I’m a big ol’ book nerd, so when I hear there’s a literature festival happening, you already have me hooked. Add to that a children’s reading corner and excellent topics for discussion? Well, I’ll just clear my calendar!

So it was thrilling to hear about the US Embassy’s Literature Festival that’s already in progress! It’s been running since May 20 and goes until Jun 26. Their website describes it as such: “The American Literature Festival’s overarching theme is ‘books as a bridge,’ under which diversity and inclusion, youth outreach, and people-to-people connections and cultural exchange will feature prominently. With virtual and in-person events across China, this celebration of American literature highlights the ability of books to build bridges of communication between people, increase mutual understanding, and inspire human curiosity to imagine worlds known and unknown.”

You can check out their website here for all the details, however, these events will probably appeal to families of differing ages the most!

Children’s Reading Corner

When: Saturday, Jun 5 and Jun 26, 10 am
Location: Beijing American Center
Language: English with consecutive interpretation in Chinese
Ages: 7 and up

In honor of International Children’s Day, a 12-year-old international Braille reading champion will read two beloved American children’s books, Stellaluna by Janell Cannon and The Story of Ferdinand by Munro Leaf, and introduce young children, their parents, and educators to both traditional and electronic Braille technology. Following the reading, the audience will have a chance to explore the technology firsthand and learn more about how the US incorporates equal access to education for children with disabilities.

Diversity and Inclusion in Young Adult Sci-Fi and Fantasy Literature

When: Wednesday, Jun 9, 6.30pm
Where: Beijing American Center
Language: English
Ages: 15 and up

When was the last time that you picked up a book and got lost in a world of endless possibilities? Worlds where magic is real, space is home, time travel is an option for your next vacation (but let’s skip 2020…), or so many other variations of possibility. Now, how often have you been able to picture yourself in that world? How often have you been able to see yourself as the main character? Join us as we jump into another world, drawing from Tracy Deonn’s Legendborn, to explore why diversity and inclusion is important in sci-fi and fantasy literature.

American Classics

When: Wednesday, Jun 23, 6.30pm
Where: Beijing American Center
Language: Chinese
Ages: 15 and up

An educator and a podcast host with years of experience in US education and cultural immersion, Mengfei Li will dive into the beauty of reading American literary classics, and how doing so can contribute to academic success and understanding of American culture.

For more information, visit www.americanliteraturefestival.com or scan the QR code below.

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Images: Courtesy of the American Literature Festival

US Ambassador Gary Locke led members of Beijing’s American community in a memorial service at the US Embassy in Beijing yesterday evening to reflect on and commemorate the tenth anniversary of the September 11 attacks on the United States.

Several hundred people attended the service, during which Ambassador Locke delivered a short speech highlighting the impact the September 11 attacks had on families and countries around the world, paying tribute to emergency service personnel and members of the armed forces.

Following prayers, Ambassador Locke, his wife and three children joined other attendees in lighting floating lanterns – a traditional Chinese expression of mourning.

Here are a few more images from the service.

This article is from thebeijinger.com.