Asia in the Heart, World on the Mind

The 2012 APALA Asian/Pacific American Awards for Literature

2012-01-25T01:31:00.004+08:00

The Asian/Pacific American Librarians Association has selected the following books as recipients for the 2012 Asian/Pacific American Awards for Literature. =D

Picture Book Award:

The House Baba Built: An Artist’s Childhood in China by Ed Young (Little, Brown Books for Young Readers)

Honor Book:

Hot Hot Roti for Dada-ji written by F. Zia and illustrated by Ken Min (Lee & Low Books)

Children's Literature Award:

The Great Wall of Lucy Wu by Wendy Wan-Long Shang (Scholastic)

Honor Book:

Vanished by Sheela Chari (Hyperion)

Young Adult Literature Award:

Orchards by Holly Thompson (Delacorte Books for Young Readers)

Honor Book:

Level Up by Gene Luen Yang (First Second Books)

Congratulations to all the winners! Click here to see the winners and honor books for the adult fiction and adult nonfiction categories.

The 2012 American Library Association Youth Media Awards

2012-01-23T23:30:00.004+08:00

Today the American Library Association announced the winners of the 2012 Youth Media Awards - the top children's and young adult books, audio books, and videos of the past year. The winners included. . .

Stonewall Book Award

Honor book:

Money Boy by Paul Yee (Groundwood Books)

Robert F. Sibert Informational Book Medal

Honor book:

Drawing from Memory by Allen Say (Scholastic Press)

John Newbery Medal

Honor book:

Inside Out & Back Again by Thanhha Lai (HarperCollins Children’s Books)

Congratulations!!! Click here to see the list of all winners.

Happy Lunar New Year!!!

2012-01-23T17:50:00.000+08:00

The 2012 Sydney Taylor Book Awards Announced by the Association of Jewish Libraries

2012-01-19T23:11:00.002+08:00

Congratulations to the winners of the 2012 Sydney Taylor Book Awards! The Sydney Taylor Book Awards honor new books for children and teens that exemplify the highest literary standards while authentically portraying the Jewish experience. The winners will receive their awards at the Association of Jewish Libraries convention in Pasadena, California in June.

The Sydney Taylor Book Award Winner for Younger Readers:

Chanukah Lights by Michael J. Rosen with artwork by Robert Sabuda (Candlewick Press)

The Sydney Taylor Honor Books for Younger Readers:

Naamah and the Ark at Night by Susan Campbell Bartoletti with illustrations by Holly Meade (Candlewick Press)

Around the World in One Shabbat: Jewish People Celebrate the Sabbath Together written and illustrated by Durga Yael Bernhard (Jewish Lights Publishing)

The Sydney Taylor Book Award Winner for Older Readers:

Music Was It: Young Leonard Bernstein by Susan Goldman Rubin (Charlesbridge Publishing)

The Sydney Taylor Honor Books for Older Readers:

Lily Renee, Escape Artist: From Holocaust Survivor to Comic Book Pioneer by Trina Robbins with illustrations by Anne Timmons and Mo Oh (Graphic Universe)

Hammerin’ Hank Greenberg: Baseball Pioneer by Shelley Sommer (Calkins Creek)
Irena’s Jars of Secrets by Marcia Vaughan with illustrations by Ron Mazellan (Lee & Low Books)

The Sydney Taylor Book Award Winner for Teen Readers:

The Berlin Boxing Club by Robert Sharenow (Harper Teen)

The Sydney Taylor Honor Books for Teen Readers:

Then by Morris Gleitzman (Henry Holt and Company)

The Blood Lie: A Novel by Shirley Reva Vernick (Cinco Puntos Press)

Congratulations again to all the winners! Click here to see the list of the Sydney Taylor Book Awards Notable Books.

Finalists of the 2011 Cybils

2012-01-19T21:27:00.003+08:00

Congratulations to the finalists of the 2011 Children's and Young Adult Bloggers' Literary Awards (the Cybils)! For this blog, I would like to highlight the following finalists. =D

Middle Grade Fiction

The Friendship Doll by Kirby Larson (Delacorte Press Books for Young Readers)

The Great Wall of Lucy Wu by Wendy Wan-Long Shang (Scholastic)

Warp Speed by Lisa Yee (Arthur A. Levine)

Words in the Dust by Trent Reedy (Arthur A. Levine)

Fantasy & Science Fiction (Middle Grade)

The Inquisitor's Apprentice by Chris Moriarty (Harcourt)

Poetry

Requiem: Poems of the Terezin Ghetto by Paul B. Janeczko (Candlewick Press)

Graphic Novels

Hereville: How Mirka Got Her Sword by Barry Deutsch (Amulet)

Sidekicks by Dan Santat (Arthur A. Levine)

Level Up by Gene Luen Yang and Thien Pham (First Second Books)

Fantasy & Science Fiction (Young Adult)

Angelfall by Susan Ee (Feral Dream)

Anna Dressed in Blood by Kendare Blake (Tor Teen)

The winners will be announced on Valentine's Day! <3

Author/Illustrator Interview: Joyce Wan

2012-01-18T00:30:00.007+08:00

I am in love.

With these board books:

You Are My Cupcake by Joyce Wan (Cartwheel Books, 2011)

A quote from the book:

"You are my. . . Chubby little pumpkin"

Detail shots of the interior:

We Belong Together by Joyce Wan (Cartwheel Books, 2011)

A quote from the book:

"We belong together. . . Like bacon and eggs every day"

Detail shots of the interior:

Can you see how my eyes are sparkling from reading these board books? They are good enough to eat! I shared them with my family and students and everyone just melted. Awww. <3

Author/illustrator Joyce Wan is here today to share about the books and Wanart, her greeting card and gift company. She's also going to give us a little tour of her studio!

Tarie: What is a typical day like at Wanart?

Joyce: There is no typical day at Wanart. I could be working on new card designs to working on new book ideas. It's different every day, and every hour even, but that's the way I like it! I always have coffee in the morning to start my day - gets me into work mode. I also always need music while I work - I don't think I can work without it. My musical taste tends to change over the years, but lately, if I need to write, be it a sales letter or a new story, I have to listen to classical music. Interestingly enough, I also find classical music works well if I have trouble motivating myself to work. If I'm drawing or designing something new I like contemporary pop/dance music by Rihanna, Britney Spears, Lady Gaga, Ke$ha, Florence + The Machine, Katy Perry. If the designing stage of a project is done and I'm doing more production work like tracing final drawings for a book dummy, or coloring drawings in Illustrator then I need my 80s music, stuff I can sing along with, music by Madonna, Tears for Fears, Duran Duran, U2, etc. For snacks, give me my Diet Coke and potato chips and I'm happy as a clam although I do occasionally like my Wild Berry Skittles especially when I really need to dig into a project and focus!

Tarie: Can you give us a tour of your studio?

Joyce: This is my workspace. I work mostly in the digital medium so I'm usually on my computer. I'll use my light table for the concept stages of developing a book and for creating book dummies. Hanging on the wall behind my desk is my inspiration board where I pin up printouts of stuff I'm working on, postcards, photographs, quotes, scraps of paper, fabric – anything I find that resonates with me. I think it's really important to create a space for yourself that nurtures your creative spirit.

If you look in this picture there is a window ledge to the right of my desk. I put all sorts of knick knacks here - I love to surround myself with all sorts of cute, happy, and lucky items! I treasure my collection of lucky cats especially!

This is the favorite part of my studio. It's where I sit when I need to clear my mind, flip through books of artists/authors I admire, and get inspired. The art books sitting on the table right now are about Charlie Harper, Murakami, and Yoshitomo Nara.

I also still have my little pink Christmas tree sitting on top of my filing cabinet in my office from this past holiday. It makes me happy so I left it up. It's Christmas all year round here in the Wanart studio! Haha!

Tarie: Gotta love a studio where it is Christmas all year round!

Please guide us through your creative process for You Are My Cupcake and We Belong Together.

Joyce: A lot of my book ideas are inspired by my card designs. You Are My Cupcake is based on a line of New Baby cards and We Belong Together off of a line of Love cards. My card designs usually start as sketches. Then I scan and trace and color in Adobe Illustrator. My art for both books was created digitally.

The very original concept sketch when I first came up with the idea [You Are My Cupcake] back in 2009:

Images of the packages that I sent out to publishers when I was pitching the idea. The packages contained a cover letter, my bio, a Wanart catalog, a book dummy, and a manuscript page.

Tarie: Very impressive book pitch!

Please tell us about how you are influenced and inspired by traditional and pop Asian culture.

Joyce: For my card line I generally have two styles. I have designs that feature elements of traditional Chinese culture and themes such as cards featuring the animals of the Chinese Zodiac and decorative motifs inspired by the traditional Chinese folk art of paper-cutting. My parents are originally from China so traditional Chinese culture, holidays, and imagery were very much part of my childhood. These cards were also the reason why I started my company to begin with because when I went away to college I never found cards I felt I could send to my parents. As my company grew, I further expanded to include more designs that are kawaii (Japanese term used to describe cute things) inspired. I have always been, and will always be, a Hello Kitty girl! Simple, bold, clean lines, vibrant colors, round shapes, adorable faces - I just LOVE surrounding my world with cute, happy images and spreading the joy of cuteness through my art. Some Asian artists that inspire me include Yoshitomo Nara and Murakami - both artists have managed to bridge the gap between commercial and fine art and have taken their art across all different kinds of mediums which I really admire.

Tarie: Happy Year of the Dragon, Joyce! Thank you so much for your time and for your commitment to cuteness!

I'll end this post with an image of Joyce's greeting card for the Year of the Dragon. :o)

Eeeeeee! ~^o^~

2012-01-17T22:00:00.001+08:00

Cat Girl's Day Off by Kimberly Pauley (Tu Books, April 2012)

What are kids in India reading?

2012-01-17T16:15:00.005+08:00

Via Pratham Books and Hindustan Times. Thank you so much for this information!

It's not too late!

2012-01-13T01:42:00.000+08:00

The Philippine National Book Development Board (NBDB) and the Philippine Board on Books for Young People (PBBY) are now accepting nominations for the 2nd Philippine National Children’s Book Awards.

All publishers, authors, and illustrators are invited to submit their nominations. The deadline for submission of nominations is January 31, 2012.

Please click here for more information. :o)

Call for Papers: Taiwan Children’s Literature Research Association

2012-01-12T16:57:00.002+08:00

Call for Papers

Taiwan Children’s Literature Research Association, English Department of Soochow University

Contact email: tclra101@gmail.com

Children’s literature as a field of academic study has grown steadily in Taiwan over the past several years. Many other Asian nations have also seen a concerted interest in both the production and criticism of literature for young people. This interest has given rise to the creation of the Taiwan Children’s Literature Research Association (TLRCA), a distinctly Taiwanese organization in the process of formation that is dedicated to the study of children’s and young adult literature. The first action of the TLRCA is this conference, held in conjunction with the Children’s Literature Association (ChLA), that seeks to unite Asian scholars of children’s literature with each other and with scholars from regions where the study of children’s literature has had a longer tradition.

By focusing the theme for this conference on “the Child in the Book” we wish to interrogate the ways in which children and childhood are constructed in texts for young people from a variety of cultures and perspectives. What ideas lay behind the representation of children in literary texts? What assumptions are made about potential readers? If childhood is a shifting idea that is ideologically constructed, then how do these ideas shift between texts written by or for people in different national contexts? Do the historical ideas of childhood that have played such an extensive role in North American and European societies translate to other societies and cultures? While issues of childhood representations in all settings are welcome, of special concern is the representation of cultures and diversity in Asian contexts as well as with Asians in non-Asian settings.

The following are suggested topics, but other ideas implied by the title are also welcome:

Children and childhood in Asia

Children in translation

Comparative perspectives of childhood

Minority childhoods

Refugee children

Children and war

Immigration and childhood

Cross-cultural childhoods and experiences

Representations of adolescence

Representations of diversity

Questions of authenticity in representation

Childhood in graphic novels

Childhood in non-print media (film, theater, video games)

Media representations of children

Children as writers

Child narrators and focalizers

Please email abstracts fewer than 500 words with a brief resume to the TLRCA Conference Committee (tclra101@gmail.com).

Deadline for abstracts is March 1, 2012. Notification of acceptance is by March 30.

Conference website: https://sites.google.com/site/tclra2012/

cfp categories:
childrens_literature
international_conferences
professional_topics

Aaahhh, it feels so good to be back.

