northwest Regional Library, 68 W. Chelten Ave., 215-685-2150 This workshop complements the comics featured in Alexie’s The Absolutely True Diary of Featured in the 2009 PBS documentary We Shall Remain by Chris Eyre and Ric Burns, Native a Part-Time Indian. Skilled comic book artists will assist children and teens in interactive Nations Dance Theater will present an exciting program for children and their families that reading and drawing in order to create their own comic book stories.