Educators, parents, librarians, lifelong learners and anyone else interested in teaching children about diversity are invited to the launch of the Native American Lives book series at 6:30 p.m. Monday at Minnesota Humanities Center, 987 E. Ivy Ave., St. Paul.
The free program will introduce the first four books in the series that is a partnership between Lerner Publishing Group and Minnesota Humanities Center with funding from the Shakopee Mdewakanton Sioux Community. Written for middle-grade readers, the biography series features Dakota and Ojibwe leaders and changemakers who were pivotal to Minnesota and the United States. Co-editors are award-winning former Minneapolis poet laureate Heid E. Erdrich and Minnesota poet laureate Gwen Nell Westerman.
The books to be launched are: “Carnie Cavender Schommer: Dakota Language Teacher” and “Ella Cora Deloria: Dakota Language Protector” both by Diane Wilson; “Charles Albert Bender: National Baseball Hall of Fame Pitcher” by Kade Ferris, and “Peggy Flanagan: Lieutenant Governor” by Jessica Engel King and Tashia Hart. There will also be an announcement of at least eight more titles in the series to be published through 2026.
Speakers at the event will be Heid Erdrich and Diane Wilson. There will be time to meet the authors and editors, connect with community partners, and buy books. Educators will learn about opportunities to bring the books into classrooms, including book giveaways, mini-grants and professional development. Registration information: registrations@mnhum.org.