Drawn Together by Minh Lê

Written by Minh Lê, Illustrations by Dan Santat, Published by Disney Hyperion, 2018. (Picture Book, ages 4-8)

Okay, I have to admit that this book brought me to tears. Then I talked to a teacher friend and she admitted she was bawling in the bookstore reading it. AH! This book just gives you all the feels! A must read!!

BACKGROUND

A young boy cannot communicate with his Thai grandfather, but finally they are able to see eye to eye through a shared love of art. #OwnVoices

BEST FOR

A two minute read aloud. (Written in graphic novel form so you can narrate or have a discussion in what is going on in the story). Great for teaching inference, grandparent’s day, modeling imagination, really just read this to the kids!

PAIR WITH

A Different Pond by Bao Phi

Monsoon Afternoon by Kashmira Sheth

WHERE TO PURCHASE

If you have an interest in reading Drawn Together

Shop your local indie bookstore

or here is a link for the book on Amazon

BookTastings-Drawn Together

What If… by Samantha Berger

Written by Samantha Berger, Illustrated by Mike Curato, Published by Little Brown and Company, 2018. (Picture Book, ages 3-7)

Whatif

I love all these new titles asking readers to think creatively outside the box. The idea for this book came when Samantha Berger was forced out of her apartment because of a flood and quickly realized that anything could be used for art. Illustrator Mike Curato followed her lead and used many different mediums to illustrate this book.

BACKGROUND

A circular tale, a young African American girl asks how will she continue to create if each of her art tools is taken away. The bright illustrations exhibits many different forms of art and crafting.

BEST FOR

About a five minute read aloud that would be a great introduction to art. Could also be used as a STEM read to help kids brainstorm things to make or to find alternative solutions to problems.

PAIR WITH

The Adventures of Beekle: The Unimaginary Friend by Dan Santat

Dreamers by Yuyi Morales

WHERE TO PURCHASE

If you have an interest in reading What If…

Shop your local indie bookstore

here is a link for the book on Amazon

BookTastings – What If…

Front Desk by Kelly Yang

Written by Kelly Yang, Published by Scholastic, 2018. (Fiction, ages 9-12)

For early chapter books and middle grade reads I’ve decided to make video book talks to delve a little more into the plot. I’m happy to present to you my first one for Kelly Yang’s debut middle grade novel!

BACKGROUND

A young Chinese American girl works the front desk of the motel her family manages in California. #OwnVoices

BEST FOR

Kids who like everyday stories, who like to be challenged by what they read (the book deals with socio-economic diversity, racism, immigrant worker’s rights and bullying) but it’s not sad I promise!

PAIR WITH

Ana Maria Reyes Does Not Live in a Castle by Hilda Eunice Burgos

WHERE TO PURCHASE

If you have an interest in reading Front Desk

Shop your local indie bookstore

or here is a link for the book on Amazon

BookTastings-Front Desk

Cora Cooks Pancit by Dorina K. Lazo Gilmore

Written by Dorina K. Lazo Gilmore, Illustrated by Kristi Valiant, Published by Shen’s Books, 2009. (Picture Book, ages 5-8)

As a Chinese-Filipina I see a lot more picture books about Chinese/Chinese Americans, not so much about Filipinos/FilAm. So you cannot imagine my excitement when I finally found this title a while back. It definitely helps that it has great imagery of food!

BACKGROUND

Helping with cooking is a grown up job, so when Cora is offered by Mama to make pancit, she jumps at the opportunity. The only question is, will her pancit survive the discerning taste buds of her family? #OwnVoices

BEST FOR

About a ten to fifteen minute read aloud exploring a few favorite dishes of the Philippines. Also great for grandparent’s day (Cora learns about Lolo, her grandfather).

PAIR WITH

Hot Hot Roti for Dada-Ji by Farhana Zia

Hand over Hand by Alma Fullerton

WHERE TO PURCHASE

If you have an interest in reading Cora Cooks Pancit

Shop your local indie bookstore

or here is a link for the book on Amazon

BookTastings-Cora Cooks Pancit

I Am Enough by Grace Byers

Written by Grace Byers, Illustrations by Keturah A. Bobo, Published by Balzer + Bray, 2018. (Picture Book, ages 3-7)

Sometimes you just need a book to tell kids that they are enough just the way they are. I have been seeing this book pop up on a lot of blogs and lists. I have to say mad props to illustrator Keturah A. Bobo for going with a simplistic yet beautiful style of illustration that is multicultural, inclusive and just plain fun.

BACKGROUND

Told in sparse rhyming verse a young girl celebrates life, diversity, acceptance of others, and her own intrinsic value. #OwnVoices

BEST FOR

A two minute read aloud. A great choice for a first day of preschool, daycare or school. Or to model empathy and acceptance.

PAIR WITH

Love Is by Diane Adams

Keisha Ann Can! by Daniel Kirk

WHERE TO PURCHASE

If you have an interest in reading I Am Enough

Shop your local indie bookstore

Chester Nez and the Unbreakable Code: A Navajo Code Talker’s Story by Joseph Bruchac

Written by Joseph Bruchac, Illustrations by Liz Amini-Holmes, Published by Albert Whitman & Company, 2018. (Picture Book, ages 6-10)

If only this book came out earlier! I had two students begging for any picture book about Code talkers and unfortunately I couldn’t find anything except a one line blurb in a picture book. Thank you Joseph Bruchac for writing this!

BACKGROUND

The true story of Chester Nez. As a child he attended Fort Defiance boarding school and was constantly told that his culture and the Navajo language was “worthless”. However during WWII he served on Plantoon 382 as a Code Talker. It also addresses the mental toll of war. #OwnVoices

BEST FOR

A fifteen minute read aloud that covers the experiences of Native Americans in boarding schools and the Code Talkers. Could be used in any WWII unit, or discussion about secret codes and messages.

PAIR WITH

I Am Not a Number by Jenny Kay Dupuis

The Unbreakable Code by Sara Hoagland Hunter

WHERE TO PURCHASE

If you have an interest in reading Chester Nez and the Unbreakable Code

Shop your local indie bookstore

or here is a link for the book on Amazon

BookTastings-Chester Nez and the Unbreakable Code

Mommy’s Khimar by Jamilah Thompkins-Bigelow

Written by Jamilah Thompkins-Bigelow, Illustrations by Ebony Glenn, Published by Salaam Reads, 2018. (Picture Book, ages 4-8)

mamak

I have been waiting to get ahold of this book and it was simply adorable! I couldn’t get enough of the illustrations filled with loving family and friends surrounding this sweet girl!

BACKGROUND

A poetic narrative of an African American girl wearing her mother’s yellow khimar or hijab. Imaginative with whimsical illustrations. #OwnVoices

BEST FOR

A two minute read aloud to model imaginary play, for Mother’s Day, or learning about religious clothing.

PAIR WITH

What Can You Do With A Rebozo? by Carmen Tafolla

Yo Soy Muslim: A Father’s Letter to His Daughter by Mark Gonzales

WHERE TO PURCHASE

If you have an interest in reading Mommy’s Khimar

Shop your local indie bookstore

or here is a link for the book on Amazon

BookTastings-Mommy’s Khimar