2012-01-09T23:53:00.002+08:00

I've felt a little unstable without my blog =P, but I'm back now and I'd like to share the latest releases from Adarna House. All these picture books are in Filipino, but include English translations. To give you an idea of the writing and illustrations, I have posted below their covers as well as their first couple of pages:

Ang Ambisyosong Istetoskop, written by Luis Gatmaitan and illustrated by Beth Parrocha Doctolero (second edition)

A book revealing some of the struggles and triumphs of Jose Rizal, the Philippines' national hero.

Dalawang Dagang Bulag, written by Rodolfo Desuasido and illustrated by Rommel Joson (third edition)

I love this! Tight, smart rhyming text and illustrations that both capture and expand the spirit of this little country tale. Woot!

Rosa Albina, written by Virgilio S. Almario and illustrated by Kora Dandan-Albano (third edition)

A classic Filipino children's story about humility and camaraderie.

Si Hinlalaki, written by Virgilio S. Almario and illustrated by Hubert Fucio (third edition)

I love this one too! A playful story about fingers - yes, fingers - with restrained writing (Can you tell I prefer restrained writing for picture books?) and cheeky illustrations!

ETA: Oh, oh, oh! I just found out that you can buy the electronic version of Si Hinlalaki. Click here. Buy now! Buy now!

Whuush!, written by Glenda Oris and illustrated by Aldy Aguirre

This book makes the winds and the rest of their environment come alive for children in interesting ways!

Happy Holidays!!!

2011-12-19T12:49:00.001+08:00

The slowest laptop in the world + no Internet access = the height of frustration

I have been having problems with my Internet service provider and will be visiting family for the holidays. I'll be back blogging next year!

Happy Holidays, everyone. ~^o^~

- Posted using BlogPress from my iPad

Call for Submissions: Tu Books

2011-12-08T01:09:00.003+08:00

Tu Books publishes speculative fiction for children and young adults featuring diverse characters and settings. Our focus is on well-told, exciting, adventurous fantasy, science fiction, and mystery novels featuring people of color set in worlds inspired by non-Western folklore or culture. We welcome Western settings if the main character is a person of color.

We are looking specifically for stories for both middle grade (ages 8-12) and young adult (ages 12-18) readers. (We are not looking for picture books, chapter books, or short stories. Please do not send submissions in these formats.)

For more information on how to submit, please see our submission guidelines. We are not accepting unagented email submissions at this time.

What we’re particularly interested in seeing lately: Asian steampunk, any African culture, contemporary African-American stories, Latino/a stories, First Nations/Native American/Aboriginal fantasy or science fiction written by tribal members, original postapocalyptic worlds, historical fantasy or mystery set in a non-Western setting. Please note that while our focus remains on main characters that are people of color, we strongly welcome GLBTQ characters as well.

We look forward to reading your book!

The 2012 PBBY-Salanga Prize

2011-12-08T01:00:00.000+08:00

Congratulations to Russell Molina for winning the 2012 Philippine Board on Books for Young People - Salanga Prize! Molina also won the prize in 2003. :o)

Congratulations to honorable mentions Felinda Bagas and Segundo Matias!

Click here to learn more about the contest, or email pbby@adarna.com.ph.

And according to the New York Times. . .

2011-12-03T18:43:00.004+08:00

The most notable children's books of the year include Allen Say's Drawing from Memory and:

Level Up, written by Gene Luen Yang and illustrated by Thien Pham (First Second Books)

Waiting with you, Ari!

2011-12-02T21:00:00.002+08:00

The Whole Story of Half a Girl by Veera Hiranandani (Delacorte Books for Young Readers, 10 January 2012)

My other blog crush, Ari of Reading In Color, is waiting for this to be released. A half Indian, half Jewish American protagonist? I'm waiting with you, Ari!

Ohohoho, and the awesomeness continues.

2011-12-02T20:23:00.000+08:00

School Library Journal named their picks for the Best Books of 2011, and they include:

The House Baba Built: An Artist's Childhood in China by Ed Young (Little, Brown Books for Young Readers)

Dear Ed Young, how do I love thee? Let me count the ways. . .

The Twins' Blanket by Hyewon Yum (Farrar, Straus and Giroux Books for Young Readers)

Call for Submissions - HORROR: Fantastic Filipino Fiction for Young Adults

2011-11-29T15:15:00.002+08:00

Editors Dean Francis Alfar (publisher of the Philippine Speculative Fiction anthologies) and Kenneth Yu (publisher of Philippine Genre Stories) announce a call for short fiction submissions for HORROR: Fantastic Filipino Fiction for Young Adults.

Fantastic Filipino Fiction for Young Adults is a new annual anthology series, with the first volume focusing on horror, and launching in mid-2012.

Submissions must be:

1. in the horror genre or contain strong horror elements

2. written with the young adult reader in mind (from 10 – 18 years old) and feature a young adult character (or characters)

3. cognizant of the themes and concerns of young adult fiction (coming of age, identity, belonging, a sense of wonder, a love for adventure, angst, concerns over school, challenges of youth, family issues, relationships to authority figures, sexuality, experimentation, peer pressure, bullying, among many others) – without being didactic and/or boring

4. written in English

5. authored by Filipinos or those of Philippine ancestry

Submissions are preferred to be:

1. original and unpublished

2. no shorter than 1,000 words and no longer than 7,500

In the case of previously-published work — if accepted, the author will be expected to secure permission to reprint, if necessary, from the original publishing entity, and to provide relevant publication information.

Submission details:

1. No multiple or simultaneous submissions — i.e., submit only one story, and do not submit that story to any other market until you have received a letter of regret from us.

2. All submissions should be in rich text format (saved under the file extension ‘.rtf’), and emailed to dean(at)kestrelddm(dot)com with the subject line ‘FFFH: title (word count)’, where ‘title’ is the title of your submission and '(word count)' is the number of words the submission comes up to, rounded up to the nearest hundred (use the “tools” function of your word processor to find out).

3. Do not use fancy formatting.

4. Include a brief bio and publishing history (if applicable).

5. The deadline for submissions is midnight, Manila time, March 15, 2012. Letters of acceptance or regret will be sent out no later than one month after the deadline.

6. First-time authors are more than welcome to submit; good stories trump literary credentials any time.

Compensation will be Php500 for selected stories. We are still deciding whether to go digital or print (or even both). In the event that we publish a print version, each author will be provided with a contributor’s copy of the book. If the anthology is published in digital form, each author will be given a formatted e-copy of the anthology.

Thanks,

Dean Francis Alfar & Kenneth Yu

Editors

HORROR: Fantastic Filipino Fiction for Young Adults

More Awesomeness

2011-11-29T15:14:00.000+08:00

Here are some of the Best Teen Books of 2011!!!
I.M. Pei: Architect of Time, Place and Purpose by Jill Rubalcaba (Marshall Cavendish Corp/Ccb)

Island's End by Padma Venkatraman (Putnam Juvenile)

Mangaman, written by Barry Lyga and illustrated by Colleen Doran (Houghton Mifflin Books for Children)

Happy Book Birthday to You. . .

2011-11-28T01:35:00.000+08:00

Happy Book Birthday to You. . . Happy Book Birthday, Happy Book Birthday. . . Happy Book Birthday to You!

In Bon Bibi’s Forest, written by Sandhya Rao and illustrated by Proiti Roy (Tulika Books)

"When the quiet villages of Sundarban are terrorised by Dokkhin Rai, a monster with wild eyes, sharp teeth, striped skin and pointed nails, Bon Bibi has to step in to look after the people. That’s when she realises that Dokkhin Rai himself needs protection – as do the forests that are his home."

The Magic Feather by Roma Singh (Tulika Books)

"An owl drops a purple feather in a forest. A little girl picks it up and there begins a journey into magical lands..."

Ack! The illustrations for these two books look gorgeous!

You guys are AWESOME.

2011-11-28T00:35:00.002+08:00

Congratulations for being named some of the Best Children's Books of 2011!

Coral Reefs by Jason Chin (Flash Point)

Inside Out & Back Again by Thanhha Lai (HarperCollins)

Drawing From Memory by Allen Say (Scholastic Press)

OMG, congratulations!

2011-11-18T12:26:00.003+08:00

Congratulations to Thanhha Lai for winning the National Book Award - Young People's Literature for Inside Out & Back Again!!!

Let's kick it. . .

2011-11-06T22:26:00.003+08:00

With Joo Hee Yoon at Seven Impossible Things Before Breakfast!

You rock, Zhu Cheng Liang!

2011-11-04T20:21:00.003+08:00

Congratulations to illustrator Zhu Cheng Liang and author Yu Li Qiong! Their picture book A New Year’s Reunion (Candlewick Press) made it on the New York Times list of the 10 Best Illustrated Children’s Books of 2011!

Mind. Blown.

2011-10-28T13:00:00.004+08:00

More to reflect on when considering the number of Asian characters in children's and YA books.

“You guys know about vampires? … You know, vampires have no reflections in a mirror? There’s this idea that monsters don’t have reflections in a mirror. And what I’ve always thought isn’t that monsters don’t have reflections in a mirror. It’s that if you want to make a human being into a monster, deny them, at the cultural level, any reflection of themselves. And growing up, I felt like a monster in some ways. I didn’t see myself reflected at all. I was like, Yo, is something wrong with me? That the whole society seems to think that people like me don’t exist? And part of what inspired me, was this deep desire that before I died, I would make a couple of mirrors. That I would make some mirrors so that kids like me might see themselves reflected back and might not feel so monstrous for it.” — Junot Diaz

I am so glad I am meeting this man in November.

HAPPY DIWALI!

2011-10-26T21:36:00.003+08:00

India in the Heart, World on the Mind

2011-10-25T18:37:00.001+08:00

I think this is worth checking out!

After all, a fun activity book is always a winner with kids!

The World Tour Mystery by Manjula Padmanabhan (Tulika Books, 2011)

"As the idea of the Monuments book continued to twitch and grow inside my mind, I and Tulika began to see that difference/sameness are a really important part of traveling too. After all, people in other countries look different and have unique local costumes, yet -- as we see in the book -- tourists look the same wherever they go! When we line up to board an aircraft, we see hundreds of people, some young, some old, some funny, some strange: yet for all the differences, we can also see so much that's the same: we all drink water, for instance; little babies of all nationalities scream in the same language; everyone looks grumpy if there's a long queue for the toilet."

Click here to find out more about this puzzle book. :o)

Also. . .

I wish I could visit. :o( :o( :o(

P.S. The cover of The World Tour Mystery reminds me of the banner for this blog. Heeheehee.

My blog crush is back!

2011-10-22T18:33:00.001+08:00

One of the influences and inspirations of this blog is Li and her blog GAL Novelty. Li took a long break from the blogosphere but is now back with a new blog, A World of Paper Hearts. Check it out! ~^o^~

The Astrid Lindgren Memorial Award 2012

2011-10-15T23:50:00.002+08:00

Confetti, cupcakes, champagne, and fireworks for the Asian nominees of the 2012 Astrid Lindgren Memorial Award (ALMA), the world's largest prize for children's and young adult literature!!

A & A Book Trust
Organisation
India

AÇEV (Mother and Child Education Foundation)
Organisation
Turkey

Ahmadi, Ahmad Reza
Author
Iran

Ali, Abdul Razzag
Author
Maldives

Anno, Mitsumasa
Illustrator
Japan

Bunanta, Murti
Author/Promoter of reading
Indonesia

Dashdondog, Jamba
Author/Oral storyteller/Promoter of reading
Mongolia

Donya Children's Research Institute
Organisation
Iran

Ismail, Mohd Yusof Bin
Author/Illustrator/Oral storyteller
Malaysia

Katha
Organisation
India

Liu, Xianping
Author
China

Midhat Kazim, Basarat
Author/Promoter of reading
Pakistan

Murti Bunanta Foundation
Organisation/Oral storytellers
Indonesia

Rahmandoost, Mostafa
Author
Iran

Say, Allen
Author/Illustrator
USA

Sta. Romana-Cruz, Neni
Author/Promoter of reading
The Philippines

Thailand Knowledge Park
Organisation
Thailand

Tokyo Children’s Library
Organisation
Japan

Touma, Nadine
Author
Lebanon

Uehashi, Nahoko
Author
Japan

Ural, Yalvaç
Author
Turkey

Aaahhh! Aaahhh!

2011-10-13T00:37:00.000+08:00

Congratulations to Thanhha Lai, author of Inside Out & Back Again (HarperCollins, 2011), for being named a finalist of the US National Book Awards (Young People's Literature)!

New books from Karadi Tales!

2011-10-09T18:23:00.001+08:00

Check out the October releases from Karadi Tales (India)!

Dancing Bear, written by Manasi Subramaniam and illustrated by Gwangjo and Jung-a Park

Somu the bear is unusual: He can dance! But Somu wants to be free and unchained. Can his friend Altaf understand this? Will Altaf ever set him free? This poignant story describes the friendship between a young boy and a bear, the boy’s unique understanding of what the bear truly wants, and the true predicament of dancing bears in India.

