Get Lit Lunch & Learn about New Children’s Books by Local Authors: Forever Friends with author Dr. Kimberly A. Matthews
The delightful Forever Friends series by Dr. Kimberly A. Matthews begins with Forever Friends on the first day of kindergarten when five girls meet. While they are from different backgrounds, races, and walks of life, they are all drawn together by their love of reading, figuring out puzzles, and playing on the playground. Continuing this wonderful story of friendship, the second book in the series, Forever Friends 2 introduces the reader to the girls' first playdate at Kimberly's home. The girls meet Kimberly's family, watch movies, and share her favorite meal. The girls end the day by playing outside in the snow.
Author Dr. Kimberly A. Matthews was inspired by her real-life college friends. After meeting and bonding through working at their school newspaper, they remain friends to this day and continue to inspire each other.
A native of Henrico County, Virginia, Dr. Kimberly A. Matthews received her Bachelor of Arts in Communication from George Mason University and a Masters in Adult Education and Doctor of Philosophy in Education, both from Virginia Commonwealth University. Dr. Matthews is the author of Forever Friends 2, released in 2022, Forever Friends, released in 2020, Images of America: The Richmond 34 and the Civil Rights Movement, released in 2020, and Images of Modern America: The Richmond Crusade for Voters, released in 2017. Her projects focus on empowerment, diversity, and leadership, with the goal to engage and educate a new generation and to encourage a continued quest for empowerment and equality for all. For more about Dr. Matthews, see her website at drkimberlyamatthews.com
Join Get Lit and Dr. Kimberly Matthews as she discusses her writing. She will read an excerpt from the Forever Friends series and answer questions. This is part of the Get Lit New Children's Books by Local Authors series which meets quarterly. Get Lit is the Richmond Public Library Literacy Initiative for youth that includes Lit Chicks Read and Black Male Emergent Readers (BMER).
See https://rvalibrary.org/teens/bmer-lit-chicks-read/ for more information about Get Lit.
- Date:
- Monday, June 6, 2022
- Time:
- 12:00pm - 1:00pm
- Location:
- Children's Storytime Area - Main Library
- Categories:
- Author Visit Book Discussion Lectures & Talks
- Audience:
- All Ages
Meldon Jenkins-Jones is the Richmond Public Library / Community Services Manager at Hull Street Branch Library.
Meldon also chairs the Get Lit Advisory Committee which supports the Richmond Public Library Get Lit Reading Initiatives including the Black Male Emergent Readers (BMER) program and the Lit Chicks Read book clubs.
Meldon is a graduate of the Leadership Metro Richmond Class of 2022. She was the first recipient of the Virginia Library Association (VLA) Librarians of Color Forum Award in 2021 and is an active member of VLA. She presented “Libraries Bringing Community Together” at the 2023 VLA Annual Conference.
In 2011, Meldon received her Master of Library and Information Studies from Florida State University. She received her Juris Doctor degree from Rutgers University School of Law—Newark and practiced law in New Jersey until her retirement in 2003. Meldon received her Bachelor of Arts degree from Smith College in Northampton, Massachusetts, where she studied African American Studies and Russian Civilization.
A Metro Richmond resident, Meldon is the mother of two adult children and enjoys spending time with her grandchildren.
