Kao Kalia Yang, T. Mychael Rambo and a bunch of surprises

It’s now or never for Kao Kalia Yang.

If the St. Paul-based writer and Minnesota Star Tribune Artist of the Year wanted to put together a showcase for all of her writing for young readers, she knew it had to happen before 2026, which she kicks off with a hectic book-launch schedule. Hence “An Evening of Children’s Literature with Kao Kalia Yang and Friends” at Ordway Concert Hall on Friday.

“I have three more picture books coming. I know after this year I can’t do the full body of my work in under two hours. It won’t be enough time,” said Yang, whose “The Blue House I Loved” kicks off the run of three 2026 books in February.

The evening will weave together readings from her eight picture books, including Minnesota Book Award-winners “The Rock in My Throat” and “A Map Into the World.” In addition, it’ll feature world premieres of two songs; projected images created by Yang collaborators, including Seo Kim and Jiemei Lin; participation from Hmong news anchor Chenue Her; reminisces from the author; reveals of upcoming book covers and some surprises.

For Yang, who wrote the libretto for Minnesota Opera’s adaptation of her memoir “The Song Poet,” there was no question that music would be part of the evening.

“When I think of voices I’ve heard, voices that I love, T. Mychael Rambo stands out, so I knew I wanted him,” said Yang. “And there’s a singer in Mineral Point, Wis., Leslie Damaso — I was there earlier this year and she invited me into her studio and sang these beautiful songs. So I thought, ‘What kind of songs could I write for this incredible voice and how could I make them about children’s books?’"

In both cases, the singers will hear each others’ songs for the first time at the show, right along with the audience.

“I asked the parents if they’d like to take part and they’re going to read [’Shared Room’]. The courage!” marveled Yang.

There is a fair amount of sadness in “Shared Room” and, indeed, in much of Yang’s work. The song she has written for Rambo is about grief and many of her books, including last year’s “Caged,” draw from her immigrant family’s difficulties (she was born in a Thai refugee camp, before her family came to St. Paul). The Yang clan also is grieving recent deaths, including that of Kalia’s nephew, whose funeral will be after the Christmas holidays.

“I started to think, ‘What does it mean when all these people die? What does it mean to live in a world that is dying?’ What does it mean to be a tiny human in the matrix of everything?’” mused Yang, who’s also turning 45 this week.

But the “Evening” will not dwell on dark themes. Yang said she hopes the performance summons light similar to the illumination of the fairy lights in the trees outside the Ordway, in Rice Park.

“That’s a kind of mood I can work with. Over the last three, four, five months, I’ve seen so much weariness and exhaustion and heaviness of heart,” said Yang. “I kept thinking about how I could use this evening to uplift people, as a gift.”

“I’m a grass-roots writer and this is really a grass-roots initiative,” said Yang. “All of these books tell a story of who I am, but also of our world. And that world isn’t a sad or disappointing place.”

When: 7 p.m. Friday.

Where: Ordway Concert Hall, 345 Washington St., St. Paul.