The Stoutsburg Sourland African American Museum (SSAAM) will hold a family-friendly celebration of the launch of its first children’s book, Growing Up True, on Saturday, September 20, from 11am to 1pm. Growing Up True is inspired by the legacy of the True family, African American landowners, and farmers in the Sourland Mountain region. SSAAM’s book launch party will bring the story to life with hands-on activities, creative exploration, and a chance to meet the team behind the book.
Event Highlights:
- Read-Aloud: Gather near the blackberry patch for a live reading of the book’s first chapter.
- Dig In: Roll up your sleeves and help harvest our Heritage Garden.
- Play and Create: Write poems, make art inspired by the land, and design interview questions to explore your own family stories—just like the team did while researching the book.
- Meet the Storytellers: Book signing with author Ryan Jillian Kilpatrick, illustrator Sudesna Samanta, the real Patricia “Patty” Payne herself, and other collaborators.
- Eat Up: Enjoy fresh cobbler + an optional foraging walk on the historic grounds.
Growing Up True was made possible by grants from the New Jersey Council for the Humanities, a state partner of the National Endowment for the Humanities, and the Somerset County Cultural & Heritage Commission, a partner of the New Jersey State Council on the Arts.
For more information about Growing Up True and to reserve tickets, donate, sponsor, or volunteer with SSAAM, please visit https://www.ssaam.org/
Admission:
$30 per family (2 adults + any number of children – includes 1 copy of the book and cobbler for everyone)
