Organizer: Sulo: The Philippine Studies Initiative at NYU; The Georgiou Library of NYU; the NYU Muslim Student Association

Type/Location: In Person / New York, NY

Description:

Join Sulo: The Philippine Studies Initiative for a conversation with author Hanna Usman and Sari-Sari Storybooks Publisher Christina Newhard, who will discuss their children’s book, Jalal and the Lake. The event will conclude with a book signing.

About the Speakers:

Hanna Usman, a Muslim-Filipina Meranaw lawyer from Marawi City, holds a BA in English from Mindanao State University-Marawi and a Juris Doctor from Jose Maria College of Law. Passionate about her heritage, she writes fiction to celebrate her culture while advocating for peace and environmental awareness. When not working, she enjoys Korean reality shows, oat milk lattes, noodles, and museum visits. Jalal and the Lake is her debut novel, blending cultural storytelling with environmental advocacy.

Christina Newhard is a designer, writer, and publisher. Born in Manila to a Filipina mother and American father, she moved to the U.S. at the age of 10. A love for text, image, and story moved her to pursue graphic design, and eventually to create her children’s press, Sari-Sari Storybooks. The press shares the rich diversity of Philippine culture through multilingual picture books. A former New Yorker, Christina lives in Oakland with a tiny, demanding cat named Princess Genghis. She is most at home in a city by the water. You can find her work at newharddesign.com and sarisaristorybooks.com.

Jalal and the Lake Synopsis:

In Jalal’s small village, everyone celebrates the bounty and beauty of their vast lake. Everyone, that is, except Jalal. Jalal doesn’t notice the lake, its bounty, or his people’s wishes. His only desire is to own the magical, puffy clouds in the sky. When strange men come to the village and offer to grant his wish, Jalal finally learns what the lake means to his people.

Registration:

To attend this event in person, please register here.