With book bans skyrocketing across the country, let’s celebrate the value of children’s books by supporting our local public school libraries together.

Children’s books are often one of the first moments that allow children to dive deep into their imaginations. Come celebrate the impact of children’s books with a benefit screening of a new documentary “Story & Pictures By” followed by a discussion with filmmaker Joanna Rudnick.

100% of the proceeds of every ticket will be used to buy children’s books from Bookshop for Santa Cruz County public school libraries.

This event will feature a film screening (Run Time: 1 hour, 24 minutes) + 20-minute conversation with filmmaker.

ABOUT “STORY & PICTURES BY”

“Story & Pictures By” is the first feature documentary to take audiences behind the scenes to meet the authors and artists who create children’s books. Following bestselling authors Christian Robinson (Last Stop on Market Street), Yuyi Morales (Dreamers), and Mac Barnett (Sam & Dave Dig a Hole), as well as highlighting perennial favorites such as Goodnight Moon, Snowy Day and Where the Wild Things Are, the film shows how children’s books reflect the mysteries of childhood, champion the marginalized, and provide children with windows and mirrors into their own lives.

Film Trailer: https://vimeo.com/925152924

ABOUT FILMMAKER JOANNA RUDNICK

After earning a master’s degree in journalism from NYU, Joanna worked for the American Master’s series WNET/PBS New York where she co-produced the film Robert Capa in Love and War, which premiered at the Sundance Film Festival and was the presenting film for the 2003 Emmy award Outstanding Nonfiction Series. She then spent a decade working for Kartemquin Films producing several titles for national public television before she made her directorial debut with In the Family, an Emmy nominated and deeply personal story about coming to terms with having a mutation in one of the breast cancer genes which is still currently used in teaching courses on medical ethics and genetic counseling today.

This event co-sponsored by Bookshop Santa Cruz, The Humanities Institute at UC Santa Cruz, and The Santa Cruz County Office of Education.