Celebrating Brazilian Classic Children’s Book: Marcelo, Martello, Marshmallow
October 24 @ 6:30 pm - 8:30 pm
Free
Join us for a special celebration of Marcelo, Martello, Marshmallow with artist Ana Matsusaki.
This is the very first English language edition of the beloved Brazilian children’s book Marcelo, Martelo, Marmelo, originally published in 1976. This timeless story by acclaimed author Ruth Rocha is a playful reflection on language and a celebration of young creative thinkers, like Marcelo, as they make sense of the world around them.
This English edition was brought to life with a new visual narrative by artist Ana Matsusaki, a fantastic translation by Tal Goldfajn, and the support of the Brazilian Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the National Library Foundation – Ministry of Tourism.
Ana Matsusaki will read the book aloud and share insights into her illustration process. Afterwards she will be joined by illustrator Kara Kramer for a Q&A. Don’t miss this opportunity to delve into the world of Marcelo, Martello, Marshmallow and discover the magic behind this classic story.
Please note that spots are limited, and it’s free to RSVP. There will also be a cash bar and complimentary refreshments.
This program is made possible by Tapioca Stories, National Library Foundation/Brazilian Ministry of Culture and the Guimarães Rosa Institute of the Foreign Affairs of Brazil.
About the artist
Ana Matsusaki was born in São Paulo and has a degree in graphic design from the Centro Universitário Belas Artes. Since 2015, she’s worked as an illustrator and book designer. In 2019 and again in 2021, her work was selected for inclusion in the Catálogo Iberoamérica Ilustra, which features the most important names working in illustration in the region. Her work has also been selected for the 2021 Biennial of Illustration Bratislava. The Collector of Heads is her debut book, originally published in Brazil, and a finalist of the 2021 Jabuti Award. Matsusaki created the visual narrative of the first English edition of the beloved Brazilian children’s book Marcelo, Martelo, Marmelo.
About the author
Ruth Rocha was born in São Paulo, Brazil, 1931. She is an acclaimed Brazilian author and stands at the forefront of the new wave of Brazilian children’s literature. Rocha made her first mark in the literary field in 1967, writing articles for several magazines on education. Her authorial journey took a significant leap in 1976, with the publication of her first book, Palavras, Muitas Palavras. This was soon followed by the beloved classic Marcelo, Martello, Marshmallow, originally titled Marcelo, Martelo, Marmelo in Brazil. In 1998, she received from then Brazil’s President the Order of Cultural Merit. She has also been recipient of Brazil’s most prestigious literary prizes, such as the Jabuti and the FNLIJ prize, among others. Six libraries in Brazil have been dedicated to her. Today, with an impressive portfolio of over 200 published titles, 500 editions, and translations in over 25 languages, Rocha’s enchanting tales have reached and delighted young readers across the globe.
About Kara Kramer
Kara Kramer is an illustrator and mixed media artist living in Brooklyn, NY. She has illustrated several picture books including Make Meatballs Sing: The Life and Art of Corita Kent, Erno Rubik and His Magic Cube, and is author/illustrator of the interactive picture book Tell Me a Lion Story. She explores many mediums and loves being in the creative process.
About the translator
Tal Goldfajn is a linguist, translator, and translation scholar. She is an Assistant Professor at the University of Massachusetts Amherst in the Spanish and Portuguese Studies department. Together with her students at UMass Amherst, she founded the Pipa Project initiative for the promotion of translated children’s literature and multilingual storytelling.
About the Publisher
Tapioca Stories, a New York-based publishing house with Latin American soul, introduces young English readers to the finest Latin American children’s books, originally written in Spanish and Portuguese.