If you turn on the TV news, scroll through social media, or read/watch the news on your computer you’ll come across headlines such as “Banned in the USA: The Growing Movement to Ban Books”, “Why Book Ban Efforts Are Spreading Across the U.S.”, “Texas leads US in books banned from schools,” and “Florida school book bans: Second highest rate in the nation.”
#ReadYourWorld Book Jam 2023 in partnership with Children’s Book Council is excited to present Maria Wen Adcock with her book list of Recently Released Asian Books for Young Readers!
We are also giving away a signed copy of her book, It’s Chinese New Year, Curious George! To enter, please fill out the Rafflecopter at the bottom.
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In recent years the publishing industry has seen an increase in diverse books for young readers, thanks to the efforts of many including the non-profit organization Multicultural Children’s Book Day.
When compiling a list of eight children’s books to recommend, it was challenging as there were so many books I wanted to share. The list below focuses on books by Asian authors that were released within the last six months from the publication of this post and featured Asian culture or characters. I’ve listed the books in alphabetical order.
Don’t forget to check out my giveaway for It’s Chinese New Year, Curious George where one lucky reader will win a signed copy of my book! Giveaway details are at the end of this post.
In this charming story, a young girl named Ren longs to help her family prepare for the Lunar New Year, but everyone thinks she’s too little. When she struggles to make pineapple cakes, her family shows her the way. The pride Ren feels in helping her family with traditions and food is heartwarming. [Picture Book, ages 4-8]
Ameya is an Indian American girl who attends her cousin Vaishali’s wedding in India. When her cousin Dev questions if she is really Indian, she wonders if he is right. With the support of her mother, Ameya realizes that a person can be many things and embraces her two worlds. [Picture Book, ages 5-9]
Priya, a girl from India whose family moves to the United States, notices that people in her new country are not familiar with the Indian holiday of Diwali. She misses celebrating it in the same way she did in India but learns that sharing the holiday with new people can be just as festive. The book provides a kid-friendly introduction to Diwali. [Picture Book, ages 4-8]
This Informational fiction STEAM book features an Asian girl and her father which provides the science behind immunizations. It tackles the immune system, viruses, bacteria, and more in a kid-friendly way. Young readers will also see how the main character overcomes her fear of shots. [Picture Book, ages 4-7]
It’s Chinese New Year, Curious George by Maria Wen Adcock
Follow along with Curious George as he celebrates Chinese New Year with his friend Mei and her family. With rhyming text, colorful illustrations, and sturdy tabbed pages, this book is a wonderful introduction to the holiday for young readers which they can read again and again through the early school years. [Board Book, ages 0 and up]
In this bilingual Chinese English storybook about feelings, Little Bun helps young readers to verbalize what they’re feeling inside. It’s a much-needed book that can support social-emotional skills in children while introducing children to Chinese culture. [Picture Book, ages 2-6]
Luminous by Julia KuoA young girl and her mother explore the luminous world of living things around them that light up the night. Throughout the story, there are supporting paragraphs that further explain scientific points in the storyline, thus making this book both very educational and enjoyable to read. [Picture Book, ages 4-8]
Created by the founders of Indigrow, Toco’s How We Look Playbook teaches kids to celebrate differences and provides talking points to spark conversations. Kids explore topics such as “Why do my eyes look different” or “Why is my skin darker” in an age-appropriate way. An additional digital companion InstaPlay Kit includes printables and activities. [Picture Book, ages 3-8]
We are also giving away a signed copy of It‘s Chinese New Year, Curious George. To enter, please use the Rafflecopter below. We can only mail to U.S. and A.F.O. addresses.
Maria Wen Adcock is the author of It’s Chinese New Year, Curious George [January 2023] published by Clarion Books/Harper Collins. Maria is a first-generation Chinese-American writer and founder of the award-winning multicultural parenting blog www.BiculturalMama.com. She has appeared on The Dr. Oz Show< Bloomberg News, Newsday, and Huffington Post. Maria is a board member of Multicultural Kid Blogs, an organization supporting diverse parenting bloggers, and co-host of the annual publishing event Multicultural Children’s Book Day. She resides on Long Island with her husband and two children. To learn more, check out her website and follow her @BiculturalMama on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, and Pinterest.
#ReadYourWorld Book Jam 2023 in partnership with Children’s Book Council is excited to present Nora Lester Murad with her book list of Palestinian books for kids recommended by Palestinian teachers.
We are also giving away three signed copies of Ida in the Middle. To enter, please use the Rafflecopter at the bottom.
