Traditionally, the children’s area at the Poetry Center has housed our Brave Books corner: a thematic celebration of independent bookstores and libraries from around the world, which features lost, living, and otherwise dramatic and brave oases people have built to protect, house, share, and enjoy books. The program has featured Shakespeare & Company in Paris, the African National Memorial Bookstore in Harlem, the Library of Alexandria and Basra Central Library in Egypt and Iraq, Casa Camino Real in New Mexico, and most recently, Zines and Zine Libraries.
The theme of the Brave Books program informs our K-12 field trips, spotlight activities at our seasonal Kids Create events, the interactive play space and reading shelf in our children's area, and other K-12 and community offerings. We are sad to say that after 5 years of programming, we will be sunsetting the theme of Zines and Zine Libraries. However, we are incredibly excited to announce the newest theme for Brave Books: ¡Cuentos del Mundo!, which will feature Biblioteca de México in Mexico City. This new iteration of Brave Books will explore classic and modern literature that overlaps and intersects with what our neighbors in Mexico are reading. Offerings and curriculum will be centered on Mexican literature and classic stories loved all over the world like fables, fairy tales, folktales and legends.
To shift into the new theme, our children’s area will be undergoing a makeover throughout the summer. Pardon our dust while we paint our playhouse and add a new mural, both done by local Tucson artist Adelynn Olea! Some spots might be temporarily inaccessible as we are making changes.
The Zine library will be available to read all summer, and we still have several zine kits to take home! Come by and visit the zines we collected over the last 5 years to gather inspiration for your own zine. If you see us painting or moving things around, come say hi!
Stay tuned to learn more about ¡Cuentos del Mundo! and its offerings for K-12 students, classrooms, educators, and the community! We are excited to share updates as this project develops over the summer. The children's area will be fully transitioned into ¡Cuentos del Mundo! by September 2026.