We are thrilled to welcome local author Mélina Mangal to Wild Rumpus for a reading of her newest book, Jayden's Secret Ingredient!
We will also be running a food drive in conjunction with the event! We are partnering with Every Meal to fight child hunger here in Minnesota!
If you wish to contribute, Every Meal is looking for:
Types of Non-Perishable Food
- Fruit: Pineapple, peaches, mango, pears, applesauce, mandarin oranges, mango, prunes/raisins
- Vegetable: Carrots, Corn, mixed veggies, green beans, peas, bamboo shoots, baby corn
- Entrée: Chili, chicken noodle soup, pasta sauce, mac and cheese, ravioli, enchilada sauce, chipotle in adobo, diced chiles, diced tomato, tomato paste, fava beans, curry soup, coconut milk, curry paste, tomato soup
- Base/Grain: Rice, spaghetti, macaroni, oatmeal, corn flour, fideo noodle, rice noodle, bean thread noodle
- Protein: Tuna, chicken, black bean
- Snacks: Individually packaged and NUT-FREE
Jayden loves the outdoors and the garden he created with his friend Mr. Curtis. But he’s not so sure about sampling some of the garden’s produce. When Mr. Curtis invites neighbors to share the harvest of scarlet runner beans, Jayden faces a dilemma. Will he find the courage to try something new?
Jayden returns for all new adventures in Jayden’s Secret Ingredient. This story, which can be read as a standalone or as a sequel to the award-winning Jayden’s Impossible Garden, emphasizes the importance of friendship, community, and the courage and openness to try new things. Along with Mr. Curtis and Jayden, readers learn the value of outdoor play and contact with nature, from planting a seed to sharing and eating what it produces. This story is a natural starting point for the exploration of nature, ecology, and gardening, as well as for a cooking club
To Attend:
This event is free and open to the public. Seating will be available on a first-come first-served basis. Masks are encouraged.
Signing Guidelines:
Following the event, Mélina will be available to sign copies of her book. If you are unable to attend but would still like a signed copy, you may order a copy from this page and we will ship after the event, or hold it behind the counter for local pickup. Please note in your order any personalization requests and we will do our best to accommodate. Orders must be placed by 5 p.m. on Friday, September 15th to guarantee signed copies.
Mélina Mangal writes picture books, biographies, and short stories that focus on connections with nature and culture. She is the author of The Vast Wonder of the World: Biologist Ernest Everett Just, winner of the Carter G. Woodson Award, Jayden's Impossible Garden, named One of the Best Children's Books of the Year by Bank Street Center for Children's Literature, and the new sequel Jayden's Secret Ingredient. Her YA short story appears in Boundless: Twenty Voices Celebrating Multicultural and Multiracial Identities. Mélina also works as a school library media teacher in Minnesota and enjoys spending time outdoors with her family.
Jayden discovers the secret ingredient to trying something new.
Jayden loves the outdoors and the garden he created with his friend Mr. Curtis. But he’s not so sure about sampling some of the garden’s produce. When Mr. Curtis invites neighbors to share the harvest of scarlet runner beans, Jayden faces a dilemma.
Jayden and a new friend bring nature to the city in this timeless story about a community garden
Amidst all the buildings, people, and traffic in his neighborhood, Jayden sees nature everywhere: the squirrels scrounging, the cardinals calling, and the dandelions growing. But Mama doesn’t believe there’s nature in the city.
"A must-purchase picture book biography of a figure sure to inspire awe and admiration among readers."--School Library Journal (starred review)
Extraordinary illustrations and lyrical text present pioneering African American scientist Ernest Everett Just.