The Other Side Of The Garden: Storytime With Authors Sili Recio & Elena Djome Lawrence

From the venue:

The Other Side of the Garden: Storytime with authors Sili Recio & Elena Djome Lawrence

This event takes place in person at Charis.Charis welcomes authors Sili Recio & Elena Djome Lawrence for a story time in celebration of The Other Side of the Garden. In this story a young girl learns to cope with her grandmother’s death when she discovers memories can help keep loved ones alive. Denene Millner will introduce Sili & Elena! 
A young girl and her mother visit her grandmother’s old garden, but things are different. A fence stands between them and Abuela’s old blue house, and when the young girl calls out to her, Abuela no longer answers.With each visit to the garden, it becomes clear that Abuela won’t be coming back. All that’s left are memories of picking flowers, dancing in the wind, and running into Abuela’s warm embrace. Author Sili Recio and her daughter, Elena, draw on Elena’s own grief journey after her abuela’s passing to help young readers not only navigate loss, but also recognize that remembering loved ones who’ve gone means they never really leave us.
About the Authors 
Sili Recio has been calling herself a writer since she won a trophy in a poetry contest in the sixth grade. She is an Afro-Dominican storyteller, disruptor, and Mami. Sili earned a bachelor’s degree in psychology from Rollins College. She entered the world of social media via her blog in 2010 and has never looked back. Sili lives in Florida with her daughter, the Frog Princess, and tries not to pass on her love of café con leche to her child. She is failing. You can visit her at SiliRecio.com.
Elena Djome Lawrence is an artist and violinist who excels in both her schoolwork and creative projects. Her literary debut picture book The Other Side of the Garden was inspired by a story she shared with her mother when she was nine years old. Her imaginative telling of her own grief serves as the foundation of the book, offering inspiration to those navigating their own journeys of loss.
Introductions by Denene Millner
Denene Millner is the editorial director of Denene Millner Books, an award-winning imprint that publishes stories highlighting the everyday humanity of Black children and families, by Black authors and illustrators. Denene has had the great honor of editing the Caldecott and Newberry honor book, Crown: An Ode to the Fresh Cut, written by Derrick Barnes and illustrated by Gordon C. James; Cozbi Cabrera's Caldecott honor book Me & Mama; Aliya King's Keep Your Head Up, winner of the Southern Book Prize; Yaya and the Sea, whose illustrator, Tonya Engel, earned a 2024 New York Times Best Illustrated Children's Book honor; and J. Elle's New York Times bestselling debut, Wings of Ebony, among many other books that have earned NAACP nominations, Coretta Scott King Book Award honors, and recognition from the Society for Illustrators. Denene is also a six-time New York Times best-selling author, Emmy Award-nominated TV show host and award-winning journalist who has written 34 books, among them Taraji P. Henson's Around the Way Girl; the picture book When Alexander Graced the Table, named a 2026 ALSC notable book; and her debut solo novel, One Blood, a multi-generational epic about motherhood, adoption and race that was named the winner of the 2025 Townsend Award, the highest literary honor in Georgia. Her children's book Miles Morales, Spider-Man: Through a Hero's Eyes, added a Disney/Marvel story to the MacDowell Fellow's long list of proud achievements. She is currently working on a book of essays about being a free Black woman in search of satisfaction—a good, beautiful life. Follow Denene and her authors on Instagram @DeneneMillnerBooks.
The event is free and open to all people, but we encourage and appreciate a donation of $5-20 in support of the work of Charis Circle, our programming non-profit. Donate via our website: www.chariscircle.org/donate or in person at the event.
Charis Books is a fully wheelchair accessible space with on site van accessible parking, two ramps, and additional overflow accessible parking nearby. Additional accessibility information can be found on the Accessibility page of our website. In-person event guidelines:

Masks are required for adults in the audience and are optional for children
We will begin seating people at 10:30 AM ET.
As a reminder: If you are not feeling well, please do not come to the event.

If you have any questions regarding these guidelines, would like ASL interpretation at this event, or need specific accessibility accommodations, please contact info@charisbooksandmore.com or call the store at 404-524-0304.
By attending our event, you agree to our Code of Conduct: Our event seeks to provide a harassment-free experience for everyone, regardless of gender, gender identity and expression, age, sexual orientation, disability, physical appearance, body size, race, ethnicity, religion (or lack thereof), class, or technology choices. We do not tolerate harassment in any form. Unsolicited sexual language and imagery are not appropriate. Anyone violating these rules will be expelled from this event and all future events at the discretion of the organizers. Please report all harassment to Charis staff immediately or email info@chariscircle.org.

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