Dorje’s Stripes, written by Anshumani Ruddra and illustrated by Gwangjo and Jung-a Park

Dorje is a beautiful Royal Bengal Tiger – but he has no stripes on his body. In a small Buddhist monastery in Tibet, Master Wu, a good-hearted monk, tries to understand the secret of Dorje’s missing stripes. This sensitively written, beautifully illustrated story takes us to Tibet, Bengal, and the heart of the Royal Bengal Tiger.

The Moustache Man, written by Priya Ramanathan and illustrated by Garima Gupta

Nekgaon is a perfect village. Yes, everything’s perfect – from the cock’s crow to the setting sun. But one wily man arrives and changes everything about Nekgaon with his strange demand. Read this mischievous book to see how perfect Nekgaon becomes imperfect.

When the Earth Lost its Shapes, written by Shobha Viswanath and illustrated by Christine Kastl

One day, all the shapes in the world disappear. [Note from Tarie: OMG, nooooooo.] No one knows where they are. Everything changes and becomes shapeless – from the egg to the kite to the orange. It is up to the little dot to restore shape to the world. This heartwarming, sensitively illustrated story about team spirit and conviction takes us into the wonderful world of shapes.

Whose Lovely Child Can You Be?, written by Shobha Viswanath and illustrated by Christine Tappin

Gulgul is not really sure where she comes from – then her entire family decides to tell her the story of the magical day she entered their lives. And Gulgul realizes that she’s far more special than she knew! This tender story in rhyme is about the wonderful experience of having a child in your life.

It's hard to choose just one when presented with such a selection of books. @_@ The illustrations for Dancing Bear and Dorje's Stripes look sublime, I like the concept behind When the Earth Lost its Shapes, fun and funny books like The Moustache Man are always a hit in the classroom, and Whose Lovely Child Can You Be? looks like a classic that could make me cry.

Which of the five books looks most interesting to you?

Miscellany 10-6-11

2011-10-06T21:53:00.007+08:00

* Fun =D

Author/illustrator Grace Lin (sooooooo pretty and talented) has a project leaving pocket Pacys (tiny dolls of the main character in her middle grade novels The Year of the Dog and The Year of the Rat) in different places in France. She's hoping people will pick up the pocket Pacys and travel with them.

* Intriguing!

Marc Tyler Nobleman is using his blog to pitch his picture book manuscript featuring WWII navy pilot Nobuo Fujita, the first and still only man to complete an aerial attack on American soil. Link here.

Thanks to Greg Pincus for this tip.

* Sorry :o(

Still haven't finished tagging each blog post by country. >_<

* Watch out for . . .

My interview with author/illustrator Joyce Wan. She's committed to cuteness!

* And ooohhh . . .

Tulika Books USA! Tulika, you really know what you are doing.

Why I Started This Blog: The Danger of A Single Story

2011-09-18T19:59:00.003+08:00

Shweta Ganesh Kumar shared with me this TED Talk from novelist Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie about how "a single story" about another person or country can cause critical misunderstanding, and I felt that the talk really reflected why I started this blog. Please watch it below, if you haven't already:

I sometimes teach creative writing to children and teens and have been very shocked to see that the first impulse of my students - all Filipinos or Chinese Filipinos ages 11-15 - is to write stories featuring characters with blond hair and blue eyes. It seems that, like the seven-year-old Adichie, my students have "a single story" about what literature is and do not think that people like them can exist in literature. (Needless to say, I am now trying to expose my students to more Filipino literature and literature from other Asian countries.)

I blog because our students, nieces and nephews, children, grandchildren, and godchildren NEED AND DESERVE more than "a single story" about Asia and more than "a single story" about each Asian country. And I am really grateful that you are here reading this blog, because that means you reject "the single story" about Asia and "the single story" about each Asian country.

The first Filipino ReaderCon was a success!

2011-09-18T18:10:00.000+08:00

THANK YOU to all the sponsors of the first Filipino Reader Conference:

Vibal Publishing House, Inc.

Primetrade Asia, Inc.

Flipside Digital Content Company, Inc.

Scholastic Philippines

OMF Literature

Hachette Philippines

Tie Me Up, Buttercup

National Book Development Board

The ReaderCon included a keynote speech on "prosumers" (producers who are also consumers/consumers who are also producers), panels on book clubs and book blogging, and book raffles. It felt like a party with fun people eating yummy food, sharing their love and passion for books and social media, and celebrating and promoting the reading COMMUNITY. I'd like to thank the sponsors again, and I'd most especially like to thank the head organizer and my good friend Honey de Peralta. ~^o^~

I look forward to next year's ReaderCon. Par-tay, par-tay!

Looking for a 9/11 novel to read?

2011-09-11T00:01:00.003+08:00

"The struggle to fit in is very nearly universal in teen culture, but it’s that much tougher for a lot of young people in the wake of 9/11. Author Neesha Meminger takes on both the topical issue of anti-Muslim racism and the ever-present struggle to be true to yourself in her intense and thoughtful novel Shine, Coconut Moon." - Colleen Mondor for Bookslut

". . .One day, shortly after 9/11, a man wearing a turban shows up on her doorstep. He is her estranged uncle, and through him, Sam begins to realize how important being Indian American is to her identity. This novel is especially poignant as our country continues to deal with prejudice against South Asians and individuals from the Middle East." - Melanie Koss for Booklist

"An important book for young people about coming to terms with identity, prejudice, and family in a post-9/11 world." - Marina Budhos, author of Ask Me No Questions and Tell Us We're Home

Click here to read my blog post on Neesha Meminger and Shine, Coconut Moon.

See you there? =D

2011-09-10T23:39:00.001+08:00

Please be patient!

2011-09-10T23:00:00.001+08:00

I am still in the process of tagging posts by country. :o)

Children's Literature Association Call for Papers: Philippine Children’s Literature

2011-08-21T01:31:00.003+08:00

International Committee, Children's Literature Association

Call for Papers:
Philippine Children’s Literature

39th Annual Children’s Literature Association Conference
Simmons College, Boston, Massachusetts, USA
June 14-16, 2012

The International Committee of the Children’s Literature Association is planning a special country focus panel on the Philippines, to be presented at the 39th Children’s Literature Association Conference, to be held at Simmons College, Boston, Massachusetts, USA from June 14 to 16, 2012. The committee invites paper proposals that focus on any aspect of Philippine children’s literature. Papers may focus on the origins of and/or developments in Philippine children’s texts; issues of regionalism and nationalism; Philippine folklore as children’s texts; Philippine children’s literature in the diaspora; or the state of children’s literature studies in the Philippines. Preference will be given to proposals with the potential to inspire American and international scholars to develop active interest in Philippine children’s literature and to integrate it into their own research.

The authors of two papers selected for the panel to accompany a presentation by a Philippine Distinguished Scholar (invited by the committee) will be awarded a $500 travel grant each. Up to four other proposals may be selected as well, pending the approval of the additional panel by the conference paper selection committee. The papers must be presented in English and must not exceed the twenty-minute reading time. The committee strongly encourages ChLA members and other scholars with an interest in Philippine children’s literature to submit paper proposals for the session.

Send 500-word abstracts accompanied by up to 250-word bios to the International Committee, Children’s Literature Association, P.O. Box 138, Battle Creek, MI 49016-0138, USA; fax +269-965-3568; or electronically to info@childlitassn.org. The deadline for submissions is November 30, 2011.

My wallet is ready.

2011-08-18T22:19:00.001+08:00

The Twins' Blanket by Hyewon Yum (Farrar, Straus and Giroux, August 2011)

This seems like a must-buy. Click here to read the New York Times article that made me want to buy the book.

Let's help build more libraries for children in the Philippines, yes?

2011-08-16T01:28:00.003+08:00

Hmmm, I would have liked to see the children reading more Filipino and other Asian books. :o)

Click here to learn more about Sambat Trust and how you can help build more libraries for children in the Philippines!

Announcing the 1st Filipino Reader Conference

2011-08-12T00:08:00.007+08:00

Filipino Readers Make It Social!

The 1st Filipino Reader Conference

When: September 14, 2011, Wednesday, 1-6 PM (during the Manila International Book Fair)

Where: SMX Mall of Asia (Metro Manila, Philippines), Meeting Room 2

Objectives:

1. to provide support, instruction, and social time for book club members and book bloggers
2. to celebrate readers and reading in the Philippines
3. to promote a closer connection between readers, writers, and publishers

Program:

1:00 – 1:20 PM Registration

1:20 – 1:30 PM Welcome Remarks

1:30 – 2:00 PM Keynote Speech: How readers can help promote Filipino authors, publishers, and Philippine literature

Speaker: Carljoe Javier

Author of And The Geek Shall Inherit the Earth, The Kobayashi Maru of Love, and Geek Tragedies. Also published stories in anthologies and magazines, such as Free Press, Philippine Graphic, and Fudge. Taught Creative Writing at UP Diliman and was a fellow for fiction at the UP and Dumaguete National Writers Workshops. Maintains a blog, Lumpen Culturati. Currently teaches for the UP Open University and works for UP Press.

2:00 – 3:30 PM Panel Discussion: Putting up and Running a Book Club – for the fun of it!

Panelists:

Gege Sugue

Founder of Flips Flipping Pages (FFP), an online/offline book club based in Shelfari. FFP has been in existence since September 2007 and has been conducting monthly face-to-face book discussions since May 2008. There are 1400+ online members of FFP. Regular online discussion participants, however, number around 60, while regular offline discussion members number around 30.

Kuya Doni

Kuya Doni is an administrator of the Filipino Goodreads Group, an online/offline Filipino book club based in Goodreads. Filipino Goodreads conducts several online discussions per month and has organized face-to-face meet-ups among members. There are 1200+ online members of Filipino Goodreads.

Tata Francisco

Founder of Ex Libris Philippines, an offline book club and NGO. The book club meets monthly for book discussions and book swappings, and holds fundraising projects to raise money for scholars in UP Diliman.

Facilitator: Peter Sandico

FFP administrator in-charge of online discussions. Publishing professional and also runs a book blog called Kyusireader.

3:30 – 4:00 PM Snacks

4:00 – 5:30 PM Panel Discussion: The Why and How of Book Blogging

Panelists:

Tarie Sabido

That's me! ~^O^~

Charles Tan

Editor, author, and speculative fiction blogger since 2006. Virtually the international ambassador of Philippine speculative fiction. Compiled the Philippine Speculative Fiction Sampler and writes sharp, insightful essays about the state of local and international publishing.

Chachic Fernandez

YA and fantasy blogger. Administrator of the Filipino Book Bloggers website, which is a directory of Filipino book bloggers from all over the world. Organizes and facilitates meet-ups of Filipino book bloggers around Metro Manila.

Aldrin Calimlim

Literary blogger. Also one of the contributors to Pelikula Tumblr, a film blog, and Fully Booked’s magazine. Featured in Young Star Philippines as a book tweeter.

Sasha Martinez

Literary blogger with a vast connection to foreign literary bloggers. Majored in creative writing and is a published writer. Contributes to the Philippine Online Chronicles and does book reviews for Free Press. Finalist in the Arts and Culture Category of the 2010 Philippine Blog Awards.

Facilitator: Honey de Peralta

Eclectic book blogger. Member and administrator of Flips Flipping Pages. Finalist in the Arts and Culture Category of the 2009 and 2010 Philippine Blog Awards.

5:30 – 6:00 PM Socials – venue for bloggers, book club members, authors, and publishers to get together and network

SEE YOU THERE!!!

Author Interview: Emily Lim

2011-08-07T00:11:00.003+08:00

Singaporean Emily Lim is the award-winning author of the picture books Prince Bear & Pauper Bear, The Tale of Rusty Horse, Just Teddy, Bunny Finds the Right Stuff, and Baby Panda Finds His Way - all stories that give readers the warm fuzzies! Here I chat with Emily about her work and children's literature in Singapore.

Why do you write children's literature? Can you please tell us about your path to publication? What keeps you inspired and motivated as a children's book writer?

I started out with children's books as that was the genre under the First Time Writers and Illustrators Publishing Initiative, organized by our Book Council and the Media Development Authority [MDA] of Singapore. Under that Initiative, winners were given a grant to get their book published. I was in between jobs at that time. So I decided to research on the publishing process and publish my own book. I borrowed "how to" books from the National Library and attended a few book conferences to figure how I could do that.

In the process of researching, I discovered a love for picture books because they can distill so much wisdom in so few words. I also received quite a lot of feedback and response from friends and readers on how much they loved my books and how it impacted them in different ways. That fuelled my passion to continue writing.

