Word Up is joining the lineup of NYC Open Street on Dyckman on Saturday, October 1st from 10AM-3PM! Walk, run, or bike on car-free Dyckman Street and enjoy free activities throughout the day. Open Streets: Back to School activities will include music, fitness, children’s activities, arts workshops, educational programming, and more.

At 11am we’ll be having a special story time with author Luz Maria Mack’s newest bilingual children’s book The Secret of the Plátano / El Secrto del Plátano, about the magic between a grandmother and her grandson and the delicious plátano.

¡Word Up estará en NYC Open Street en Dyckman el sábado 1 de octubre de 10 am a 3 pm! Invitamos al público a caminar, andar en bicicleta y disfrutar de actividades en ese día. Open Streets: Regreso a la escuela ofrecerá música, clases de fitness, actividades para niños, talleres de artes, programación educativa, y mucho más.

A las 11 am tendremos una hora especial de cuentos con el libro infantil bilingüe más nuevo de la autora Luz Maria Mack The Secret of the Plátano / El Secrto del Plátano, sobre la magia entre una abuela y su nieto y el delicioso plátano.

The Open Street is located on Dyckman St, between Quisqueya Plaza to the Marina. Word Up’s tent will be at the intersection of Dyckman St. and Henshaw St.

La Calle Abierta está ubicada en la Calle Dyckman, entre la Plaza Quisqueya y la Marina. La carpa de Word Up estará en la intersección de Dyckman St. y Henshaw St.

ABOUT THE BOOK | SOBRE EL LIBRO

Under the full moon, Abuela leads an enchanted dance, bows to the sky and the night winds, and helps her curious grandson discover the rhythm of his heartbeat while listening to the great secret of the pl tanos.

At first his tiny ears couldn’t hear it, but Abuela shares that she can’t teach something that only her heart knows. This loving and tender story of the magical union between a grandmother and her grandson was penned by Dominican author, Luz Maria Mack, and inspired by a dream where she and her Abuela met again to dance and share the secrets of the pl tanos.

Sometimes the secrets of life are written in nature, under the stars, and in the sounds of the whispering leaves.

Bajo la luna llena, Abuela dirige un baile encantado y ayuda a su nieto curioso a descubrir el ritmo de los latidos de su corazón, mientras escucha el susurro de la brisa.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Luz Maria Mack is a Dominican children’s book writer and proud south Bronx resident. She loves telling stories that highlight culture and language and affirm children. Her work stems from the love of helping children and families feel seen and understood by the magic of stories.

As a writer, she won the Best Animated Short Film at Bridge Fest in October 2020. In March 2021 featured on PBS’s chat and learn. ¡Pequeña Maria Descubre su baile! Little María discovers her dance! As well as partnering with Disney Storybook Art Team in helping write the “Family is Everything (Disney Encanto) picture book. Her latest project is The Secret of the Plátano, which will be available in English and Spanish on Sept 7th, 2022, and published via Soaring Kite Books, a small imprint of Lerner Publishing.

Luz Maria Mack was born in Villa Mella, Dominican Republic, and immigrated to the United States as a young child with her family. She holds a Master’s degree in Public Administration from Metropolitan College of New York and resides with her three children and husband in Bronx, New York.

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