Drake professor co-authors book on children’s journeys to Iowa

Co-authors Carol Roh Spaulding-Kruse, associate professor of English at Drake University, and Kay Fenton Smith will present a preview of their upcoming book “Zakery’s Bridge: Children’s Journeys from Around the World to Iowa,” on Tuesday, June 1.

The event, which is free and open to the public, will begin at noon at the Des Moines Central Library, 1000 Grand Ave. in downtown Des Moines. Attendees are invited to bring their own lunch.

The book is a collection of 10 stories about children aged 6 to 16 from nations around the globe whose families now reside in Central Iowa.

Due out in November, the collection will be published by Des Moines-based Shrieking Tree Publishing.

Spaulding-Kruse joined the Drake faculty in 1996 after earning her doctorate from the University of Iowa. She specializes in the study of American ethnic literature. She has twice received Drake’s top honor for mentors — the Madelyn Levitt Mentor of the Year Award — in 2003 and 2010.

This event is sponsored by the Pioneer-Iowa Council for International Understanding International Dialogue Series, which engages public and business professionals in dialogue on global issues and Iowa’s personal and organization connections abroad.

Fore more information, visit www.iciu.org.