Special Saturday Stories with Author Analene Go

For Families

About the Event

Join us for a special storytime with children’s author Analene Go as she reads her debut picture book, Ninang's Here. The storytime will be followed by hands-on activities and creative crafts.

Presented in partnership with Words Worth Books.

This is a drop-in event for families with children of all ages.

Early Learning Programs for young children at WPL are based on literacy research and include tips and information for parents and caregivers. Your active participation in these programs will maximize the experience for you and your child.

About the Author

Analene Go is a Filipino-Canadian Children's Author. She graduated from the University of Waterloo, as a Systems Design Engineer. Analene has always loved the intersection of technology and the arts, having been a former Walt Disney Imagineer, and pursued creative projects in immersive exhibit design and themed entertainment. Her passion for creative writing developed further through courses at the University of Toronto and George Brown College. 


Analene’s stories are heartfelt and humorous - celebrating culture, family and friendship. She hopes that her books will help readers to create lots of new memories and connect with the people they love. Ninang's Here! published by Kids Can Press, is Analene’s debut picture book.

About Ninang's Here!

A charming story of being seen, being loved and being family.

A young girl’s ninang (“godmother” in Tagalog) has arrived for a visit, and she’s thrilled! After all, Ninang isn’t just the girl’s godmother, she’s also her very best friend. Ninang describes herself as “a grown-up whose heart never grew up,” which means the two get to have a day full of adventures, including blasting off into outer space and rescuing lost balloons and cats stuck in trees! Unfortunately, as with all wonderful visits, this one must come to end. Or can the girl find a way to get Ninang to stay?

With her playful nature and delight in invention, Ninang is the older relative every child dreams of having. Analene Go has crafted a heartwarming story that celebrates the joys of family life, family connections and imaginative play. Warm depictions of a Filipino household, together with Tagalog words, add a cultural richness to the story. Brightly colored artwork by Alexis Young enlivens the characters’ magical playtime and engages readers to seek for hidden objects in the illustrations. The book’s focus on a special intergenerational relationship that’s not with a grandparent sets it apart from other family-centered books. An author’s note and a glossary are included.

Photography Notice: Please note that photographs and videos may be taken at this event and may be broadcast, reproduced, and/or made available in print or online. For individual or small group photos, staff will make attendees aware of their presence and will ask permission before taking photos.

For larger public events, please note that by attending, you are consenting to the use of your appearance, image, and voice in print or digital productions created by the Waterloo Public Library for promotional use only. Please speak to library staff at the event if you’d like to be excluded from any photo/video.

Programmer: Nancy