I noticed that the themes of self-worth and the search for identity are found in almost all of your books. Why do you write about these themes?

When I started writing my picture books, I did not have a specific theme in mind. I simply wanted to write something which could hopefully inspire. I ended up drawing from my personal experiences. It was very subconscious so I only realized it after I wrote the stories.

My first book Prince Bear & Pauper Bear became my "coming out" story. The toymaker had forgotten to stitch Pauper Bear a mouth so he could not speak. But he found love and second chances when a boy brought him home and repaired him. I struggled with speaking when I first came down with Spasmodic Dysphonia, a rare voice disorder. And like Pauper Bear, my voice has since been restored.

The Tale of Rusty Horse is my "acceptance" part of my story. Rusty, an old forgotten rocking horse, longed to be a real horse so that he could be a crowd favorite again. He got his wish granted for a while. But he finally chose to remain a rocking horse to be a friend to a lonely handicapped boy and through that, discovered there was real magic in true friendship. Like Rusty, I too became very concerned with crowd opinion about my voice condition. But I finally realized that being true to myself was the real deal.

Just Teddy is my "realization" story. Teddy went to great comic lengths to fit in with the other toys to the extent of almost losing his identity. Teddy finally discovers that he was a one-of-a-kind bear, "fearfully and wonderfully made", just as I did.

Finally, Bunny Finds The Right Stuff is my "revelation" story. A floppy toy rabbit thought he was missing out on life when he saw his toy friends with a lot more stuffing than he had and went in search of more stuffing for himself. Like Bunny, I felt shortchanged when my life came to a pause by my voice condition and saw my peers move ahead in their careers. But Bunny came to realize that the right stuff was made of love and friendship and that he wasn't short of stuffing but had simply been loved and hugged to bits by the toymaker. And I came to that same revelation.

Actually, I recently launched my first "adult" book, Finding My Voice - a true story of setbacks, new beginnings, and toy characters. It tells of my personal journey, from the time I felt ill to recovery and finding my new voice in writing :)

How would you define Singaporean children's literature? What are the strengths and weaknesses of Singaporean children's literature?

I would say any children's literature generated locally would constitute Singapore children's literature for me. I'm not sure there is a large enough body of work to date to be able to really talk about strengths and weaknesses. But I would say that we need all the support and funding we can get. There have been recent strides in terms of support, with the First Time Writers and Illustrators Initiative doing a great job in kickstarting several of us into the realm of published writers. The Asian Festival of Children's Content [AFCC] and the Hedwig Anuar Children's Book Award are wonderful initiatives by our Book Council to bring more notice to Asian and locally generated works. The Budding Writers Project by Marshall Cavendish last year is another good initiative to encourage writers from among our young. As one of the judges last year, I had the opportunity to review the shortlisted entries of the students and was amazed by the calibre of their manuscripts, many of which touched on issues of fitting in, bullying and identity. Initiatives like these are much needed to generate more local writing.

Which books would you recommend to readers just getting introduced to Singaporean children's literature?

I like the wide range of topics and writing covered in the winning entries of the Book Council and MDA's First Time Writers and Illustrators Initiative over the years and feel there are many books there which provide a good introduction to our local writing, like that of this year's Hedwig Anuar Book Award winner The Book That Was Handed Down and other titles like I Don't Want Mei Mei Anymore, The Watchtower Warrior and The Little Red Helicopter. The Adventures of Mooty series by Jesse Wee is also a charming series which brings in local elements like the satay man and Mooty's sarong.

I just Googled those books and oh wow, now I really want to read them!

Which Asian books, authors, and illustrators have influenced your work the most? How have they influenced your work?

When I first started writing, I was not specifically influenced by any Asian works. I simply wanted to write something universal and meaningful as I didn't know if that would be my first and last book. In the end, I ended up very subconsciously writing from my own personal experiences.

But in preparing for my panel session for the inaugural AFCC in 2010, I did start developing greater interest in Asian works. I would say for picture books, I like Jimmy Liao for the very poetic style of his works - I love The Blue Stone: A Journey Through Life and When The Moon Forgot. One of my favourite books (Asian or otherwise) has to be Totto Chan: The Little Girl at the Window by Tetsuko Kuroyanagi. Those are the types of books I would love to be able to write. I'm probably dreaming big here given how huge these authors are :)

THANK YOU, Emily! I look forward to reading more sweet tales from you. :o)

The Ramayana from a Woman's Point of View!

2011-07-27T00:26:00.007+08:00

The Ramayana was required reading in my all-girls high school and I quite like the idea of a new generation of students studying the great Indian epic using this graphic novel retelling from Sita's point of view.

Sita's Ramayana by Samhita Arni and Moyna Chitrakar (Tara Books, 2011)

Happy Philippine Children's Book Day!!!

2011-07-19T00:18:00.001+08:00

I think they missed. . .

2011-07-15T14:18:00.004+08:00

"Native American children's literature" and "Asian American children's literature" in Keywords for Children's Literature by Philip Nel and Lissa Paul (NYU Press, 2011).

Whoa, it exists.

2011-07-15T14:10:00.004+08:00

One picture with two of my favorite things: children's books and K-pop!

[ETA: Seriously, allkpop is just as important to me as A Fuse #8 Production. And that's saying a lot.]

Author Interview: Laura Manivong

2011-07-09T14:35:00.001+08:00

Vonlai knows that soldiers who guard the Mekong River shoot at anything that moves, but in oppressive Communist Laos, there’s nothing left for him, his spirited sister, Dalah, and his desperate parents. Their only hope is a refugee camp in Thailand—on the other side of the river.

When they reach camp, their struggles are far from over. Na Pho is a forgotten place where life consists of squalid huts, stifling heat, and rationed food. Still, Vonlai tries to carry on as if everything is normal. He pays attention in school, a dusty barrack overcrowded with kids too hungry to learn. And he plays soccer in a field full of rocks to forget his empty stomach.

But when someone inside the camp threatens his family, Vonlai calls on a forbidden skill to protect their future, a future he’s sure is full of promise, if only they can make it out of Na Pho alive.

Hi, everyone! :o) Today's interview is with the beautiful Laura Manivong, author of Escaping the Tiger (HarperCollins, 2010), a treasure for middle graders who want to do some "armchair traveling" and their teachers and librarians who want to integrate literature into a social studies or history curriculum.

The cultural and historical details in Escaping the Tiger feel natural and authentic, and its 1980s setting in Laos and Thailand is never exoticized. At first I was wary of the novel's presentation of America and France as the places of freedom where Vonlai and his family can escape the Pathet Lao and Communist Laos. I am always wary of stories that might portray the West as the "savior" for people in the "exotic" East, and thankfully Laura Manivong does not do this. Escaping the Tiger is nuanced, realistic, and ultimately balanced: while the rule of the Pathet Lao was more often than not cruel, Vonlai was happy in Laos and misses his home; the Na Pho refugee camp in Thailand is simultaneously a microcosm of all that is bad and all that is good in this world; and (spoiler alert!) Vonlai and his family start a very heartening new life in America, but encounter racism there.

While Escaping the Tiger raises social consciousness; teaches empathy and gratitude; and stimulates discussion on the refugee experience, it also a darn good yarn. Most of the story is about Vonlai's years of waiting and waiting and doing almost nothing in Na Pho, but it is never boring, the story has great pace and tension and suspense are nicely built. Young readers will find this an exciting refugee story about hope and strength and HOME.

Welcome, Laura!

What kind of young reader were you? What were your favorite books? Who were your favorite authors?

A few notches below bookworm, if memory serves. I recall spending great amounts of time outdoors, running through the fields around my house more than I remember being holed up with a book. I grew up near an abandoned turn-of-the-century horse-racing track, which did wonders to feed my imagination. Friends and I would pack a sack lunch, leave after breakfast and not return home until dinner. And yes, this was before cell phones so I was kind of a feral child, what I consider an author-in-training. That horse-racing track, with its many barns, workers’ quarters, and even a hotel and mansion, is the setting for my first completed novel (which is currently in a drawer). As far as childhood books go, a few absolutely stand out, as do their authors. A WRINKLE IN TIME, the Laura Ingalls Wilder books, Encyclopedia Brown series, THE HOBBIT, and as a teen, GONE WITH THE WIND, and THE GOOD EARTH.

Please describe your writing process (including schedules and rituals, if any).

Chaos. (Kids, job, loud dog, and laundry squelch the concept of schedules.)

Please describe your revising process (including any work with your critique partner or writing group and your editor).

Once all the plot elements are in place, and the most egregious kinks are worked out (thanks to the dedication of my critique partners who cut me no slack), a retreat from the manuscript is crucial for me. If I can hold off looking at it for at least a couple weeks, then I regain a smidgeon of objectivity. Printing out the novel and reading it in a different place from where I do most of my writing helps me see it with fresh eyes. I’ll find phrases that I remember laboring over, thinking they were perfect, when in fact the only purpose they served was to keep my “delete” button active.

Laura's office:

Who are your writing mentors?

Quite honestly, my critique partners. I just happen to live geographically in an area that seems to have something in the water as far as writers of children’s literature go. I critique with Elizabeth C. Bunce and Barbara Stuber, the former, a William C. Morris award winner and the latter, a nominee; Katie Speck, whose cockroach character MAYBELLE is not only lovable but teaches us people a thing or two about what it means to be human; Judy Hyde, a word wizard and moderator of our Kansas City based kidlit critique group that started in the 60s!; and Sarah J. Clark, a heckuva writer and kindred free spirit, traveling with me to Arizona to research my latest manuscript. These women offer their endless support and talent at a moment’s notice. I’d be lost without them.

You're an Emmy-winning TV writer and producer. Can you tell us a bit about your work in the TV industry? How does your background in TV influence your writing, and vice versa?

I write and produce commercials for a TV station in Kansas City. Not the big-time Coke and Nike gigs where I have a crew and a helicopter and a budget, but local advertisers, many of whom have never tried TV advertising before. But writing 30-second scripts has taught me to think in pictures and treasure every word…very handy skills indeed. Yes, a story CAN be told in half a minute.

Laura, I can see the effect on your writing! Your writing is one vivid scene playing out after another!

Escaping the Tiger was inspired by your husband Troy's stories and experiences. Can you please tell us how the novel reflects your husband's stories and experiences?

I initially started writing the book as non-fiction, based on several hardships my husband experienced: being an elementary age prisoner-of-war in the Communists’ re-education camps where he suffered with untreated malaria, escaping Laos across the Mekong River, being a child laborer in Thailand, never receiving any education past fifth grade (until he came to America) and waiting in a refugee camp to start life over. But I couldn’t seem to get the whole story down in a logical way, so I decided to write it as historical fiction. But I’d never been a refugee, never been to Laos, never been truly hungry or feared for my entire family’s safety. The book wouldn’t exist without my husband’s experiences and memories, the emotions he recalls seeing his mom’s face when she knew she didn’t have enough to feed her kids. A few of the scenes in the book can be considered true stories, and if you read about the turkey, you can assume I didn’t make that part up.

Refugee picture of Troy's family:

What do you want young readers to take away from Escaping the Tiger?

I hope they can relate to Vonlai’s struggles and apply them to their own lives. No matter which side of the planet you come from, we all share the ups and downs of the human experience.

Who are your favorite Asian children's book authors and illustrators?

Linda Sue Park’s writing makes me swoon, and A SINGLE SHARD is one of my all-time favorites. And Allen Say creates the most amazing paintings for his books. I’ve met them both and found them to be most gracious and approachable, even though I sort of accosted Linda at an event while she was digging through her purse.

Thank you, Laura!

Thank you for your beautiful novel, for sharing so much with us readers.

Out now! Out now!

2011-07-08T21:24:00.005+08:00

Bestest. Ramadan. Ever. by Medeia Sharif (Flux, 2011)

No pizza. No boyfriend. (No life.)

Okay, so during Ramadan, we're not allowed to eat from sunrise to sunset. For one whole month. My family does this every year, even though I've been to a mosque exactly twice in my life. And it's true, I could stand to lose a few pounds. (Sadly, my mom's hotness skipped a generation.) But is starvation really an acceptable method? I think not.

Even worse, my oppressive parents forbid me to date. This is just cruel and wrong. Especially since Peter, a cute and crushable artist, might be my soul mate. Figures my bestest friend Lisa likes him, too. To top it off, there's a new Muslim girl in school who struts around in super-short skirts, commanding every boy's attention-including Peter's. How can I get him to notice me? And will I ever figure out how to be Muslim AND American?

I noticed that Flux books are available in the Philippines, so I can't wait to buy this! :o)

Head on over to. . .

