Event
From Sarah to Sydney--A Conversation with Alexandra Dunietz: Online Event
Wednesday, October 20, 2021
6:30 pm - 7:45 pm
Beloved author Sydney Taylor has had a dramatic influence on American children's literature.
From Sarah to Sydney, by the late June Cummins, is the untold life story of Taylor, author of All-of-a-Kind Family. This book series, beloved by generations of readers, were the first published by a mainstream publisher to feature Jewish children. The family—based on Taylor’s own family—includes five sisters, each two years apart, dressed alike by their fastidious immigrant mother so they all look the same: "all-of-a-kind."
Cummins shares the deep connections between Taylor’s books and American Jewish experiences, arguing that Taylor was deeply influential in the development of a national Jewish identity. The biography conveys the vital importance of children’s books in the transmission of Jewish culture and the preservation of ethnic heritage.
Cummins' friend and coauthor, Alexandra Dunietz, will present, followed by time for questions and answers.
June Cummins was professor emerita of English and comparative literature at San Diego State University, where she made important contributions to its National Center for the Study of Children's Literature. Alexandra Dunietz is a historian of the medieval Middle East.
This program is a collaboration of the Selfhelp Home, The Village Chicago, Skokie Public Library, and Chicago Public Library.
Program registration includes a 25% discount on the purchase of the book from Yale University Press using discount code YEFSS.
This event takes place on Zoom. Register at least 24 hours before the event. Only one registration per household is needed. You’ll receive an email with a link to the secure Zoom meeting about 24 hours before the meeting.
Need live captioning for this event? Please call (312) 747-4072 or email access@chipublib.org. Requests for live captioning must be made at least 14 business days before the event.
Online registration is closed.