In her talk "Smashing Foundational Fairytales One Children's Book at a Time," Dr. Oriel Siu will read her latest children's book, Christopher the Ogre Cologre, It's Over!, which dismantles one of the biggest lies still taught in schools today: the myth of discovery. It is the first children's book to openly talk about white settler colonialism and help educators guide discussion on white supremacy's foundations in the US. The reading will be followed by a talk, a question and answer session, and a pupusa lunch.
The event will take place on Tuesday October 11, 11:00 am to 12:30 pm in the Petersen Room (Rm 485) in Allen Library. This event is sponsored by the Department of French and Italian Studies, Department of Spanish and Portuguese Studies, African Studies Program and Latin American and Caribbean Studies Program of the Henry M. Jackson School of International Studies, Center for American Indian and Indigenous Studies, and the Information School.
For UW students only: The first 20 UW students to register and attend will receive a free signed copy of Dr. Siu's book.
Register here to attend this event.
Oriel María Siu, Ph.D., is a writer, scholar and educator of Náhuat/Pipil/Chinese descent born and raised in San Pedro Sula Honduras (1981). The LA Times called the first book of Dr. Siu's children's book series, "pioneering." Her second book, Christopher the Ogre Cologre, It's Over! - published in August of 2021 - has received national praise from social justice educational spaces, independent media outlets, and Ethnic Studies educators and programs throughout. Organizations like Rethinking Schools are encouraging the use of her work in the middle school classroom. High schools and universities alike are using Christopher the Ogre Cologre, It's Over! as part of Education, Race, and American Studies teacher training programs.