2011-07-03T17:23:00.004+08:00

Seven Impossible Things Before Breakfast, the best blog on picture book illustrations! Today's feature is on Filipino illustrator Monica Ramos. =D Go, go, go!

I. CAN'T. WAIT.

2011-07-02T16:20:00.001+08:00

Dumpling Days written and illustrated by Grace Lin (Little, Brown Books for Young Readers, January 2012)

Is it January yet???

Gah! It's taking forever.

Book Trailer: Sidekicks by Dan Santat

2011-07-02T02:44:00.002+08:00

Call for Submissions!

2011-06-14T23:30:00.003+08:00

The National Book Development Council of Singapore and Scholastic Asia are launching the 2012 Scholastic Asian Book Award (SABA). The award recognizes Asian writers and writers of Asian origin who are taking the experiences of life, spirit, and thinking in different parts of Asia to the world at large. SABA is awarded to an unpublished manuscript targeted at children ages 6 to 12.

The closing date for submissions for the 2012 SABA is Oct. 17, 2011, 5 p.m. Singapore time. For more information, please visit www.scholasticbookaward.asia.

You are invited. . . [Updated]

2011-06-13T00:42:00.004+08:00

I am the guest speaker for the next Society of Children's Book Writers and Illustrators - Philippines' Children's Lit Booktalk & Work-in-Progress Critique!

WHEN: 6 - 8 p.m., Monday, June 13 (Yes, later today.)
WHERE: Figaro, 3rd level, Greenbelt 3 Makati

Open to members of the Society of Children's Book Writers and Illustrators - Philippines and to non-members (18 and above) who are:

* Published/unpublished children's book writers/illustrators
* Keenly interested in children's and young adult literature

BRING: Any children's or young adult book that you want to share, discuss, ask questions about, or use as a spring-board for discussion.

Or, bring a work in progress - your art or manuscript for a children's or young adult book - and get a group critique plus tips on how to get published.

FEE: Php 20 (for SCBWI members, no fee), plus a receipt to show that you ordered something - a cup of coffee, a cold drink, anything! - as a courtesy to the establishment that we’re using as a venue.

I really hope to see you all there! =D

Edited to add: Thank you SCBWI - Philippines! It was a lovely evening chatting about blogging and children's and young adult books. :o)

In My Mailbox / New Crayons: More From Singapore

2011-06-12T23:53:00.004+08:00

Every Sunday for the In My Mailbox meme, YA book bloggers share the books they bought, borrowed, or received over the past week. New Crayons is a similar meme that incorporates children's books and books for adults, and focuses on multicultural literature.

These are the other ASIAN books I bought and received while I was in Singapore a couple of weeks ago:

The Book That Was Handed Down written by Yixian Quek and illustrated by Grace Duan Ying (Straits Times Press, 2008)

Does My Head Look Big In This? by Randa Abdel-Fattah (Scholastic Paperbacks, reprint edition 2008)

Where the Streets Had a Name by Randa Abdel-Fattah (Marion Lloyd Books, 2009)

Anya's War by Andrea Alban (Feiwel & Friends, 2011)

Artichoke Hearts by Sita Brahmachari (Macmillan Children's Books, 2011)

Indian Children's Favourite Stories written by Rosemarie Somaiah and illustrated by Ranjan Somaiah (Tuttle Publishing, 2006)

I also bought a bunch of Singaporean and Japanese teen magazines when I was in Singapore. Heeheehee.

What books did YOU buy, borrow, or receive over the past week? =D

"Tots to Teens: Blogging for lit" by Daphne Lee

2011-06-12T22:49:00.004+08:00

There is an article here about the panel discussion on blogging that I was part of at the 2011 Asian Festival of Children's Content in Singapore. =D Please do read it!

Favorite Sessions at the 2011 Asian Festival of Children's Content

2011-06-11T04:05:00.005+08:00

I attended several interesting and helpful sessions at the 2011 Asian Festival of Children's Content (AFCC) in Singapore - which was a combination of the Asian Children’s Writers and Illustrators Conference, the Asian Children’s Publishers Symposium, the Asian Primary and Preschool Teachers Congress, and the Asian Children’s Media Summit - but these were my favorites (aside from these sessions of course):

* I attended two super organized and super informative presentations by Kelly Sonnack, children's and young adult literature agent at Andrea Brown Literary Agency, Inc.. In "The Role of an Agent and De-mystifying the Publishing Process, Cradle to Grave," Kelly explained everything from the roles and responsibilities of a literary agent to the typical path a manuscript takes to publication and the main deal points in a publishing contract. Very enlightening! In "The Children's Market: What Has Changed and What Sells Now," Kelly spoke in detail about market trends, in the U.S., in picture books, middle grade novels, and young adult novels. She gave the audience a lot to chew on!

* I learned something very important from author and illustrator Yangsook Choi when she was speaking on creativity ("The Illustrator Who Wants to Write"): You can command your passion. I never thought of passion in that way and had an epiphany when Yangsook was talking about how the pet dog you love will come to you when you call for him, and similarly, your passion will come to you when you call for it.

* Now, before I go on, you HAVE to watch this short film. You HAVE to.

That has got to be my favorite short film ever. Wasn't that just an amazing, educational, and moving piece of storytelling? It's such a sad and beautiful and important story, and such an excellent, impressive collaboration between traditional art and technology.

The most inspiring session I attended at the 2011 AFCC was Nina Sabnani's "Illustrating in the Digital Age," where Nina shared the creative process behind "Mukand and Riaz" and her other animated documentaries.

I was stunned by the genius of Nina and the other wonderful people she worked with, and by the power of "Mukand and Riaz."

Radhika Menon, managing editor of Tulika, was in the audience and spoke a bit about how Tulika adapted "Mukand and Riaz" into a children's book. (Why am I not surprised that innovative Tulika published "Mukand and Riaz"? =D In my notes from Nina's presentation I have written "I love you, Tulika.")

* I loved the positive outlook the Asian Children’s Publishers Symposium had toward digital technology and the need for publishers to diversify and publish across multiple platforms in order to survive and thrive in today's market. Content is still king when it comes to stories for children, but now we share those stories not just through books but also through TV shows, apps, merchandise, games, videos, and much much more.

* Children's technology reviewer Warren Buckleitner was a speaker at last year's Festival and I was very happy to see him again this year. I love how he gives a survey of the latest apps for children and engages his audience. From Warren's sessions at this year's Festival I saw that the best apps for children's books added value to and made books more interactive - without detracting from the stories and the beautiful language used to tell those stories.

Look! Here's a picture of Warren taking a picture of me taking a picture of him!

* One of the useful sessions from the Asian Primary and Preschool Teachers Congress was Professor Chitra Shegar's "Boys and Reading." Professor Shegar shared insights from her five case studies of the reading habits of boys and their pedagogical implications. It was fascinating stuff - some of which I was able to apply in my own classroom as soon as I was back in the Philippines!

* The very best thing about the 2011 AFCC?

THE PEOPLE.

The AFCC is a great venue for networking and I was really happy to be able to spend more time with my friends in the industry and make new friends and connections. Also, I am a READER first and foremost, and the fangirl in me was squealing all throughout the Festival because I was surrounded by warm, sweet, talented, and truly admirable authors, illustrators, editors, publishers, and educators from all over the world - all passionate about and dedicated to creating quality content for children.

To my AFCC family: I miss you! See you at next year's Festival. I've already blocked off the dates (May 26-29, 2012)!

The Singapore Children's Literature Lecture and Awards Presentation Ceremony

2011-06-09T03:19:00.005+08:00

The highlight of the Asian Festival of Children's Content (May 26-28 in Singapore) was the Singapore Children's Literature Lecture and Awards Presentation Ceremony. The lecture, entitled "Society, Culture, and Children," was delivered by José Ramos-Horta, the President of East Timor, a recipient of the Nobel Peace Prize (1996). . . and a children's book author!

President Ramos-Horta had a special guest with him: Luis Soriano, founder of Colombia's Biblioburro, a traveling library that distributes books from the backs of two donkeys.

I got teary-eyed when I realized who the President's guest was. I remember reading about Luis Soriano in the New York Times back in 2008 - this was when I was feeling burnt out from all my work and studies in English language and literature - and feeling so inspired and hopeful and refreshed. I never imagined I would be in the same room as my hero AND a Nobel Peace Prize winner!

After President Ramos-Horta's lecture and a speech from Mr. Soriano came the exciting announcement of the winners of the Hedwig Anuar Children's Book Award and the Scholastic Asian Book Award. The awards were presented by the President.

The Hedwig Anuar Children's Book Award is a biennial award for an outstanding children's book published in Singapore. The winner of the 2011 Hedwig Anuar Children's Book Award is The Book That Was Handed Down, written by Yixian Quek and illustrated by Grace Duan Ying (Straits Times Press, 2008).

The Scholastic Asian Book Award recognizes an excellent Asian-themed manuscript (for ages 6-12) from an Asian children's writer or a children’s writer of Asian origin. The winning manuscript for 2011 is Uncle Book and Me by Uma Krishnaswami.

Congratulations to all the winners!!!

In My Mailbox / New Crayons: The 2011 Asian Festival of Children's Content Edition

2011-06-05T23:59:00.004+08:00

Every Sunday, for the In My Mailbox meme, YA book bloggers share the books they bought, borrowed, or received over the past week. New Crayons is a similar meme that incorporates children's books and books for adults, and focuses on multicultural literature. For In My Mailbox / New Crayons this Sunday, I would like to share the books I bought at the Media Mart, the "bookstore" of the Asian Festival of Children's Content in Singapore. I always look forward to the Media Mart! Where else can I buy children's and YA books from Asia and around the world - without paying exorbitant shipping fees?

Here are a few pictures of the Media Mart:

Here are the books I bought at the Media Mart this year:

10 Sleepless Sheep for Woolly Nights by Linda Yew (Straits Times Press, 2008)

The Singapore Kid written by Jessica Alejandro and illustrated by Pigologist (Autumn Wonders, 2010)

The Diary of Amos Lee: Girls, Guts and Glory! written by Adeline Foo and illustrated by Stephanie Wong (Epigram, 2009)

The Diary of Amos Lee: I'm Twelve, I'm Tough, I Tweet! written by Adeline Foo and illustrated by Stephanie Wong (Epigram, 2010)

Whoopie Lee: Almost Famous written by Adeline Foo and illustrated by Stephanie Wong (Epigram, 2011)

Mayil Will Not be Quiet! by Niveditha Subramaniam and Sowmya Rajendran (Tulika, 2011)

My Brother Tootoo by Urmila Mahajan (Tulika, 2010)

Mama's Saris written by Pooja Makhijani and illustrated by Elena Gomez (Little, Brown Books for Young Readers, 2007)

The Name Jar by Yangsook Choi (Dragonfly Books, 2003)

The Monkeys and the Capseller written by Anushka Ravishankar, illustrated by Malavika P.C., and narrated by Sanjay Dutt (Karadi Tales, 2008)

Mukand and Riaz by Nina Sabnani (Tulika, 2007)

The Silence Seeker written by Ben Morley and illustrated by Carl Pearce (Tamarind Books, 2009)

Hayley's Vegemania Garden written by Mohana Gill and illustrated by Tan Vay Fern (MPH Group Publishing, 2010)

Hayley's Fruitastic Garden written by Mohana Gill and illustrated by Tan Vay Fern (MPH Group Publishing, 2010)

Next week, I'll be posting the other books I bought while in Singapore!

What books did YOU buy, borrow, or receive this week? Please let me know in the comments section below - or respond with your own In My Mailbox / New Crayons blog post and leave the link below! :o)

The Kidlitosphere, Pop-Up Books, the Knowledge Channel, and Short Films

2011-06-04T23:59:00.007+08:00

I had the great privilege of being a speaker and facilitator at the 2011 Asian Festival of Children's Content in Singapore. It was an honor - and great fun! - to be part of a panel discussion with Corinne Robson, associate editor and blog "Eventful World" coordinator of PaperTigers, and Dr. Myra Garces-Bascal, educator and founder of GatheringBooks. (Thank you so much, Myra, for putting the panel together!)

Our panel discussion was an introduction to the kidlitosphere and the YA blogosphere, and how Web 2.0 can be used to build a world of readers. I really believe in the power Web 2.0 has in building a world of readers. From the family of children's book bloggers to book trailers that create a need for YA books, and book fandoms on Tumblr to authors interacting with their fans through Twitter and Facebook, the book blogosphere and Web 2.0 in general can be very effective in strengthening and growing the community of readers. I could talk about this topic all day! If you attended the panel discussion, THANK YOU, and if you would like to continue the conversation on Web 2.0 and building a world of readers, please feel free to email me at asiaintheheartATyahooDOTcom. :o)

I am proud of the three sessions I facilitated:

Andrew Yeo of Tien Wah Press (one of the first two companies in the world to manufacture pop-up books!) presented a short history of the pop-up book and a detailed introduction to the paper engineering behind the pop-up book. I was amazed by how Andrew explained everything from the different kinds of pop-up books and how long it takes to put them together, to their paper and binding and recommended print runs!

