Lee Bennett Hopkins Poetry Award winner Engle to speak Sept. 20

promotional graphic for September 20 Lee Bennett Hopkins Poetry Award presentation

Margarita Engle, 2016 winner of the Lee Bennett Hopkins Poetry Award, will receive the national children’s poetry honor at 4 p.m. on Tuesday, Sept. 20, in Foster Auditorium, 102 Paterno Library, University Park. Following the award presentation, Engle will speak about her writing, specifically the use of historical works to communicate with children, and show photos from Cuba to illustrate scenes from her winning verse memoir, “Enchanted Air: Two Cultures, Two Wings.” The event also includes a book sale and author signing.

A Cuban-American author, Engle wrote “Enchanted Air: Two Cultures, Two Wings” about growing up as a child of two cultures during the Cold War. Published by Atheneum Books for Young Readers, an imprint of Simon and Schuster Children’s Publishing, her book was released the same week the U.S. Embassy in Havana reopened after more than a half-century of hostile relations between the two nations.

The complete article about this upcoming event may be viewed on Penn State News.