FRESNO, Calif. (KFSN) — A popular author with family roots in Fresno returned to Fresno Unified schools this week to share his stories with students and encourage literacy.
Edward Dennis visited McLane High School, where he discussed his three-book series: “The Boy from Mexico”, “The Boy From Mexico Becomes a Farmworker” and “The Boy From Mexico Becomes a U.S. Citizen”. During the visit, he encouraged students to use their voices and emphasized the importance of empathy.
“I want kids to have empathy for each other. That was the word I was taught is to love your neighbor and to do good and love other people, so that’s what my book is kind of about: empathy,” Dennis said.
One student said the themes in Dennis’ work resonated with their own family experience.
“I have two little brothers, so they also speak both English and Spanish, and agreeing with him, that’s how we talk most of the time, and having something reflect how we are as a family and as a community is really important for my family and me,” the student said.
Dennis is spending two weeks visiting nearly a dozen Fresno Unified schools.
He is also scheduled to visit Petunia’s Place Children’s Bookstore on Sunday and Barnes & Noble in Clovis.
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