Speaking and Visits

Online

Japan Foundation New York Literary Series #5: Conversation (1:15:50) with author Sachiko Kashiwaba about Temple Alley Summer. Moderated by Yumiko Sakuma and Ginny Tapley Takemori, with interpretation by Bethan Jones.

Readings at Translators Aloud: Excerpts (4-7 minutes) from The House of the Lost on the Cape and Temple Alley Summer by Sachiko Kashiwaba; Two Little Red Mittens by Kirin Hayashi and Chiaki Okada; J-Boys: Kazuo’s World, Tokyo, 1965 by Shogo Oketani; and Zorori Slays the Dragon by Yutaka Hara.

Reading at Jill! A Women+ in Translation Series: Story (12:07) “Mirror, Mirror” by Sachiko Kashiwaba, published in A Tapestry of Colours 1: Stories from Asia.

In Schools

Avery offers school visits for the purpose of promoting literacy and awakening interest in translation. She also talks with parents and educators about international children’s literature, aka #WorldKidLit.

Example Presentations

Language Play with Kamishibai: Baby Chick. This talk for preschoolers and the lower grades invites children to enjoy a kamishibai in two languages. Onomatopoeia in English and Japanese encourage laughter and participation. Avery turns the kamishibai stage to reveal the bilingual text and introduce how she co-translated Baby Chick with Etsuko Nozaka.

Cultural Journeys with J-Boys: Kazuo’s World, Tokyo, 1965. This presentation for upper elementary readers introduces the novel J-Boys: Kazuo’s World, Tokyo, 1965 through a look at popular culture in 1960s Tokyo. Photos of Shinagawa Ward contrast with scenes from Leave It to Beaver and footage of The Beatles and Olympian Bob Hayes. Avery shares the Japanese version of J-Boys, a galley, and examples of translated children’s books to introduce her role as translator. This talk can be combined with an appearance by J-Boys author Shogo Oketani.

Literary Sleuthing with Temple Alley Summer. This workshop for upper elementary and middle school students asks them to join in searching for correspondences between the outer story (set in Japan) and inner story (set in a fantasy realm) in the layered novel Temple Alley Summer. Hmm, both stories incorporate an object that could change everything if burned. One male supporting character in each story cannot swim. What else? Spotting connections heightens engagement with this Batchelder Award-winning novel by Sachiko Kashiwaba.

Translation, in Translation: “House of Trust” in Tomo. This presentation for middle and high school students introduces translation through a look at “House of Trust” by Sachiko Kashiwaba. Avery reads her translation of “House of Trust” in English (ten minutes) and asks Japanese-reading teens to read from the original, leading to a discussion of translation challenges. Avery uses websites and images to portray translation as a vocation and describe the rewards of rendering “House of Trust” for Tomo: Friendship Through Fiction—An Anthology of Japan Teen Stories, edited by Holly Thompson.

Of Singing Clams and Soccer Camp: Children’s Literature in Translation. This presentation for adults introduces English-language children’s and teen literature available in translation from various languages. Why share books in translation with young readers? What are some worthy titles? How do translations get published? Avery addresses these topics from her experience as SCBWI Global Translator Coordinator.