A Book Discussion “Manjhi Moves a Mountain” with Author Nancy Churnin and Special Guest Linda Wachel

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About the Book

Dashrath Manjhi used a hammer and chisel, grit, determination, and twenty years to carve a path through the mountain separating his poor village from the nearby village with schools, markets, and a hospital. Manjhi Moves a Mountain shows how everyone can make a difference if their heart is big enough.

View and purchase book on Amazon here.

Learn more about Manjhi Moves a Mountain on Nancy Churnin’s website.

About the Author: Nancy Churnin

Nancy Churnin is an American author and journalist. Nancy is a former theater critic for The Dallas Morning News. She has published eight children’s books as of March 2021 and has two more expected by the end of 2021.

Churnin was born and raised in New York City. She received a bachelor’s degree from Harvard University and an M.S. in journalism from Columbia University.

Churnin worked as a theater critic for the San Diego edition of the Los Angeles Times from 1986 to 1992. In 2000, she joined the staff of The Dallas Morning News, writing about such topics as health, lifestyles, children’s entertainment, and parenting. In January 2014, Churnin became the primary theater critic for The Dallas Morning News, a position she left in January 2019.

About the Special Guest: Linda Wachel

Linda Wachel is the Director of Admissions at Oak Hill Academy in Dallas, Texas, a private school for children with learning differences. An avid reader and advocate for literacy, Linda also serves as librarian for the Park Cities Baptist Church Library Ministry.

While she loves her current responsibilities in Admissions, helping families find the right learning environment for their child, she has worn many hats during her 15 years at Oak Hill.

During her early years at Oak Hill Academy, Linda managed the school’s library where she coordinated Oak Hill’s annual Literacy Live event. Held during October’s National Dyslexia Awareness month since 2010, Literacy Live is a wonderful event that celebrates all aspects of literacy, by giving our students an opportunity to meet an author or illustrator and hear about the literary process.

The Literacy Live event is near and dear to Linda’s heart, and is where she met Nancy Churnin. Nancy shared her story, Manji Moves a Mountain, with the students of Oak Hill Academy in 2019. Nancy’s message really resonated with the students of Oak Hill Academy, and inspired them to find ways to serve others in their community. Linda is honored and delighted to have the opportunity to reconnect with Nancy again for AIR4arts STORYTime.

About the STORYTime Series

Celebrating Authors and the Art of Storytelling

Started in February 2021, the STORYTime Series offers a personal view into the work of a children’s book author. Each month will focus on a different book and theme. The presentation by the author is provided virtually and recorded for viewers to enjoy online.

In the inaugural year of the STORYTime Series, AIR4arts is pleased to select Nancy Churnin as the featured author.

AIR4arts is funded in part by a grant from the City of Richardson through the Richardson Cultural Arts Commission.