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The Big Read

  • Mission Garden 946 W Mission Ln Tucson, AZ, 85745 United States (map)

The Big Read

Saturday January 14, 9am - 2pm
At Mission Garden - in the Placita
Suggested donation at the garden gate

Big Read Tucson will kick-off with a free, outdoor celebration at Mission Garden emphasizing the power of storytelling and poetry to transmit national histories and spark imagination. Youth and families are especially welcome!

University of Arizona scholars team with Mission Garden staff and volunteers to present great books, speakers, readings, book signings, and activities for youth. There will be book giveaways!

There will be presentations by the Mayor’s Office, City Council member Lane Santa Cruz; Mission Garden’s Outreach Coordinator, and members of the Santa Cruz Heritage Project; Bookworm Path, Garden Exploring and Treasure Hunt, and readings related to our theme of water. 

After this short opening, attendees will be invited to explore 4 activities: 1) a book collection with picture books centered on water; 2) a book collection with picture books, young adult novels, adult fiction, and poetry by Indigenous authors; 3) an artistic invitation/response to We Are Water Protectors (watercolor art and painting); 4) magnetic poetry in response to Postcolonial Love Poem (English and Spanish poetry magnetic poetry sets). Attendees will also be invited to participate in a treasure hunt and the bookworm path.

Audience: intergenerational, bilingual audience from the diverse communities in and around Tucson, including all of our collaborators and partner organizations. Light refreshments will be provided, and a local food truck will be present with food for purchase.

Schedule of Events

9:15am Speakers
Sandy Soto, UArizona 
Kathy Short, UArizona and Tucson Festival of Books
Kendall Kroesen, Mission Garden 
Charlene Mendoza, Chief of staff for Mayor Regina Romero 
Lane Santa Cruz, Vice Mayor and City Council, Ward 1 
Spokesperson, Make Way for Books 
Spokesperson Santa Cruz Heritage Project 
Local Poets (Pending Confirmation)

10:00am-2pm  Readings and interpretation at Bookworm path locations

11am Speakers and Readings

Roni Ashford
Alva Torres material by her son Jacky Turchick
Marty Eberhardt (new book)
Jodi del Ponte
Carolyn Niethammer
Riyon Harding

Some authors will have tables for selling and signing their books!

Contact Kendall, (520) 955-5200 x2, with any questions.

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December 30

Kwanzaa

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January 21

Traditional O’odham Agriculture