I’m Your Neighbor Books (IYNB) had the honor of participating in Seafest 2026. Hosted by Khmer Maine, Seafest 2026 celebrated Maine’s Southeast Asian communities. The event centered the region’s diverse cultures as expressed in music, dance, and food while also highlighting the Southeast Asian community’s contributions to Maine. Under the IYNB tent, we shared… Read more »
I’m Your Neighbor Books was honored to join the Boston Mayor’s Office of Immigrant Advancement (MOIA) at a gathering of immigrant service organizations. One-by-one, IYNB matched Immigrant and New Generation literature to the languages, communities, and missions each organization serves. With Rapid Response funds provided by you, our supporters, we placed 100+ books that will… Read more »
Literacy, Identity, and Belonging: Promoting Inclusive Children’s and Young Adult Literature: Resources from the Conversation Panelists Kirsten Cappy Executive Director at I’m Your Neighbor Books Mindy Butler Assistant Professor of Literacy Education at USM Paula Boyce Part-time Literacy Instructor at USM Charles Mugabe Director of Migration at Catholic Charities Maine Kim Simmons Associate Professor of… Read more »
How do we protect the hearts of the immigrant community in these “unkind times”? “We need books to break open our hearts, so that we might feel more deeply, so that we might be more human in these unkind times.” —Sandra Cisneros Yes, we need books—and shields. I’m Your Neighbor Books joined forces with Boston’s… Read more »
Educators! School Librarians! Saturday, 10/18/25 Sunday, 10/19/25 10:00 AM – 2:00 PM I’m Your Neighbor Books 80 Bell Street, Ste 7 Portland, ME 04103 FMI: 207-613-1619 or kcappy@imyourneighborbooks.org Visit the I’m Your Neighbor Books warehouse for 40% OFF 100’s of Immigrant and New Generation K-12 titles! “We need books to break open our hearts, so… Read more »
Need Some Hope? Come Read! Come to Orange Bike Brewing to raise a pint to the power of picture books to change the conversation on immigration. At self-led reading stations, I’m Your Neighbor Books will invite you to experience how stories can be anti-racist spaces to build belonging and to provide a sanctuary from the… Read more »
by D.D.Rathnayake With powerful words from Kirsten Cappy, Executive Director of I’m Your Neighbor Books, set the tone for an unforgettable celebration of culture, community,and storytelling on November 9, 2024 in Portland. “We ALL belong in America.” -Kirsten Cappy, Executive Director of I’m Your Neighbor Books The spotlight of the evening was on the… Read more »
By D.D. Rathnayake Dr. Megan Welter, Associate Commissioner for Public Education at Maine Department of Education, set the tone for an extraordinary celebration of diversity and inclusion at the Westbrook Performing Arts Center on September 13, 2024. “A warm welcome is so much better.” —Dr. Megan Welter, Maine Department of Education Hosted in partnership with… Read more »
Saturday, November 9th 11:00 AM- 2:00 PM East End School Community Room 195 North St, Portland, ME 04101 Free Admission In celebration of the release of the Congolese American picture book Kende! Kende! Kende! and of the vibrant African community, there will be a: Book signing by co-authors Yaya Gentille and Kirsten Cappy Book giveaway… Read more »
“No one chooses to be a refugee.” —Omar Mohamed As American debates how and if refugees can cross its border with Mexico, as refugees in Gaza and Sudan cannot find a place of safety, and as 48 million refugees worldwide wait to rebuild a home, are there any more important words than this? Omar Mohamed,… Read more »