After the very informative presentation, the audience gathered around Andrew's display to oooh and aaah over some of the pop-up books Tien Wah Press has produced over the years.

I also facilitated a presentation on the use of television in children's education by Rina Lopez-Bautista, founder of the Knowledge Channel, a television channel dedicated to bringing education and valuable teacher training to schools all over the Philippines. From the discussion at the end of the presentation emerged an idea well worth pursuing: Why not have an educational channel for children, like the Knowledge Channel, for the whole of Asia? I hope the session was already the first step to making this happen.

The last session I facilitated was educator Dennis Yeo's very helpful talk on how to use short films in the classroom to develop the critical thinking (visual literacy, prediction strategies, etc.) of students. From this session I picked up a lot of ideas for my own classes. Dennis' tips can be applied to teaching children, teens, and even adult learners!

ETA: Dennis is obviously a very good teacher. He was energetic, really engaged the audience, and gave us a lot to chew on!

Please watch this space because I was galvanized by the 2011 Asian Festival of Children's Content and will be blogging more about it over the next few days. :o)

Behold, the 2011 Asian Festival of Children's Content Food Post

2011-06-04T22:37:00.027+08:00

Warning: This may make you hungry and make you want to visit Singapore for the next Asian Festival of Children's Content - which is exactly the point of this post. =D

Last week, I was in Singapore for the Asian Festival of Children's Content, and my first night there I had dinner with two beautiful and special ladies whom I (and the rest of the kidlitosphere!) have respected and admired for a long time.

PaperTigers is an important website, blog, and outreach program dedicated to promoting multicultural books and putting them in the hands of children and teens around the world. Aline Pereira is PaperTiger's former managing editor and producer, and Corinne Robson is the current associate editor and blog “Eventful World” coordinator.

Dinner was DELECTABLE, and I was so happy to meet Aline and Corinne in person!

Only one little guy was not happy about our dinner. Sorry, little guy.

The food in Singapore is fantastic and I can't blog about the Asian Festival of Children's Content without including my photo food diary:

I miss the food in Singapore and can't wait till next year's festival!

Stay tuned!

2011-05-30T23:45:00.004+08:00

Will be blogging about the Asian Festival of Children's Content soon. :o)

See you at the Asian Festival of Children's Content!

2011-05-24T18:57:00.003+08:00

I hope to see you all at the Asian Festival of Children's Content in the Arts House, Singapore!

On May 25, 5:30 – 7 p.m., I will be part of a panel discussion on the kidlitosphere and using the kidlitosphere to build a nation of readers, with Corinne Robson, associate editor of PaperTigers.org, and Dr. Myra Garces-Bacsal founder of GatheringBooks.org. On May 27, 3:45 – 4:45 p.m., I will be facilitating "The Engineering and Publishing Genius of Pop Up Books" by Andrew Yeo of Tien Wah Press. On May 28, 11:45 – 12:45 p.m., I will be facilitating "The Future of Media in Children’s Education" by Elvina Lopez-Bautista, the founder of The Knowledge Channel Foundation Inc., and 4:45 – 5:45 p.m., I will be facilitating "Teaching Prediction Strategies Using the Short Film" by Dr. Dennis Yeo.

Promise me you'll stop by and say hi? :o)

My Mother's Garden by Emila Yusof

2011-05-24T18:52:00.005+08:00

My Mother's Garden by Emila Yusof (OneRedFlower Press, 2010) follows a little girl as she spends the day in her mother's garden. This little girl looks shy and reserved, but one can tell through her expressive eyes and through her story that she has a rich and lively imagination. She watches birds, she dances with butterflies and dragonflies, she imagines that she is a flower with a head of silky petals... until it starts raining and she must go back indoors. Once indoors, she is already looking forward to when the rain stops and she can play in her mother's garden again.

I was pleasantly surprised by the end of the story: The flowers and other plants found in the little girl's garden playground are shown again, this time with their scientific names, English names, and Malay names. This will greatly satisfy the sense of wonder and the curiosity in little minds - as well as greatly satisfy their parents' desire to buy picture books with "added value" (read: books with "lessons").

I have read My Mother's Garden many times, and each time I have been quietly stunned. The sparse text, the simple and beautiful storyline, and the lush, warm illustrations (watercolor + digital rendering by the self-taught author/illustrator) make it one of the most charming and inviting picture books I have ever encountered. It's perfect reading for wee ones who love playing outdoors! My only quibble with the book is that its title, author/illustrator, and publisher are not on the spine. All this information should be visible on a book spine. This delightful book will not always be face out in bookstores and libraries, and readers should be able to pick it out from among other books on a shelf.

[My copy of My Mother's Garden was provided by the publisher.]

Foldabots Comic Book Launch

2011-05-23T04:57:00.001+08:00

I celebrated Free Comic Book Day by attending the launch of the first comic compilation of the Foldabots series by Jomike Tejido - who, by the way, continues to amaze me with how well he gets along with kids.

There were fun games and giveaways, but what I really enjoyed watching was the kids truly engrossed in reading, creating fan art, and discussing the Foldabots series. =D

Inspiring!

Buy your own copy of the first comic compilation of the Foldabots series at branches of Papemelroti or from the official website!

What is a child's education worth to you?

2011-05-18T17:53:00.002+08:00

I'd like to share this video with all of you because Sambat Trust is an organization that puts books into children's hands in the Philippines. . . and because they are promoting some of the winners of the 1st Philippine National Children's Book Awards! =D

Won't you please consider donating a book?

Guest Blog Post: Tusitala Books

2011-04-29T17:20:00.003+08:00

Tusitala is a digital publishing company in Singapore that publishes books as apps for the iPad and iPhone. By digital publishing, we mean that we're trying to take what is incredible and timeless about books-- all those beautiful illustrations and simple heartwarming stories-- and adding some really great technology to the mix. The results (as we hope you'll see for yourself!) are book-apps that are visually stunning and genuinely enjoyable for kids and parents both.

One of the things we appreciate most about children's literature is how they can be such a wonderful bridge between the worlds of children and adults. When parents read these stories to their kids-- adopting funny voices for different characters or mimicking the actions of various characters-- it creates a lasting bond between parent and child. It's an experience no parent or child should miss out on. Our first series of children's books apps, the Lola Grows Up series was built on this premise of known voices telling you a story, truly personalising it. So it's created with a recording facility, so parents can record their own voices telling the story for kids to listen to anytime. (Parents are a notoriously busy bunch, after all!) Kids have great fun recording and listening to their own voices, too, and it's a great tool for them to practice reading, or just enunciating clearly.

The Toilet Monster and Come Dream With Me are the first two titles in our Lola Grows Up series. It's nice to have apps that we're proud of but really, nothing is more gratifying than hearing parents tell us how much their children like the app and even better, how much they enjoy reading it together. The main character of these books, Lola, is an adorable little girl with ordinary little-girl fears-- she's a little afraid of the toilet, and she doesn't like going to sleep by herself. It's a character kids can empathise with as well as learn from, through the 'everyday adventures' that she goes through.

Apart from our series for toddlers, we also have a few titles for young adults. One of them is The Origins of Shaolin Kungfu, which is a really entertaining and educational comic about Shaolin history and culture. It even includes little video demos and a couple of games in which you can attain the level of Shaolin Master!

Another one that we love is The Grim Granary, a book of quirky illustrated poems with accompanying voiceovers in various voices and accents. It really is hilarious and we're sure readers of any age will find something to love about it.

As you can probably tell, we're really proud of our book-apps, and it makes us happy to know that there's a tiny part of a generation of children who's growing up with them. Nothing makes us happier. If you want to find out more or check out some apps, visit our website or email us at soumya@tusitalabooks.com or wendy@tusitalabooks.com.

Wendy Wong
Director/Head of Design
Tusitala

Press Release: Help Spread the LitWorld Girls Clubs for Literacy in Asia

2011-04-27T19:14:00.001+08:00

Throughout the world, 774 million people are illiterate, and 2/3 of that number are women.

Because of this, one of the biggest programs of the global literacy organization LitWorld is the LitWorld Girls Clubs for Literacy, a reading and writing program that empowers young women to tap into their extraordinary strengths and meet their personal needs. LitWorld Girls Clubs for Literacy provide support, mentorship, and a safe space for girls to learn, connect, and become part of an international network of young women, encouraging a global perspective and a global connection.

LitWorld has 20 Girls Clubs for Literacy in the U.S., Kenya, Liberia, Ghana, Iraq, and the Philippines, and would like to expand to more countries in Asia. If you are in Asia and are interested in starting a LitWorld Girls Club for Literacy, please email girlsclubs@litworld.org. LitWorld staff provides training (via Internet video conference) and fully supports new partners as they launch this program.

Together, we can create a safe, supportive world for all girls.

[Picture above from the LitWorld Girls Club for Literacy in Baguio City, Philippines.]

You're a genius, Lisa Yee. :o)

2011-04-13T02:02:00.002+08:00

Asian Festival of Children's Content 2011

2011-04-04T08:00:00.001+08:00

The Asian Festival of Children's Content (AFCC) 2011 is:

* the Asian Children’s Writers & Illustrators Conference
* the Asian Children’s Publishers Symposium
* the Asian Primary and Preschool Teachers Congress
* and the Asian Children’s Media Summit

It will be held at The Arts House in Singapore from May 26-28 (with a pre-event panel discussion on May 25), and this year's theme is Connecting with Connected Kids.

"Once upon a cyberspace, children explored the world through libraries, bedtime tales and story books. Books are still around, but they are looking different. As technology puts media access into children's pockets and bedrooms, how do content makers stay connected with connected kids?

Join experts from around the world at Asia's gateway to the international children's content market. Celebrate, contemplate and collaborate on exciting new ways to engage, educate and empower the world's children on a global stage through uniquely Asian content."

Speakers for this year's AFCC include:

* award-winning children's book author and illustrator Choi Yangsook (Korea/U.S.)
* literary agent Kelly Sonnack (U.S.)
* publishing director of Scholastic India, Sayoni Basu (India)
* editorial director of Neal Porter Books, Neal Porter (U.S.)
* children's book author and lecturer Pooja Makhijani (U.S./Singapore)
* award-winning children's book author Emily Lim (Singapore)
* founder of the educational television channel The Knowledge Channel, Elvina Lopez-Bautista (Philippines)
* developer of the BBC children's channels CBBC and CBeebies, Greg Childs (U.K.)

And many more! I am also a speaker for this year's AFCC. There will be a panel discussion on blogging on May 25, 5:30-7 p.m., at The Arts House. I will be talking about the kidlitosphere and YA blogosphere along with Corinne Robson, associate editor of Paper Tigers, and Dr. Myra Garces-Bascal, founder of Gathering Books.

Click on the image below for more details about the panel discussion:

I hope to see you during the panel discussion and other activities of the AFCC. I attended the AFCC last year and had an AMAZING time. I learned SO MUCH. Click here to read my blog posts about AFCC 2010.

Congratulations to the winners of the Asian/Pacific American Awards for Literature!

2011-04-01T04:58:00.000+08:00

Picture Book Winner:

Yasmin’s Hammer written by Ann Malaspina and illustrated by Doug Ghayka (Lee and Low, 2010)

Picture Book Honor:

Fly Free! written by Roseanne Thong and illustrated by Eujin Kim Neilan (Boyds Mills Press, 2010)

Children’s Literature Winner:

Heart of a Samurai written by Margi Preus (Amulet Books, 2010)

Children’s Literature Honor:

Bamboo People written by Mitali Perkins (Charlesbridge, 2010)

Young Adult Literature Winner:

Shooting Kabul written by N. H. Senzai (Simon and Schuster, 2010)

Young Adult Literature Honor:

A Boy of Heart Mountain written by Barbara Bazaldua and illustrated by Willie Ito (Yabitoon Books, 2010)

The Asian/Pacific American Awards for Literature honor and recognize the literary and artistic merit of work about Asian/Pacific Americans and their heritage. Click here to see the winners in the adult fiction and adult nonfiction categories. Congratulations to all! =D

Miscellany 3-31-2011

2011-03-31T00:52:00.001+08:00

* Check out my feature on middle grade author Wendy Wan-Long Shang over at Color Online. =D

* Another link of interest (in case you missed it): "Children's Publishing in Asia" by Teri Tan.

