Word Up welcomes bestselling author and NYC resident Rio Cortez to Inwood to celebrate her new picture book The River Is My Ocean, a love letter to her heritage, her abuela, and New York's Hudson River. Join Word Up on the beautiful dock at Inwood Canoe Club for a special reading & activity with drinks & snacks. Perfect for ages 4-8!
Filled with stunning art thrumming with energy, this story follows a grandmother and granddaughter on a magical trip to the Hudson River, affirming intergenerational love and the power of ritual and water. THE RIVER IS MY OCEAN also touches on great topics, such as memory, discovery, cultural heritage, familial love, the bonds between generations, and a special celebration of the river that brought millions of new Americans to its shores.
A Spanish edition of the book is also coming out simultaneously in paperback & hardcover.
This event is a $5 suggested donation ticket with 30 max attendees. Please register in advance (all attendees must sign a Smart Waiver before arriving at the boathouse).
Inwood Canoe Club is located at 360 Dyckman St. on the walking path in Inwood, NYC. You can take the A train to Dyckman St., the M100 to Dyckamn & Broadway, and Bx7 to Broadway/Riverside, then walk down Dyckman towards the Hudson. Once on the path, turn left and walk a few feet until you see a gate for Inwood Canoe Club.
ABOUT THE BOOK:
Every day, Abuela misses the ocean in Puerto Rico. But on Saturdays, when the sun is high, Abuela takes her granddaughter on a walk down the hill in Harlem to Twelfth Avenue, to a place that is just as magical: the Hudson River.
There, they visit Yamaya, mermaids that invoke child-like wonder and hold onto the memory of all who have passed through their waters. Together, Abuela, her granddaughter, and the spirits of ancient religion and familial love celebrate the river that brought millions of new Americans to its shores through the generations.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR:
Rio Cortez is the New York Times bestselling author of picture book The ABCs of Black History and adult poetry collection Golden Ax, which was longlisted for the 2022 National Book Award in poetry and the PEN Open Book Award. Born and raised in Salt Lake City, she now lives, writes, and works in Harlem, New York.
This program is supported, in part, by public funds from the New York City Department of Cultural Affairs in partnership with the City Council. Word Up Community Bookshop’s programs are made possible by the New York State Council on the Arts with the support of the Office of the Governor and the New York State Legislature.