Washington, DC – May 22, 2023 – Third and fourth-grade students from Savoy Elementary School are releasing a stunning poetry collection called Looking Into the Sky, and would love to celebrate it with the community! There will be a public book launch on Saturday, June 3rd, 6 PM to 8 PM at the Politics and Prose Bookstore down at The Wharf (70 District Square SW).
The young poets wrote and published the book through the Young Authors’ Book Project with 826DC, a local youth writing nonprofit.
“This was a yearlong project that the students helped shape from start to finish,” says Cai Rodrigues-Sherley, 826DC’s School Residency Coordinator. “They wrote all of the poems and chose many of the design and structural elements of the book, like the color pallet and the book sections—Friendship, Family, Memory, and Dreams. That’s really beautiful! They get to go out into the world as published poets with a book that’s truly theirs.”
The collection grapples with some big questions: How do I tell my story? What stories do I want to tell? Who do I want to tell them to? The result is a glittering collection of work exploring identities, memories, communities, the environment, and everyday life—both real and imaginary. Poems about experiences as universal as the magic of a movie theater or the chill of winter are interspersed with personal tales of broken arms, beloved books, and barber shops. Zombie apocalypses and shadow men appear beside birthday parties and grandma’s house.
Everyone is invited to the book launch on June 3rd, which will feature readings from the book and celebrated poet and activist E. Ethelbert Miller, who wrote the foreword.
“Politics and Prose is excited to once again support the students of 826DC and the release of their newest poetry anthology,” shares the bookstore. “Congratulations to all of the poets!”
The poets are also thrilled. Says Miracle, “This book is WONDERFUL.”
You can preorder the book at bit.ly/LITSbook and pick up your copy at the event! After this launch, the book will be available at 826DC’s Tivoli’s Astounding Magic Supply Co. store, at MahoganyBooks, and at the Politics and Prose location on Connecticut Avenue.
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About 826DC:
826DC is an award-winning youth writing and publishing nonprofit that has served students ages 6 to 18 in the District of Columbia since 2008. We believe that young people have important things to say. 826DC helps DC students build their writing skills, share what matters to them, and build lifelong relationships with writing. Learn more at 826dc.org.
Media Contact:
Sarah Richman, 826DC’s Senior Manager of Communications and Development