Month: September 2020

Thanking the Moon: Celebrating the Mid-Autumn Moon Festival by Grace Lin

Written and Illustrated by Grace Lin, Published by Alfred A. Knopf, 2010. (Picture Book, ages 3-7)

IMG_0296The Moon Festival lands in the middle of this week and we are stocked with mooncakes! This particular holiday reminds me of my dad. He would tell us stories from his childhood in Hong Kong running around with a paper lantern for the Autumn Moon Festival. My brothers and I loved the detail how they would use actual candles for the lanterns and if you weren’t careful, you could quickly be holding a flaming ball of fire instead!

BACKGROUND

A Chinese American family drives out to a hill to eat, light lanterns, and celebrate the Autumn Moon Festival. #OwnVoices

BEST FOR

About a two minute read aloud ideal for the Mid-Autumn Moon Festival, could be used to talk about lanterns, or a unit about the moon.

PAIR WITH

Mooncakes by Loretta Seto

WHERE TO PURCHASE

Shop your local indie bookstore

Fauja Singh Keeps Going: The True Story of the Oldest Person to ever run a Marathon by Simran Jeet Singh

Written by Simran Jeet Singh, Illustrated by Baljinder Kaur, Foreword by Fauja Singh, Kokila, 2020. (Biography, 4-8)

This is such a great biography! The best part is the foreword by Fauja Singh himself. His unwavering spirit and optimism shine through his words and I absolutely adore the fact that he tells young readers “Maybe one day you can break my record for the oldest person to ever run a marathon. Nothing would make me happier!”

BACKGROUND

Born in a village in Punjab, Fauja couldn’t walk. Everyone said that he would never be able to walk, but then he did. People said he couldn’t be a farmer, but then he was. People said he couldn’t run a marathon, but then he ran multiple, even when he was 100 years old. #OwnVoices

BEST FOR

This is a twenty minute read aloud that is suitable for a biography unit, a way to model empathy, perseverance, and goal setting.

PAIR WITH

The Proudest Blue by Ibtihaj Muhammad and S.K. Ali

WHERE TO PURCHASE

Shop your local indie bookstore

Grandpa Grumps by Katrina Moore

Written by Katrina Moore, Illustrated by Xindi Yan, Published by Little Bee Books, 2020. (Fiction, 4-7)

This book brings to the forefront an interesting situation, how can you connect with a family member if you do not speak a common language? I know that this is a reality for many families, because mine was one of them. I only speak English because that was the only common language between my mother and father, as a result, sometimes it was hard to have a conversation with my Yeh Yeh growing up. Yes, you find ways to communicate, but it is important to acknowledge that sometimes it takes a little extra work and patience from both parties.

BACKGROUND

Daisy is so excited that her Yeh Yeh has come to visit from China. However she finds that Yeh Yeh does not act the way she envisioned. Her mother advises her that love can be shown in many ways. #OwnVoices

BEST FOR

About a ten minute read aloud that can be used for a grandparent night. It can also open discussions about family, empathy, communication, and finding common ground.

PAIR WITH

Ojichan’s Gift by Chieri Uegaki

WHERE TO PURCHASE

Shop your local indie bookstore

Sam & Eva by Debbie Ridpath Ohi

Written and Illustrated by Debbie Ridpath Ohi, Published by Simon & Schuster Books for Young Readers, 2017. (Fiction, 3-6)

Sometimes you just need a playful read and this title is exactly that. My boys were giggling at the imaginations of Sam and Eva and how their creativity would get more elaborate and fantastical with each page.

BACKGROUND

Sam is busy drawing when Eva asks to collaborate. At first Sam refuses, but their creations have their own ideas. #Ownvoices

BEST FOR

About a five minute read that would be perfect for a fun storytime. This can also be used to open up a unit on storytelling, creativity, art, going with the flow, and working together.

PAIR WITH

What If… by Samantha Berger

WHERE TO PURCHASE

Shop your local indie bookstore

Paper Son: The Inspiring Story of Tyrus Wong, Immigrant and Artist by Julie Leung

Written by Julie Leung, Illustrated by Chris Sasaki, Published by Schwartz & Wade Books, 2019. (Biography, 7-12)

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My mother’s side of the family is very artistic including my mom, brother, and I. Although we all enjoy art and making it, there was an unspoken hesitation to see it as a viable career option. It was always deemed a hobby since back then people said, “you can’t make a living as an artist”.  Reading this beautiful title make me reflect back on those times and thankfully see how much that perspective has changed. I love seeing so many Asian artists and their work occupying more public spaces and visuals.  Plus, I do have two cousins that are professional artists and are doing very well for themselves.

BACKGROUND

A young Chinese immigrant Tyrus Wong comes to America as a Paper Son. Eventually he graduates from art school at the top of his class and gets a job at Walt Disney Studios where he pioneers the artistic style used in the feature film, Bambi. #Ownvoices

BEST FOR

About a fifteen minute read aloud that would be great for a biography unit, discussing different artistic styles, perseverance, and empathy.

PAIR WITH

Shining Star: The Anna May Wong Story by Paula Yoo

WHERE TO PURCHASE

Shop your local indie bookstore