Santa Monica Public Library honors Asian American and Pacific Islander Heritage Month with two exciting events and recommended reads for all ages.
“ From JA to Shohei: The Manzanar Baseball Project,” Saturday, May 10, 1 to 3 p.m., Main Library, MLK, Jr. Auditorium, 601 Santa Monica Blvd.
During the 1940s, baseball was truly the national pastime of America – even in the WWII concentration camps. For incarcerated Japanese Americans, the game took on symbolic meaning as a way to express their identity as Americans. Today, the Manzanar Baseball Project is revitalizing the diamond at Manzanar National Historic Site, bringing history to life.
Artist and project director Dan Kwong presents video, performance art, and a panel discussion on the history of Japanese American baseball with Kerry Yo Nakagawa (author of “Through a Diamond: 100 Years of Japanese American Baseball”) and Prof. Susan Kamei (author of “When Can We Go Back to America?”).
“Nearly Exactly Almost Like Me,” Saturday, May 17, 10:30 to 11:30 a.m., Pico Branch Library, The Annex, 2201 Pico Blvd.
Celebrate diversity with local illustrator Pearl AuYeung as she presents her newest children’s book, written by Jennifer Bradbury. Book giveaway and signing follow; limited supply.
SMPL librarians have compiled Staff Picks lists for AAPI Heritage Month for adults, teens, middle-graders and kids, as well as a list of titles for adults written in Spanish.
These programs are free and open to the public. The Santa Monica Public Library is wheelchair-accessible and welcomes persons of all abilities. For special accommodations, call Library Administration at (310) 458-8600 at least one week prior to the event. Secure bike parking is available for cyclists or ride the Big Blue Bus to the library and plan your trip at bigbluebus.com.