The Talbot County Free Library and its community partners are pleased to announce that Carole Boston Weatherford and Jeffery Weatherford – the author and illustrator of this year’s One Maryland One Book selection, KIN: Rooted in Hope – will appear at Chesapeake College’s Todd Performing Arts Center on Tuesday, October 7th, at 6:00 p.m. The event will feature an author/illustrator talk, followed by a reception and book signing. Attendees will also have the opportunity to view an exhibit of Jeffery Weatherford’s artwork from the book.
Selected by Maryland Humanities, KIN: Rooted in Hope is a powerful blend of art, poetry, and personal family history. Released in 2024, the book chronicles Weatherford’s search into her family tree, uncovering ancestors who were among the founding families of Maryland and those who helped shape the Eastern Shore.
In speaking about her own search and experience, Weatherford will encourage attendees to go beyond genealogical records and bring family members to life in stories, emphasizing that this is a process and project for everyone. Weatherford writes of KIN, “Names and dates form the roots and branches of a family tree, stories are the foliage that brings the past to life. KIN: Rooted in Hope is an affirmation that for everyone, knowing your history is generational wealth.”
Carole Boston Weatherford, an acclaimed author of over 80 books, has received numerous awards, including two NAACP Image Awards and 18 American Library Association Youth Media Awards, among them a Newbury Honor, the Coretta Scott King Award, and four Caldecott Honors.
Jeffery Boston Weatherford, an award-winning illustrator, has collaborated with Carole on three books. He was a Romare Bearden Scholar at Howard University, where he received a Master of Fine Arts degree. In addition to his work as a fine artist and performance poet, Jeffery has exhibited and performed across the United States, West Africa, and the Middle East. He currently resides in North Carolina.
One Maryland One Book is a statewide initiative organized by Maryland Humanities in which residents across the state read the same book at the same time. Copies of KIN are available for checkout at public libraries across the Eastern Shore and Maryland. It is also available as a free downloadable eBook and audiobook via Libby. Book discussions are planned at libraries across the state.
This author event is made possible by Maryland Humanities, Chesapeake College, the Talbot County Free Library, the Caroline County Public Library, Eastern Shore Regional Library and Queen Anne’s County Library. Other partners include Washington College, Talbot County Public Schools, Kent County Public Library, the Dorchester County Public Library, ShoreLit, and The Needle’s Eye Academy.
This program is free and open to the public, with no reservations required. For more information, please call the Talbot County Free Library at (410) 822-1626, or visit www.tcfl.org. Bus transportation from Easton will be provided at no cost; details are forthcoming.
About the Talbot County Free Library
The Talbot County Free Library (TCFL) provides free access to information, technology, and educational resources to all residents of Talbot County, MD. The library strives to empower, inspire, and enrich the community by fostering lifelong learning and literacy. With branches in Easton and St. Michaels, TCFL offers a range of programs and services for all ages. Learn more at www.tcfl.org.
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