Month: May 2020

Finding Langston by Lesa Cline-Ransome

Written by Lesa Cline-Ransome Published by Holiday House, 2018. (Historical Fiction, 9-13)

I wasn’t planning on releasing this trailer until next week, but given recent events I felt that it couldn’t wait. Racism has never gone away. I have dealt with racism throughout my entire life and despite all my experiences, it still hurts every single time. However, I will never understand how it is to be Black in America. What I can do is be anti-racist and take action to dismantle the racism that is built within our systems. I will continue to challenge my own biases. I will continue to teach my children about racism and give them books that act as mirrors and windows. And I will continue to really listen to voices that are different than mine in order to work towards a society that truly values life and justice.

BEST FOR

This middle grade novel is ideal for readers that love historical fiction with characters that love literature. This could also be used for units about The Great Migration, The Harlem Renaissance, and poetry.

PAIR WITH

Leaving Lymon by Lesa Cline-Ransome

WHERE TO PURCHASE

Shop your local indie bookstore

Asian American Month 2020: Susan Ahn Cuddy and Hazel Ying Lee

I am very thankful for the service and sacrifice of all those who served this country. For this Memorial Day Weekend I chose to honor two amazing pioneers.

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NAME: Susan Ahn Cuddy

DATES: 1915-2015

YOU SHOULD KNOW: Susan was the first female gunnery officer in the US Navy and the first Korean American to work in US intelligence. She served during WWII and trained many fighter pilots.

LEARN MORE:

Their ‘Tough’ Mom was also the Navy’s 1st Asian American Woman Officer

The Officer Who Opened the US Navy for Asian-American Women

IMG_3567NAME: Hazel Ying Lee

DATES: 1912-1944

YOU SHOULD KNOW: Born in Oregon, Hazel was the first Chinese American female to earn a pilot license and fly for the United States military. She is one of the two Asian American women of the Women Airforce Service Pilots (WASP).

LEARN MORE:

Remembering Hazel Lee, the first Chinese- American female military pilot.

Hazel Ying Yee (1912-1944)

BOOKS

Unfortunately there isn’t a picture book about Susan Ahn Cuddy or Hazel Ying Lee. There is a picture book about Maggie Gee, the one other Asian American pilot in the WASP program during WWII.

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BACKGROUND

Chinese American Maggie Gee always dreamed of flying even though few women took to the sky. As she grows older WWII breaks out and Maggie takes to the sky to serve.

BEST FOR

About a twenty-five minute read aloud that would be appropriate for an ongoing storytime or biography unit. A great way to introduce a unit on flight or talk about WWII.

PAIR WITH

Talkin’ About Bessie: The Story of Aviator Elizabeth Coleman by Nikki Grimes

WHERE TO PURCHASE

Shop your local indie bookstore

Asian American Month 2020: Kalpana Chawla & Chien-Shiung Wu

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NAME: Kalpana Chawla

DATES: 1962-2003

YOU SHOULD KNOW: Not only was she an astronaut and engineer who loved to fly, she also was the first woman of Indian origin to go to space. She was awarded the Congressional Space Medal of Honor posthumously in 2004.

LEARN MORE:

Astronaut Friday: Kalpana Chawla

Nasa: Kalpana Chawla

 

 

NAME: Chien-Shiung Wu

DATES: 1912-1997

YOU SHOULD KNOW: A Chinese American physicist she made significant discoveries in the field. She also was the first woman to serve as president of the American Physical Society and was awarded the Wolf Prize in Physics in 1978

LEARN MORE:

Dr. Chien-Shiung Wu, The First Lady of Physics

Atomic Heritage Foundation: Chien-Shiung Wu

BOOKS

There are a few independently published titles about Kalpana Chawla, but that was all I could find.

A previous blog entry for a book about Chien-Shiung Wu:

Queen of Physics: How Wu Chien Shiung Helped Unlock the Secrets of the Atom by Teresa Robeson

Asian American Month 2020: Vicki Manalo Draves & Tiffany Chin

While I have been loving learning about all these incredible women, the frustrating part is that there is literally no children’s books written about pretty much any of them. While I have started to write myself I would please like to put out the idea to authors to PLEASE WRITE A BOOK ABOUT THESE AMAZING PEOPLE! Thanks!

IMG_3441KNOWN AS: Vicki Draves

NAME: Victoria Manalo Draves

DATES: 1924-2010

YOU SHOULD KNOW: Born to an English mother and Filipino father, this Filipina American was the first in Olympic history to win gold in both springboard and platform diving at the 1948 London Olympics. She also was the first Asian American Olympic gold champion paving the way for others.

LEARN MORE:

Vicki Draves interview

Triumph of Vicki Manalo Draves

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KNOWN AS: Tiffany Chin

NAME: Audrey Tiffany Chin

DATES: 1967-

YOU SHOULD KNOW: Tiffany was the first person of non-European descent to be the U.S. figure skating champion when she won in 1985. Her example paved the way for more skaters notably Olympian Kristi Yamaguchi.

LEARN MORE:

7 Asian American sports trailblazers who changed the games.

BOOKS

Unfortunately there are no children’s books about either Vicki Manalo Draves or Tiffany Chin.

 

Asian American Month 2020: Dorothy Toy & Anna May Wong

These past few weeks I have been obsessed with doing portraits of Asian American women in ink and watercolor. Since May is Asian American Heritage Month, I decided to share a handful of them as well as some related titles.

Screen Shot 2020-05-03 at 4.40.54 PMKNOWN AS: Dorothy Toy

NAME Shigeko Takahashi

DATES: 1917-2019

YOU SHOULD KNOW: Her and her partner Paul Wing were a successful dance duo and the first Asian Americans to headline many vaudeville venues, dance on Broadway, and appeared in many films.

LEARN MORE

Short biopic

Smithsonian Magazine

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KNOWN AS: Anna May Wong

NAME: Wong Liu Tsong

DATES: 1905-1961

YOU SHOULD KNOW: She was the first Chinese American on film who was famous not only in Hollywood, but worldwide. She was outspoken of her frustrations with limited roles and typecasting for Asian actors.

LEARN MORE:

PBS Biopic and article

BOOKS

Unfortunately there are no children’s books about Dorothy Toy (Yet! *cross fingers*) There is an excellent book written about Anna Wong.

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BACKGROUND

Chinese American Anna May Wong always knew that she wanted to be a movie star and went on to be the first Asian American in Hollywood, but not without persistent barriers.

BEST FOR

This detailed biography is better suited for an ongoing read aloud or for a biography unit. Also ideal for any child wanting to read about film and Hollywood.

PAIR WITH

Maya Lin: Artist-Architect of Light and Lines by Jeanne Walker Harvey

WHERE TO PURCHASE

If you have an interest in reading Shining Star

Shop your local indie bookstore