Little Haiti Book Festival 2019

They come from every part of Haiti. Most of them leave rural areas in pursuit of a better life in the city. They are called many names: Restavèk, bòn (maid), domestik (domestic servant), gason lakou (janitor), but in most parts of the world, they would be considered child-slaves. Prof. Claudy Delne, Dr. Goldsmith Dorval, and Ms. Gepsie Metellus will discuss the plight of the many Haitian child-slaves living and working in substandard conditions, and the economic and societal factors that lead parents to give up the responsibility of raising their children,…

In Tu Es Belle: You Are Beautiful: Abby’s Great Day, when kids make her feel bad about herself, Abby finds it hard to see her true beauty. However, with the help of Gifted Nate, all of that changes. Canadian-born to Haitian parents, author Stichiz is a radio personality, an international award-winning entertainer, an artist on the rise, and a community champion.…

Ready to publish? Agents are the gatekeepers of the publishing world. Come meet prestigious literary agent Melissa Danaczko, who has developed and edited books that became New York Times bestsellers. Learn about agents and publishing options, query letters and synopses, and everything in between.  If you take your potential author career seriously, come meet Melissa to learn a success mindset and the best practices for putting together a professional submission package. (in English)…

Lucrece Louisdhon-Louinis, an expert in children and parent literacy, will teach parents how to engage in a routine of book sharing with their children, from birth to age 8, to foster healthy brain development, healthy relationships, a love for reading, and the literacy skills essential to school success. In this workshop, parents will learn specific hands-on strategies to bring language to life for children through proven developmentally appropriate activities. They will walk away with a “toolbox” of activity ideas and literacy games to use with their child.…

In Haiti, a wide array of religious groups coexist in harmony. Amongst all these religions, Voudou carries the most notoriety, and has been instrumental in shaping Haitian culture. Voudou guided the Haitian people through 300 years of slavery, and played an important role in the revolution that followed the Bwa Kayiman ceremony. Today, Voudou  preserves the deep connection that exists between present-day Haiti and various African cultures. Dr. Jean Fils-Aimé, Prof. Jean-Claude Exulien, and Ms. Leonie Hermantin will discuss how Voudou shaped Haitian society,…

Writing for children? Learn children’s publishing tips FROM THE INSIDERS. This workshop is designed for aspiring writers and illustrators of Caribbean children’s picture books, but also for librarians, educators, parents and grandparents, and anyone simply with an interest in children’s picture books. The professionals at EducaVision will give you a comprehensive look at how the children’s book publishing industry works. You will gain understanding of all processes associated with producing, submitting, and selling a trade book. If you’re wondering how to write and illustrate a gripping and memorable picture book,…

Writer and journalist Ebonie Ledbetter will lead a writing workshop for teenagers on the complex issues of identity and belonging. The students will learn elements of fiction and creative nonfiction to create pieces that are meant to be performed, heard, and experienced. They will learn how writing can be a tool for empowerment—giving voice to the voiceless who might otherwise be afraid to speak up or have been silenced in the face of discrimination and injustice. Focusing their writing on the Self,…

A unique form of folklore, primarily oral in tradition, proverbs are expressions of wisdom passed down from generation to generation to impart common sense and valuable life lessons. Present in nearly every part of the globe, they constitute a powerful tool for educating a community on how to avoid mistakes of the past. Mgr. Pierre Andre Pierre, Prof. Max Manigat, and Dr. Emeline Alexis-Schulz will discuss the importance of proverbial education in maintaining harmony in personal,…

Hair to the Queen! is a compassionate picture book that allows parents to engage with their children in a light-hearted discussusion about cancer. When she was diagnosed with breast cancer in 2014, author Tamara B. Rodriguez wanted to talk about the disease with her two young daughters, but struggled to find the right words. Tamara wrote Hair to the Queen! to help families start the conversation.…

My Mommy Medicine is a picture book about the comfort and love a mama offers when her child isn’t feeling well. Award-winning memoirist Edwidge Danticat’s rich and lyrical text envelops the reader in the security of a mother’s love, and debut artist Shannon Wright’s vibrant art infuses the story with even more warmth.…

Miami Book Fair is partnering with Sosyete Koukouy of Miami, Inc., to present the Little Haiti Book Festival on Sunday, May 5, 2019. This book festival, which features vibrant cultural exposure to writers, booksellers, performers, and more, is part of Miami Book Fair’s ReadCaribbean programming. Simultaneous interpretation in English when appropriate. This event, which is free and open to the public, will take place at the Little Haiti Cultural Complex, 212 NE 59 Ter. Miami,…

Haiti is known for its spellbinding storytelling traditions, with mesmerized crowds gathering around dynamic “conteurs” to listen to well-paced, unforgettable tales anchored in the country’s rich history and culture. You can become a skilled storyteller, too! In this workshop, professional storyteller Lucrece Louisdhon-Louinis and well-established writer Fabienne Josaphat will teach (and demonstrate step-by-step) a series of practical tips for crafting entertaining Haitian stories on the page and adapt these same stories to a live audience; then, they’ll make a 180o turn to teach you how to adapt traditional,…

An Island Luminous is a site to help readers learn about Haiti’s history. Created by historian Adam M. Silvia and hosted online by Digital Library of the Caribbean, An Island Luminous combines rare books, manuscripts, and photos scanned by archives and libraries in Haiti and the United States with commentary by over one hundred (100) authors from universities around the world. (all day event)…

Georges Corvington: Port-au-Prince, my Unique and Only love is a documentary about Haitian Historian Georges Corvington, best known for his seven-volume work on the history of Haiti’s capital city, Port-au-Prince, entitled Port-au-Prince Over the Years, which was published from 1970 to 1992. Corvington’s one passion: Port-au-Prince. He patiently tried to decode the city’s DNA and to recreate its urban genome. Buried under the rubble for hours after the January 12, 2010 earthquake, Georges Corvington came out alive,…