* CONGRATULATIONS to children's book writer and illustrator Shaun Tan for winning this year's Astrid Lindgren Memorial Award, the world's largest prize for children's and young adult literature.

* Speaking of awards for children's and young adult literature, there is a fantastic new one. The South Asia Book Award will be given annually in recognition of a published work of fiction, nonfiction, poetry, or folklore, from early childhood to secondary reading levels, published in the U.S., Canada, or U.K., in English, which accurately and skillfully portrays South Asia or South Asians in the diasporas. Very exciting!

Dream Big, Little Pig! by Kristi Yamaguchi

2011-03-29T03:48:00.001+08:00

Now available is the picture book - for ages 4-8 - Dream Big, Little Pig! written by Kristi Yamaguchi (yes, the Olympic figure skater!) and illustrated by Tim Bowers (Sourcebooks Jabberwocky, 2011). Dream Big, Little Pig! is the fun and inspiring story of Poppy, a pot-bellied, waddling, toddling little pig who wants to be a star. Poppy dreams of being a posh prima ballerina, a soulful singer, a big-time splashy supermodel, a spectacular ice-skating star, and the first sky-diving pig. With the support and encouragement of her mother, grandparents, and best friend, Poppy works hard and pursues all of her dreams. She doesn't achieve all of them, and several people tell her to just give up. But Poppy is a plucky little pig and she persists until she finds what is right for her. You'll be cheering for her all throughout the story! With its pink-purple-glittery book design, adorable illustrations, hopeful and positive tone, and story about patience and perseverance, Dream Big, Little Pig! will please and satisfy all little girls. :o)

[My copy of Dream Big, Little Pig! was provided by the publisher.]

2011-03-12T17:55:00.000+08:00

All I could do yesterday was follow the news and try to contact my friends in Japan. Now, more than ever, I have Asia in the heart and the world on my mind. I pray for all the people and countries affected by the earthquakes and tsunami, but most especially for Japan.

Stay safe, everyone.

My Choice for World Read Aloud Day

2011-03-09T23:09:00.001+08:00

My cousins Bobby and Lina Bear (yes, their last name is "Bear") are visiting and the first thing Bobby told me when he saw me was, "Ate, story time." Perfect! Today is World Read Aloud Day. I read aloud Prince Bear & Pauper Bear, written by Emily Lim and illustrated by Neal Sharp (Mustard Seed Books, 2007). As you can imagine, my cousins were tickled by my choice of book.

What did you read aloud today? =D

I miss blogging!

2011-03-03T01:13:00.003+08:00

I was so happy to blog again today. Please click here to read my new interview with Candy Gourlay for Color Online. :o)

Out Today!

2011-02-22T15:00:00.002+08:00

Orchards by Holly Thompson (Delacorte Books for Young Readers)

After a classmate commits suicide, Kana Goldberg — a half-Japanese, half-Jewish American — wonders who is responsible. She and her cliquey friends said some thoughtless things to the girl. Hoping that Kana will reflect on her behavior, her parents pack her off to her mother's ancestral home in Japan for the summer. There Kana spends hours under the hot sun tending to her family's mikan orange groves.

Kana's mixed heritage makes it hard to fit in at first, especially under the critical eye of her traditional grandmother, who has never accepted Kana's father. But as the summer unfolds, Kana gets to know her relatives, Japan, and village culture, and she begins to process the pain and guilt she feels about the tragedy back home. Then news about a friend sends her world spinning out of orbit all over again.

Miscellany 2-12-2011

2011-02-12T18:03:00.001+08:00

* CONGRATULATIONS to the master storyteller Rukhsana Khan for winning the 2011 Charlotte Zolotow Award for her outstanding writing in the picture book Big Red Lollipop (illustrated by Sophie Blackall and published by Viking Juvenile in 2010).

* The Filipino-British children's book Tall Story by Candy Gourlay (David Fickling Books, 2011) is now available in the U.S. Buy now!

* Watch out for the Feb. 22 release of Orchards, a young adult novel in verse about a Japanese and Jewish American girl, by Holly Thompson (Delacorte Books for Young Readers, 2011). I have an advance reading copy and the book is so lovely!

* New on my wishlist is Anya's War by Andrea Alban (Feiwel & Friends, 2011). Anya's War is a young adult novel set in 1930s Jewish Shanghai. JEWISH SHANGHAI!

* Click here to read my interview with Sarah Darer Littman, winner of a Sydney Taylor Honor for her young adult novel Life, After. The Sydney Taylor Book Award is for outstanding children's and young adult books that authentically portray the Jewish experience.

* I'm still working hard on my MA thesis!!!

If you are an author, illustrator, or publisher. . .

2011-02-12T17:08:00.002+08:00

and you would like me to announce the release of your new book on this blog, please let me know! :o) I am always very happy to help spread the word about children's and young adult books:

* set in Asia
* featuring Asian characters or characters of Asian descent
* written by Asian authors or authors of Asian descent
* illustrated by Asian illustrators or illustrators of Asian descent

My email address is asiaintheheart@yahoo.com.

The MA Thesis

2011-02-01T01:01:00.002+08:00

For the past couple months I've been working on the proposal for my MA thesis. Yesterday I defended the proposal before a panel of children's literature experts and I am happy and relieved to announce that they approved my thesis topic. They also gave enormously valuable feedback!

So here is my final thesis topic (it has gone through four incarnations): I am going to trace the development of Asian American children's literature and determine its contributions to American children's literature. I will do this by doing a critical analysis of the Newbery books (Medal winners and Honor books) written by Asian Americans - Gay-Neck: The Story of a Pigeon by Dhan Gopal Mukerji, Dragonwings by Laurence Yep, Dragon's Gate by Laurence Yep, A Single Shard by Linda Sue Park, Kira-Kira by Cynthia Kadohata, and Where the Mountain Meets the Moon by Grace Lin. My theoretical framework is ethnic studies and postcolonial studies, and I will be reading the books as Asian American texts and canonized Asian American children's literature.

I hope you'll understand why my blog posts for the next couple months will probably be few and far between. :o) You can follow me on Twitter or add me on Facebook, where I will most likely be posting mini-updates about my thesis.

Wish me all the best? :o)

Tastespotting (Part II) in Dragonwings

2011-01-29T15:54:00.000+08:00

Another food scene from Dragonwings by Laurence Yep (HarperTrophy, 1977):

At any rate, White Deer outdid himself that day. He made duck with the skin parted and crisped and the meat salty and rich and good. He had cooked squab in soy sauce so that the skin and meat were a deep, deep brown all the way to the bone. There was shark's-fin soup, tasting of the sea. There were huge prawns fried in a special batter that gave them an extra fluffy coat. And on and on. But we weren't allowed to touch any of the courses until we had the toasts.

Illustrator Interview: Isabel Roxas

2011-01-22T01:02:00.008+08:00

I. Am. Giddy. Filipino artist, designer, and illustrator Isabel Roxas is in the house, ladies and gentlemen! There aren't enough positive adjectives (charming, adorable, delightful. . .) or enough positive descriptions (they draw you in, they warm your heart, they tickle you, they make you happy. . .) for Isabel's children's book illustrations. Check out her website to see for yourself. =D

Isabel has very kindly answered questions about her work below!

What motivates you to illustrate children's books?

I really enjoy drawing raucous/goofy scenes, obscure animals, little kids playing under the moonlight—experiences that I lived through, or wish I did. I draw for MY own enjoyment, and fortunately for me, the pictures I like to create are suited to the task of creating a children’s book. I was a voracious reader growing up (and still am), so I am happy to have a hand in encouraging young people to have that wonderful experience of being deeply and fully engrossed in a story—that moment that Walter Benjamin eloquently describes as the reader getting “covered over and over by the snow of his reading.”

How would you describe your illustration style? What are your artistic influences and inspirations?

Whimsical, sometimes melancholy, oftentimes sunny, and mildly anarchic? I work like a sponge—I try to find inspiration in everything, though I do have a list of people I wish I could spend an afternoon with: Maira Kalman because she is so funny and thoughtful; Taro Gomi, Yoshitomo Nara, Shinzi Katoh, and many other anonymous Japanese artisans because their creations have a poetic, charming and quiet sensibility to them. Bruno Munari because I’m sure he would be wonderfully playful and inventive. Roald Dahl because he’d tell the most twisted fantasies and touching tales, and of course, Jim Henson because he was the first person to ever show me that learning could be so much fun and that monsters weren’t always terrifying.

Can you please guide us through your creative process?

Step 1 Read manuscript and evaluate how much I like it.

Step 2 Devise strategy for informing publisher that:
(a) I loved it (and try not to say, I love it so much I’d do it for free).
(b) Meh (must say nicely, but state definitively that no I will not do it, even if you ply me with food, shoes and art supplies).

Step 3 Create thumbnails and sketches of the characters for approval.

Step 4 Pray that there will be no major revisions.

Step 5
(a) If rejected: Rant about the injustice of life as an illustrator for several hours. Reorganize desk, and start over. Have a hot bowl of ramen to numb the pain.
(b) If approved: Reward myself with a delicious, generous serving of dessert, or an afternoon walk through galleries. Do a little jig.

Step 6 Work on final sketches.

Repeat Steps 4 & 5 here.

Step 7 Start coloring—either with watercolor, cut paper, computer or some combination of all 3.

Step 8 Ask for extension.

Step 9 Grovel for extension.

Step 10 Submit final art for approval.

Step 11 Bribe, threaten, bully, beg the art director not to ask for revisions.

Step 12 Lose battle, lick wounds, make revisions.

Step 13 Book goes to press, pray to color gods that the print manager is not color blind.

Step 14
(a) Be pleased with color proofs. Celebrate.
(b) Hate color proofs. Adjust colors. If still imperfect after several tweaks, put on dark glasses.

Step 15 Book launch.

Step 16 Rinse then repeat.

Hahahaha! Thank you for sharing that creative process, Isabel.

Dear readers, a little treat for you - Isabel's workspace:

(1) Supplies drawer
(2) Books on design, craft, illustration etc.
(3) Type Gauge and other nerdy rulers
(4) Fuel
(5) Sketchbook

(6) Cork board for inspiration/work-in-progress
(7) Paperwork: contracts, bills, receipts etc.
(8) Project files and research
(9) Books, books, books :)

Isabel, you have a Philippine National Children's Book Award for your illustrations in Araw sa Palengke [A Day at the Market] by May Tobias-Papa (Adarna House, 2008). What does winning the award mean to you?

It’s a tremendous honor, and it's nice to be in such good company. It’s also good that we now have a new way to promote books written and illustrated by Filipinos. There is still a lot to do. I’ve spoken to many book-loving and patriotic citizens who were surprised to know that Filipino children’s books even existed. If we don’t read our own stories, in our own language, and pass along these stories to young people, I feel like we lose something of our heritage. I hope this award catches the attention of people and leads them to support our burgeoning book industry as well as inspire other people to tell their own stories.

Alas, I also know some Filipinos who do not know that we have our own children's and young adult literature. =(

What did you like the most or find the most interesting about Araw sa Palengke?

I loved that the text was so concise but descriptive. It allowed me a lot of freedom. I was lucky because May Tobias-Papa (who wrote the book) is also an illustrator. She knows the kind of leeway that illustrators crave, and she was very generous in this book. I also loved that it was set at a palengke [market]. That place is a treasure trove for texture, color and interesting characters.

{Click on image to enlarge and enjoy a spread from Araw sa Palengke. Image provided by Adarna House. All rights reserved.}

Do you have any special or interesting market day stories from your own childhood?

Sorry, not really—I was a very fastidious child, so I didn’t enjoy going into the market because I didn’t want to get my sneakers all muddy. But I enjoyed riding the tricycle to get there. Also, after the market, we normally visited the panaderia [bakery], and I loved that because I got to eat fresh pan de sal [Filipino bread] and a handful of Jojo candy. Cherry flavored Jojos are the best. I wish they still made them. I’ve scoured Divisoria [a market district in Manila] in search of Jojo candy, and have sadly come up empty-handed.

Thank you so much, Isabel! It is an honor and a pleasure to interview you.

I shall search for Jojo candy. I love the cherry flavored ones, too!

Tastespotting (Part I) in Dragonwings

2011-01-22T00:30:00.001+08:00

A food scene from Dragonwings by Laurence Yep (HarperTrophy, 1977):

There were men in long narrow stalls set against the sides of buildings who sold toys and different candies--one a type of sweet but hot-tasting, candied ginger that was a bright orange-red in color. There were dried fruits that you could buy--sweet, semi-sweet, or salty. These you sucked inside your mouth till all the flavor was gone, and then you stripped the moistened meat away from the seed. There were apricot candies pressed flat into wafers; thin, white, curled strips of coconut candy; several kinds of disclike rice cookies; and so on.