It isn’t hard to find coming-of-age stories on YA bookshelves, but it isn’t always easy to find those stories told from diverse points of view. Enter Ida in the Middle, a book that follows Ida, a Palestinian-American girl who faces backlash and ridicule from many of her classmates whenever violence erupts in the Middle East as if it were her fault. An important coming-of-age story that explores identity, place, voice, and acceptance, this unique novel is told from the largely underrepresented perspective of a young Palestinian American girl who, like all other teens, is just trying to find out where she belongs. [young adult, ages 12 and up]
Katherine Hanna is a Palestinian-American, retired Boston elementary educator who volunteers her time at the Zaharat al Yasmeen Kindergarten in Aida Refugee Camp in Bethlehem. Katherine wholeheartedly recommends Sitti’s Bird, written and illustrated by Malak Mattar. She says, “This stunning and engaging book is based on the life experiences of Malak who, as a child, lived through Israel’s 2014 “Operation Protective Edge” that bombed the Gaza Strip for nearly 2 months. Young readers will relate to the universal feelings of loneliness, loss, fear, and love of family, without being terrified by brutality. This is a great book for introducing young children to Palestine and how making art helped build Malak’s resilience. [picture book, ages 4 and up]
Mona Mustafa, a high school social studies teacher in Paterson, New Jersey recommends Baba, What Does My Name Mean? A Journey To Palestine written by Rifk Ebeid and illustrated by Lamaa Jawhari. She says, “This book is a true work of art that takes readers on a journey through Palestine’s brave and beautiful cities on the wings of a dove named Salaam. The main character, Saamidah, is told by her father that her name means one who is steadfast, a characteristic that has become synonymous with the Palestinian people. This book inspired me to take my children on the same journey through the cities that Saamidah went on while visiting Palestine this summer!” Mona can be reached on Instagram @monammustafa. [picture book, ages 5 and up]
Layla Hijab Cable is a retired reading specialist and kindergarten teacher in the Boston Public Schools. She helped develop the Boston Focus on K2 which has been adopted in 100 kindergarten classes in Boston and in many other systems, helped organize Ethnic Studies Now practices and volunteered for the Boston Teachers Union doing antiracism work with teachers. Layla recommends the Palestinian folk tale Sitti and the Cats: A Tale of Friendship by Sally Bahous, illustrated by Nancy Malick. She says, “Children enjoy the fantastical and magical world of talking cats as they learn about companionship, generosity, and community values without preaching or scolding. They learn about Palestinian culture and life through native plants, foods, and clothing. I used it with my own kindergarten classes and with my older reading students in 1st to 3rd grades.” [picture book, ages 6 and up]
Hadeil M. Abdelfattah, Ed.D. is a lifelong educator and administrator in the Chicago Public Schools with over 25 years of experience. Hadeil recommends Sitti’s Secrets by Naomi Shihab Nye with illustrations by Nancy Carpenter. Hadeil says, “The book offers vivid images of the bond between a grandmother and her grandchildren, which is stronger than any language barrier. A little girl meets her grandmother for the first time and sees all the things that the land of Palestine has to offer. From getting bread from the traditional taboun bakery or walking the fields or sitting in the shade of the lemon tree in the courtyard, Sitti’s Secrets reminded me of my childhood!” Hadeil can be reached on Instagram at @hadeilsopener. [picture book, ages 5 and up]
Kefah Ayesh, a high school English teacher and department chair, recommends Does My Head Look Big in This? by Randa Abdel Fattah. She says it is “A beautiful, well-written story about a young girl navigating the nuances of hyphenated identities without sacrificing pride in her religious beliefs. The main character attends a prep school in Australia where she is shunned and ridiculed for wearing her hijab. The story highlights the complexities of self-worth, identity, and teenage love. Relatable enough for both hijabis and non-muslim readers who need insight into the experience of women who wear hijab. Overall a fun read and a well-developed story line.” [middle grade, ages 9 and up]
Abeer Ramadan-Shinnawi is an ed consultant for Altair Education Company in Maryland and a veteran middle school social studies teacher. She recommends Balcony on the Moon: Coming of Age in Palestine by Ibtisam Barakat. She says, “This story shows how young navigate growing up in a region fraught by political strife and how important it is for young people to have key masters who help them develop their dreams.”Abeer can be reached on Instagram at altairedconsult or on Twitter at @ed_altair. [young adult, ages 12 and up]
Dr. Sawsan Jaber is a Chicago-based high school English teacher, a consultant with Education Unfiltered, and a scholar/activist with many organizations. Sawsan recommends They Called Me a Lioness: A Palestinian Girl’s Fight for Freedom by Ahed Tamimi and Dena Takruri. She says, “I love the fact that the story is told from the perspective of an adolescent female. I love how the authors weave information throughout the story. People generally know so little about Palestine. Integrating the definitions of words and explaining the historical context helps to contextualize the memoir so that it has a greater impact on readers, helping them to understand Palestine and Palestinian perspectives. Sawsan can be reached on Twitter at @SJEducate. [young adult, ages 14 and up]
We are also giving away three signed copies of Ida in the Middle. To enter, please use the Rafflecopter below. We can only mail to U.S. and A.F.O. addresses.
