Malden Reads to kick off its 2022 season at the Malden Winter Festival on Dec. 4

Program goes into 12th year of bringing together one city with one book

  After 11 years of bringing the community into a citywide book conversation, Malden Reads is set to unite its residents once again, this time through poetry. For the 2022 season, Malden will collectively read Joy Harjo’s poetry collection, “An American Sunrise,” which was released in 2019.

  Malden Reads is ready to enter a new chapter, which will begin with its kickoff during Malden’s 2021 Winter Festival, which is scheduled for Saturday, Dec. 4 from 12-4 p.m. in Malden Square. At the outdoor festival, Malden Reads will offer copies of “An American Sunrise” for sale, as well as companion books for younger readers, allowing for options that everyone can enjoy. (These selections will also be available for checkout at the Malden Public Library.)

  Poetry will play a major role at the kickoff. Malden Reads is excited to partner with the award-winning choreography company Monkeyhouse, which will show short films on an outdoor video screen that “swirl together” dance and poetry. The kickoff will also have an indoor venue at J Malden Center (190 Pleasant St.). This location will feature poetry readings throughout the day, all of which will include Q&As with the featured local poets. There will also be poetry-related art and crafts activities for all ages.

  The kickoff will offer printed information about the 2022 Malden Reads program and a raffle to support Malden Reads.

  After the city’s tree lighting ceremony at dusk, Malden Reads invites you to take part in a very special “Unsilent Night” procession led by the Clary and Cimermanis Little Free Library. Bring a boombox or your cellphone and download one of four sound selections to play as you process in a type of “moving soundscape.” Glow lights will be provided – or bring your own lighting source. This is a copyrighted work of participatory art by Phil Kline that has been performed in cities and towns throughout the world since 1992. Organizers are using this work to engage with the themes of the 2022 Malden Reads program, a type of “poetry in motion,” together in community.

  Come down for all the festivities offered at the city’s Winter Festival and enjoy the kickoff celebration for Malden Reads: One City, One Book!

About Malden Reads

  Malden Reads is a program dedicated to bringing the city of Malden together through the shared experience of a good book. Malden Reads is coordinated by a dynamic group of volunteers in collaboration with the Malden Public Library and UMA (Urban Media Arts, formerly MATV). Visit and follow Malden Reads on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram: @maldenreads and at maldenreads.org.