This is an online event

Join us to celebrate the launch of Joanna Ho’s beautiful new picture book, Playing at the Border: A Story of Yo-Yo Ma, a poignant picture book biography about the musician Yo-Yo Ma, immigration, and using music to build bridges  

Joanna Ho’s lyrical writing and Teresa Martinez’s vibrant art weave together to tell an inspiring story of Yo-Yo Ma, who challenges conventions, expectations, and beliefs in order to build bridges to unite communities, people, and cultures.

Before Yo-Yo Ma became one of the most renowned and celebrated cellists, he wanted to play the double bass. But it was too big for his four-year-old hands. Over time, Ma honed his amazing talent, and his music became a reflection of his own life between borders, cultures, disciplines, and generations.

Since then, he has recorded over a hundred albums, won nineteen Grammy Awards, performed for eight American presidents, and received the National Medal of the Arts and the Presidential Medal of Freedom, just to name a few accomplishments.

Staying true to himself, Yo-Yo Ma performed at the US-Mexico border at the Rio Grande on April 13, 2019, as part of his multi-continent “Bach Project” tour to prove a point—through music, we can build bridges rather than walls between different cultures.

Joanna Ho is the author f the New York Times bestselling Eyes that Kiss in the Corners and  is passionate about anti-bias/anti-racism, equity and inclusion in books and education. She has a Master's in Educational Leadership from UC Berkeley and has worn many hats in education including: English teacher, dean, and a teacher professional development mastermind. She is currently the vice principal of a high school in the San Francisco Bay Area. Homemade chocolate chip cookies, outdoor adventures, and dance parties with her kids make Joanna’s eyes crinkle into crescent moons.

Join us and discover the pleasure of a timely and timeless story that honors immigrants and inspires action. “Everyone can benefit from Ho’s message of music bringing calm and peace to the world” Booklist