Congratulations! =D

2011-01-11T01:30:00.000+08:00

Congratulations to Grace Lin for winning a 2011 Theodor Seuss Geisel Honor for Ling & Ting: Not Exactly the Same! (Little, Brown Books for Young Readers, 2010).

And congratulations to Margi Preus for winning a 2011 John Newbery Honor for Heart of a Samurai (Amulet Books, 2010).

Book Trailer: Escaping the Tiger by Laura Manivong

2011-01-07T15:56:00.003+08:00

Stay tuned for my blog post on Escaping the Tiger by Laura Manivong (HarperCollins, 2010)!

Book Trailer: Jazz in Love by Neesha Meminger

2010-12-25T18:53:00.003+08:00

Check out Jazz in Love by Neesha Meminger (Ignite Books, 2011)!

Kira-Kira by Cynthia Kadohata

2010-12-22T20:02:00.007+08:00

One very windy day in Iowa, Katie Takeshima and her older sister Lynn climbed to their roof with two boxes of Kleenex. They took the Kleenex out one at a time and let the wind catch it. They got in trouble, but it was worth it. The tissues had looked like giant butterflies in the wind. It had been the smart and beautiful Lynn's idea. As Katie says: "Lynn could take a simple, everyday object like a box of Kleenex and use it to prove how amazing the world is." Lynn doesn't just show her family how amazing the world is, she shows us readers too, just by being herself. The story of Katie and Lynn also reminds us readers of how precious family is.

I've never read a novel both as sad and hopeful as Kira-Kira by Cynthia Kadohata (Atheneum, 2004). In the novel, all the relationships between family members, but especially between Katie and Lynn and their younger brother Sammy, are so real and so beautiful. It's scary and tragic when Lynn becomes terminally ill, and we see how confused and devastated her family gets.

Aside from characters and relationships I truly care about, what really impresses me about Kira-Kira is the fully realized childhood of Katie. Katie shares a lot of her childhood experiences - conversations, mishaps, and play time with Lynn and Sammy; visiting her working mom at a chicken processing plant; visiting her working dad at a hatchery; episodes featuring her odd uncle; camping trips; and more - and for me these experiences are interesting and entertaining because they feel so authentic. And it isn't just Katie's experiences that are authentic. Her thought processes, feelings, and priorities are authentic too. In Kira-Kira, Cynthia Kadohata has demonstrated a sincere respect for and a clear, sensitive understanding of her young readers.

It was Lynn who taught Katie her first word: kira-kira, which is "glittering" or "shining" in Japanese. Kira-Kira is a very touching novel about life and family and childhood that proves that despite profound loss, the world is kira-kira.

[I bought my own copy of Kira-Kira.]

A Single Shard by Linda Sue Park

2010-12-22T18:57:00.009+08:00

A certain prunus vase is among the most prized of Korea's many cultural treasures. It is the finest example of inlaid celadon pottery ever discovered and has been dated to the twelfth century.

The vase's most remarkable feature is its intricate inlay work. Each of the forty-six round medallions is formed by a white outer ring and a black inner ring. Within every circle, carved and then inlaid with great skill, there is a crane in graceful flight. Clouds drift between the medallions, with more cranes soaring among the clouds. And the glaze is a delicate shade of grayish green.

It is called the "Thousand Cranes Vase." Its maker is unknown.

The passage quoted above is the last passage from A Single Shard by Linda Sue Park (Clarion Books, 2001). I've heard that many stories come about by asking what if questions. I haven't done a lot of research on A Single Shard yet, but I imagine that the author read about the Thousand Cranes Vase, maybe even saw it in person, and started asking what if questions and wondering about the childhood of the unknown potter. The result is the story of an orphan boy called Tree-ear, his friend the old Crane-man, the potter Min and his wife, and the village of Ch'ulp'o, renowned for its celadon pottery. Tree-ear is Min's apprentice and he works hard to help the master potter who dreams of being awarded a royal commission.

Tree-ear, Crane-man, Min and his wife are strong and intriguing characters. Tree-ear especially. Young readers will be rooting for him, his creative aspirations, and his friendships all throughout the book! Tree-ear's story is a good one, and it is one that will have young readers always wondering what will happen next.

But personally, what I like about A Single Shard is how well-researched it is and what a delightful and natural-feeling look it is into twelfth century rural Korea and the craft of celadon pottery making. (Information about twelfth century Korea and celadon pottery can also be found in the author's note at the end of the book.)

[I bought my own copy of A Single Shard.]

Words in the Dust by Trent Reedy

2010-12-20T15:53:00.001+08:00

I'm looking forward to reading Words in the Dust by Trent Reedy, a middle grade novel set in Afghanistan. Words in the Dust will be published by Arthur A. Levine Books on Jan. 1, 2011. It sounds really interesting and I'm hoping it is a non-exoticized portrayal of Afghanistan and Afghan children. (It's a good thing the novel was vetted by several Afghans.)

Below are videos of Trent Reedy talking about the novel with his editor Cheryl Klein. Thanks to Cheryl Klein for sharing the videos through her blog Brooklyn Arden!

Trent Reedy and Cheryl Klein talk about Words in the Dust - Part I:

Trent Reedy and Cheryl Klein talk about Words in the Dust - Part II:

Gay-Neck: The Story of a Pigeon by Dhan Gopal Mukerji

2010-12-18T16:13:00.002+08:00

Illustrated by Boris Artzybasheff

I have a confession to make: I don't like animal stories. I don't know why. I can't explain it. I just don't find them interesting. Of course, there are some animal stories just so well-written that even non-animal story lovers like myself enjoy them. :o)

In Gay-Neck: The Story of a Pigeon written by Dhan Gopal Mukerji and illustrated by Boris Artzybasheff (Dutton Juvenile; reprint edition, 1968), a very engaging narrator shares the daring adventures of his pigeon, Gay-Neck. Gay-Neck is a beautiful and talented pigeon ("soul of flight, pearl among pigeons"). I got swept up in Gay-Neck's escapades. He flies in the face of storms, gets into skirmishes with birds of prey, fights for leadership in the flock, participates in pigeon competitions, and becomes the glory of the Indian army in the first World War!

Gay-Neck is a great example of a book that is both educational and an interesting story. It satisfies children's curiosity about nature and demand for quality entertainment. In Gay-Neck, one learns much about birds - everything from how a pigeon learns to fly and how a swift builds its nest, to how eagles treat their young and how pheasants save themselves from danger. This book makes bird life fascinating, and sometimes Gay-Neck's ventures are downright GRIPPING. Highly recommended for children who love animals.

[I bought my own copy of Gay-Neck: The Story of a Pigeon.]

Illustrator Interview: Jason Moss

2010-12-14T16:06:00.004+08:00

It's time for another illustrator interview! Ladies and gentlemen, let me introduce you to. . .

Jason Moss, winner of a Philippine National Children's Book Award for his bright, cheerful, and humorous illustrations in Just Add Dirt, a picture book about a boy who grows vegetables all over his body because he doesn't take a bath, written by Becky Bravo and published by Adarna House in 2009!

Welcome, Jason.

What motivates you to illustrate for children? What is the very best thing about illustrating children's books?

The fact that I'm going to be part of their growing up years as an illustrator. What motivates me is that I'm participating in lending them a dream and further molding their imagination. I say this because I myself, growing up on children's books (both local and foreign titles), said that one day I'll be illustrating myself.

The best thing about illustrating children's books is hearing stories that these kids look at my work over and over again, plus the fact that it's good to know that a lot of parents support Philippine publication, literature and illustration.

What is the greatest challenge from illustrating children's books?

Research and trying to marry tradition and trend to create a classic.

Can you please guide us through the creative process you used when working on Just Add Dirt?

A) Protagonist

After reading the manuscript three times and scribbling and doodling over it, pushing out the first ideas, etc., I then focus on creating a central image that will bring the book together. With an overview of all the characters I've created, I had to come up with yet another original; this time, an image of a child who lacked discipline. After I've established the best possible image/design for the character which I feel will appeal to children, I create the supporting characters who will complement the manner of illustration given to the protagonist. Of course, the protagonist should stick out from the rest.

B) Research

I only learned how to read and speak Tagalog in the 3rd grade and up to this point, I still don't know some words. So the first thing that I did was to ask my mom what the other vegetables were, then I googled them as reference.

C) Thumbnails

This is plotting the book: Where the body text comes out and where the illustrations are placed, whether spot, flush left or right, or double spread, bleed or non-bleed.

D) Final Art

I have to show one sample of final art and the thumbnails to the publisher for approval before I start creating the final art. When it's approved, I immediately start plotting all of the illustrations and begin an assembly line technique for speed, accuracy and color/style consistency.

E) The Cover

I always do this last. I make sure that the title is readable at 3 meters and that there are minimal colors and as many visual elements as possible to attract attention.

What does winning a Philippine National Children's Book Award mean to you?

It feels really good to be appreciated.

Thank you so much for sharing your process, Jason! And thank you so much for opening your studio to me!

One rainy Monday afternoon, I had the privilege of visiting Jason's studio - and felt as if I had found some treasure. Not only was I able to take some pictures of the studio to share with all of you, I was able to go through rough sketches of the illustrations for Just Add Dirt. I took some pictures of those too, of course. :o)

Here are just some of the books Jason has illustrated, laid out on the floor of his studio:

On the walls of the studio:

Some of Jason's books:

One of his desks:

And now some of the notes, research, and rough sketches for Just Add Dirt!

Finally, here is a sketch of the book's cover, followed by the final cover and one of the final illustrations (both images provided by Adarna House):

I was awed during this studio visit (Tarie = fangirl). It was my first time visiting an illustrator's studio and my first time going through rough sketches for picture book illustrations (and it wasn't for just any picture book, too). I hope you all enjoyed this post! Let's keep our fingers crossed for more studio visits. ;o) I'll definitely share them with you through this blog.

Interviews with Paula Yoo

2010-12-10T01:56:00.000+08:00

I've said it before, and I'll say it again and again. Paula Yoo is AMAZING. She's a children's and YA book author, a TV writer and producer, a teacher, and a professional violinist. Find out more about her in these interviews:

Here is my 2008 interview with Paula.

I interviewed Paula again yesterday, at Color Online.

Vivian Lee Mahoney interviews Paula today at HipWriterMama! Check it out!

The Secret is in the Soil Book Launch

2010-12-07T00:02:00.000+08:00

Want an example of "the book beautiful"? Check out The Secret is in the Soil: A Beginner's Guide to Natural Gardening (Conquest for Christ Foundation, 2010), written by Flor Gozon Tarriela and Gidget Roceles Jimenez. This book for ages 9 and up is unique and its subject matter much welcome. Plus, Liza Flores has really outdone herself in illustrating and designing the book!

I was fortunate to attend the book's launch last Saturday night at the Manila Polo Club.

There was a good turnout, and aside from the crowd, there were plenty of plants around of course.

Below is a picture of Flor Gozon Tarriela signing books for the kids at the launch.

And here are Gidget Roceles Jimenez and Liza Flores!

Congratulations, Flor, Gidget, and Liza! Best wishes for The Secret is in the Soil!

[The Secret is in the Soil is available at branches of ECHOstore.]

Random Fact/s (12-5-2010)

2010-12-05T04:57:00.001+08:00

I need your feedback, guys!

In The Essential Guide to Children's Books and Their Creators by Anita Silvey, Linda Sue Park is cited as the first Asian American writer to win the Newbery Medal (for A Single Shard in 2002). But what about Dhan Gopal Mukerji?

Dhan Gopal Mukerji was born on July 6, 1890 in Calcutta, India and he immigrated to the U.S. in his early 20s. He won the Newbery Medal in 1928 for his novel Gay-Neck: The Story of a Pigeon. He was the first writer of color to win the Newbery Medal and is considered the first successful Indian writer in the U.S. He committed suicide on July 14, 1936 in New York City.

Dhan Gopal Mukerji was obviously a resident of the U.S., but it seems he was never a citizen. The U.S. Congress didn't pass a bill allowing naturalization for Indians until July 1946 (ten years after his death).

Now, my questions are: Can Dhan Gopal Mukerji be considered Asian American / Indian American? Can he be considered the first Asian American writer to win the Newbery Medal?

Interviews with Mitali Perkins

2010-12-01T22:01:00.000+08:00

I interviewed Indian American author Mitali Perkins back in 2008. I've just interviewed her again for Color Online. What a privilege! Thank you, Mitali. :o)