Nora Lester Murad is a writer, educator, and activist. She co-authored Rest in My Shade: A Poem About Roots, and edited I Found Myself in Palestine: Stories of Love and Renewal From Around the Globe. From a Jewish American family, Nora moved from California to study in the Middle East. She married a Muslim Palestinian, and raised three daughters in the West Bank and in the US. To learn more visit her website and follow her on Twitter @NoraInPalestine, Instagram @nora_lester_murad, and Facebook noralestermurad.
9:00 – 10:00 pm EST
We will be giving away 14+ book bundles!
https://us02web.zoom.us/meeting/register/tZ0qfuitrD4sGNbYdoYtet-LmApWC71XBMpY
#ReadYourWorld Book Jam 2023 in partnership with Children’s Book Council is excited to present Tony Perry with his list sharing his favorite children’s books to spark important conversations on issues shaping our country and society.
Keepunumuk tells the American Thanksgiving story from a Native American point of view. Created by an all-Native team, this book tells the Thanksgiving story through the eyes of the Three Sisters: Corn, Beans, and Squash. It reminds readers that we as people are part of the world around us, and rely on Nature–and each other–to thrive. It also creates a new, more inclusive Thanksgiving story to unite a divided country. [picture book, ages 4 and up]
Born on the Water shows how the trauma of slavery transformed the culture and lives of Black people in America. Though historically questionable–the first European slaves were Indigenous, not Black–it shows how America’s birth and growth rested on slavery and oppression. This sparks a conversation on how to address slavery–both the scars of the past and the continued exploitation of people of color today–as the country explores how to create a more just society. [picture book, ages 4 and up]
We Are Water Protectors describes the deep relationship between Native peoples and Nature, through the traditional Anishinaabe story of a black snake that threatens the water that gives us all life. Building on the fight for water at Standing Rock, it urges readers to protect water and the wider world around us; by helping the world, we help ourselves. This sparks wider conversations on the changes we can make to lead more sustainable lives. [picture book, ages 4 and up]
I’m So Glad You Were Born shows readers that, wherever we come from and whoever we are, we have value as human beings. This is a helpful reminder at a time when our country faces great division over its identity and future. We may disagree, but it helps to remember our humanity from our earliest days as we try to find solutions to the challenges we face. [picture book, ages 4 and up]
This powerful book explores justice through the eyes of children who hear about a Black man’s death at the hands of the police. It shows how justice is not blind, but biased, and the pain this injustice causes. It also shows how we as individuals can bring about change through our own actions toward others. By standing up for what’s right in our own daily lives, we can create a better world. [picture book, ages 4 and up]
Anthony Perry (Chickasaw) grew up in Oklahoma and now lives in England with his wife and young children. He works as a quality improvement manager in the National Health Service in England and volunteers with hospitals in Pakistan to improve health services. He loves history and enjoys spending time with his family and traveling.
Perry has an undergraduate degree in comparative religion from Dartmouth College, a master’s degree in public health from the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, and a master’s degree in public policy from Birkbeck College, University of London.
9:00 – 10:00 pm EST
We will be giving away 14+ book bundles!
#ReadYourWorld Book Jam 2023 in partnership with Children’s Book Council is excited to present Ukrainian author and illustrator, Oleksandr Shatokhin, with his book list of picture books to understand the Ukraine war.
We also have a giveaway of Yellow Butterfly: A Story From Ukraine. To enter, please fill out the Rafflecopter at the bottom.
