Join MOCA for the first iteration of its Monthly Reading Sessions, developed in partnership with Groundwood Books. During this programme, illustrator Carmen Mok will read her upcoming picture book When I Listen to Silence, written by Jean E. Pendziwol. Following this, Mok will lead an arts-based activity in relation to the book and Mok’s own illustrative style. The reading will take place within Jeffrey Gibson’s exhibition I AM YOUR RELATIVE. Gibson’s installation also includes a small collection of children’s books sourced from Groundwood and Another Story Bookshop. The collection prioritizes Indigenous, Black, Brown and queer voices.
When I Listen to Silence will be available onsite for purchase. Participants will also have the opportunity to have their book signed by Mok.
Bio
Carmen Mok studied studio art at the University of Waterloo and design at Sheridan College. Her illustrations have been published in magazines across Canada and the U.S., as well as in greeting cards, stationery and children’s home accessories. Now dedicated to children’s book illustration, she has received several illustration awards, including the SCBWI Canada East People’s Choice Award for Illustration in 2017 and the Exceptional Portfolio Award and the Storyteller Award in 2018.
Groundwood Books is known for award-winning books that reflect the experiences of children both in Canada and around the world. Inspired by the belief that children’s books can be important and necessary without sacrificing warmth, beauty, playfulness and humour, Groundwood’s list is characterized by its emphasis on fiction and non-fiction about and for children whose stories might not otherwise be told.
