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BRONXVILLE, N.Y. In the grand finale of their Musical Adventures in the Library program, the Bronxville, Eastchester and Tuckahoe Public Libraries welcomed on Monday award-winning childrens author Andrea Pinkney to perform two of her books at the Sommer Center at Concordia College.
The performance featured Pinkney reading and signing her books Sit-In: How Four Friends Stood Up by Sitting Down and Sojourner Truths Step-Stomp Stride, accompanied by music. Concordia Conservatory faculty members Rami Vamos and Matt Van Brink played the guitar and piano while Pinkney spoke to the children.
Ellen Tannenbaum, youth services librarian at the Tuckahoe Library, said that Pinkneys style of writing lent itself perfectly for what they hoped to accomplish through the program.
Shes got a very musical text, her books really demand to be read aloud, she said. Its a very rhythmic text when youre reading it. We considered other authors, but we thought that she would work the best.
Pinkneys first reading dealt with the sit-ins of the 1960s and how it only takes one small action to spark reform. While her subject matters were deep, the children were interested and engaged, singing along and following the words as they were shown on a projector screen.
I wrote about sit-ins because they were started by young people just like you, she said to the audience. They had no way of knowing that their one simple act would change the world.
During her second reading, Pinkney told the tale of Isabella Baumfree, the abolitionist and womens rights activist more commonly known by her self-given name, Sojourner Truth.
The children were very engaged and active, she said. It just goes to show that even though these events happened so long ago, it still strikes a chord with young people.
The event was sponsored by the Community Fund of Bronxville, Eastchester and Tuckahoe in collaboration with the towns public libraries. This is the fifth consecutive year the Community Fund sponsored Musical Adventures in the Library with Concordia Conservatory.
I think working with musicians really enhanced the experience of the literature, Pinkney said. The main thing I hope they take out of the event is that reading can take you places.
Following her performance, Pinkney answered questions from the audience and signed copies of her books for the children.
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