Nasario García to read from newest bilingual children’s book 'Clarita’s Clay Pot/La Olla de Barro de Clarita'

AT TREASURE HOUSE BOOKS & GIFTS

Nasario García will read from and sign copies of his newest bilingual children’s book, “Clarita’s Clay Pot/La Olla de Barro de Clarita: A Story of Friendship,” from 1:30-3:30 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 15, at Treasure House Books & Gifts.

The story, which is part fiction, describes the long friendship between Lucinda, or Cinda for short, the author’s maternal grandmother, and Clarita, who was born at Zia Pueblo and married a man from Sandia Pueblo.

The story tells of a clay pot that Clarita had molded when she was a young woman and had given to Lucinda. The pot is a symbol of their enduring friendship.

The story explains that relations between Hispanics and Native Americans have not always been adversarial, García says in the book’s preface.

Narrating the story is Lucinda’s 7-year-old grandson, Junie. Junie accompanies his grandmother walking from her home in Bernalillo to visit Clarita at Sandia Pueblo and to attend the pueblo’s annual celebration of the San Antonio fiestas.

For a fiestas meal, Clarita cooks pinto beans in the clay pot. At the end of the story, Grandma Cinda gifts the pot to Junie.

At the back of the book is a list of what the author calls “Special New Mexican words and idiomatic expressions.”

García, of Santa Fe, is a well-known educator, translator, folklorist, oral historian, poet and author. Born in Bernalillo, he grew up on a small ranch in the Rio Puerco Valley.

Treasure House is located at 2012 South Plaza St. NW, Old Town.

AT COLLECTED WORKS

Poets Mary Ellen Capek of Corrales and Barbara Rockman of Santa Fe will read from and discuss their work at 4:30 p.m. Sunday, Feb. 9, at Collected Works. Capek will read from her debut poetry collection “Love Lessons.” Rockman, who teaches poetry in Santa Fe, will read from her collection “to cleave.”

Collected Works is located at 202 Galisteo St., Santa Fe.

AT GERONIMO’S BOOKS

PW Covington, self-identified as New Mexico’s Beat Poet Laureate, will read from his work at 4 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 15, at Geronimo’s Books.

Covington has published six full-length poetry collections, the latest being “Vintage Denim.” His book of short fiction, “North Beach and Other Stories,” was a finalist in LGBTQ Fiction by the International Book Awards in 2019.

He has also been a stand-in or background performer on film and TV productions, among them “Better Call Saul.”

The Geronimo’s Books is located at 3018 Cielo Court, Suite D, Santa Fe.

Nasario García to read from newest bilingual children’s book 'Clarita’s Clay Pot/La Olla de Barro de Clarita'