Gonzales read from four of her books, including the most recent, Call Me Tree, and anthology-in-progress Whale Heart. “Everyone is a storyteller,” she told the audience, and urged attendees to find their “indigenous voices.” She credited her father with instilling a love of nature in her, and said that nature was her inspiration. Images from her books were displayed as she read.
Noche de Cuentas was sponsored by REFORMA, an organization that works to promote and provide resources for Latino library users. In addition to Gonzales, acclaimed author Pat Mora read some of her poetry. Mora is also the founder of REFORMA’s Mora Award, given to the library with the most exceptional celebration of Dia de los ninos/Dia de los libros, or Youth Day/Book Day. The 2014 Mora Award was presented at the event to Siuox Center Public Library in Iowa. Chicago storyteller Jasmin Cardenas closed the evening by performing two stories from her childhood in a mixture of English and Spanish.
The evening’s proceeds—there was a $10 suggested donation—went to REFORMA’s Children in Crisis Project, which provides books to children in Border Patrol facilities along the U.S./Mexico border.