In the midst of terrifying darkness surrounded by barbed wire, a yellow butterfly emerges and crosses over to the child. The yellow butterfly leads the child on a journey, finding inspiration and hope in the people carrying on everyday life despite the barrage of bombs. In fact, no amount of bombing can destroy the hope for peace and freedom. Slava Ukraini. [wordless picture book, ages 4 and up]
This is a spare black and white picture book that seems like a happy reunion story of a nephew eagerly waiting for his uncle to visit. But then the story does something unexpected. The boy who is waiting for his uncle to show him how to stop a penalty shop starts to get older and older (though it’s communicated more by the words than the illustration). Finally, the last page is dedicated to those who, because of forced disappearances, have never been able to come home. The Afterword has more information about forced disappearance including examples in modern history. Forced disappearances number more than 15,000 in Ukraine as a result of the war with Russia. [picture book, ages 10 and up]
I can’t say the words that tell you
about the blackened hole
that had been my home.
All I can say is this:
War took everything.
Wark took everyone.
I was ragged, bloody, all alone.
It seems like an ordinary day of going to school for a young girl, but it’s not. It’s the day that war came and destroyed everything she knew and loved. Now, all alone, she is a refugee trying to survive on her own. She walks and walks, turned away by everyone she encounters until she comes upon a school. It seems that there is no room for her until a little boy helps out by offering her a chair so that she can join the class. [picture book, ages 6 and up]
Every second, a child becomes a refugee in Ukraine. It is estimated that two-thirds of Ukraine’s children had to flee their homes since the war began on February 24, 2022.
The war began. Every day bad things
started happening around us and
soon there was nothing but chaos.
And one day the war took my father.
A mother and her children must flee their home when war breaks out. They hope to go to a place far away where they will be safe, but it’s a long, difficult, and dangerous journey. There are free teaching resources about refugees including classroom notes on The Journey on the Amnesty International website. [picture book, ages 5 and up]
Soldiers stomp into town on one terrible day. Ruthi and her little brother Lieb wait for mama to return with food but she never does. They are sent to an orphanage where Lieb is adopted overseas. Ruthi tears a photo of the two of them in half so he can have a photo of her. The war ends, and Ruthi starts a new life in a new country, but always has Lieb’s photo under her pillow. Years go by, then decades. One day, she gets a letter. Can it really be her Lieb? She has kept her promise to never let go. [picture book, ages 5 and up]
Published in 2018, this nonfiction picture book details the Russia-Ukraine conflict over Donetsk Oblast, a part of Ukraine in the eastern region that the Russians took control of in 2014. This is a story of internally displaced persons (IDPs), particularly using one family as an example, who are forced to move several times without different regions of Ukraine. This story repeats itself regarding the war that began on February 24, 2022, when Russia invaded Ukraine and attempted to take over Kyiv, Ukraine’s capital. The difference between this story and current times is that most of the people fleeing Ukraine have to leave their country. The book ends with a “You Can Help!” page that has ideas of how a reader can help newcomers and refugees. This can be a great lead in to discussing war, as well as empowering young readers on how to make a difference in their own community. [nonfiction picture book, ages 8 and up]
Though War is Old
It has not
Become wise
It will not hesitate
To destroy
Things that
Do not
Belong to it
Things very
Much older
Than itself.
Alice Walker uses free verse poetry to describe War as if it were a person. With simple examples, she describes War’s devastation and wanton destruction. This is a picture book to help young readers who haven’t experienced war firsthand, feel its impact. [picture book, ages 4 and up]
In a pile of rubble, a child finds a single green sprout and tends to it until it grows big enough to climb over the barbed wire fence, separating two countries at war. It’s a grapevine. But one day, the soldiers on the other side destroy it. The boy is heartbroken but come spring, some seeds from his vine have sprouted on the other side where a little girl tends them. Soon, he finds new shoots on his side as well. The plants grow big and intertwine, hiding the barbed wire fence. And perhaps one day, the fence will disappear altogether. Geographic boundaries can change during a war. This story celebrates the enduring human spirit. [picture book, ages 5 and up]
We are giving away a copy of Yellow Butterfly: A Story From Ukraine. To enter, please fill out the Rafflecopter below. We can only mail to U.S. and A.F.O. addresses.
Oleksandr Shatokhin is an artist and children’s book illustrator who lives and works in Ukraine. On the first day of the Russian invasion of Ukraine, Oleksandr and his family left their home in Sumy, close to the Russian border, for Poltava. On the way there, they were held up in occupied Trostianka (Sumy region) but finally managed to travel through the “green corridor” to reach their friends in Poltava. Oleksandr’s wife and child continued on to the safety of Poland. The author stayed in Ukraine. After two months apart the family was reunited in Western Ukraine and are now living together in the city of Lviv close to the Polish border.
9:00 – 10:00 pm EST
We will be giving away 14+ book bundles!
https://us02web.zoom.us/meeting/register/tZ0qfuitrD4sGNbYdoYtet-LmApWC71XBMpY
