Storytime! Ripples Book Launch with author, Katie Yamasaki

This Earth Day, celebrate author Katie Yamasaki’s new picture book Ripples with a story time, kid activities & book signing.
Earth Day celebration! Join author and muralist Katie Yamasaki as she celebrates the release of her newest picture book, Ripples! The event will include a short talk from Katie and Michelle Spangler from the Mississippi Watershed sharing tips of what you can do to keep our Mississippi River clean, along with kid-friendly activities, and a book signing (with sales from Wild Rumpus Bookstore).
Ripples follows a young girl and her Aunty as they set sail on their river raft, along the way passing friends and families engaged in caring for one another – sharing food, tending wounds, and telling stories – who ultimately join them in cleaning litter and trash from the river. Celebrated artist Katie Yamasaki’s newest picture book is a nuanced, lyrical celebration of our connections to each other and the environment. With electric, eye–catching illustrations, Ripples reminds us of the value of care and the ways we can perform it―for each other, and for the world around us.
Katie Yamasaki is an award-winning picture book author/illustrator and muralist. She has painted over 90 walls around the world, exploring local stories of identity and social justice. Her picture book work explores similar themes for young readers. Her titles include: Shapes, Lines, and Light: My Grandfather’s American Journey; Dad Bakes; Everything Naomi Loved; When the Cousins Came; God’s Big Plan; Fish for Jimmy; and Place Hand Here.
The Sacred Water Shared Future campaign is powered by you! The heart of this centennial celebration is the incredible variety of events planned and hosted by our partners — community groups, nonprofits, businesses, schools, and individuals who feel a connection to the Mississippi River.
We do not host events ourselves; instead, we serve as a central hub for river-focused activities happening across the Twin Cities throughout 2026.
