Join us at the Mechanics’ Institute for a literary celebration perfect for the whole family, featuring family story time with Shook reading from their translation of Giant on the Shore by Alfonso Ochoa, and a curation of international children’s literature.
Visit the SFPL Bookmobile: Kick off the literary adventure at 11:00 am with the San Francisco Public Library Bookmobile, stationed outside of Mechanics’ Institute on 57 Post Street in downtown San Francisco. They have great books you can borrow, and you can also sign up for an SFPL library card!
Crafty Fun for All Ages: Come explore our 3rd Floor Library starting at 11:00 am, and let your creativity flourish with our artful activities! Practice writing “HELLO” and “RAINBOW” in different languages, take-apart and put-back-together the colorful flora of LEGO botanicals, or try making an origami butterfly at our hands-on crafting tables. Origami butterfly lessons scheduled at 1:00 pm and 1:30 pm.
Explore Diverse Reads: From noon to 3:00 pm, explore a world of translated, bilingual, and multicultural books. From timeless classics to contemporary gems, there’s something for every member of the family to enjoy. Explore our curated selections from our universal library section (done in partnership with Center for the Art of Translation), and find a space in our library to read. Books will be available for sale from Immedium(opens in a new tab), Transit Children’s Editions(opens in a new tab), and Two Lines Press). Our free books section, donated by Asiapac Books(opens in a new tab), is limited to one book per family.
Family Story Hour: From 12:15 to 1:00 pm, immerse yourself in the magic of storytelling with our captivating lineup of storytellers, featuring Shook(opens in a new tab), who will read Giant On the Shore(opens in a new tab) (Transit Children’s Editions(opens in a new tab)) and Oliver Chin(opens in a new tab), who will read Year of the Dragon(opens in a new tab) (Immedium(opens in a new tab)). Lose yourself in tales that will spark imaginations and create unforgettable memories for the whole family.
Presented in partnership with Mechanics’ Institute, Center for the Art of Translation and the San Francisco Public Library.
Shook is a poet, translator, filmmaker, and editor whose work has spanned a wide range of languages and places. Their writing has appeared in Poetry, World Literature Today, the Guardian, and many other publications, as well as being translated into more than a dozen languages, including Isthmus Zapotec, Kurdish, and Uyghur.