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Showing posts from February, 2010

Press Release: Asian/Pacific American Award for Literature Winners Selected

The Asian/Pacific American Librarians Association (APALA), an affiliate of the American Library Association (ALA), has selected the winners of the 2009 Asian/Pacific American Awards for Literature . The awards promote Asian/Pacific American culture and heritage and are awarded based on literary and artistic merit. Here are the winners in the picture book and youth literature categories: The picture book winner is Cora Cooks Pancit , written by Dorina K. Lazo Gilmore and illustrated by Kristi Valiant, published by Groundwood Books. The picture book honor was given to Tan to Tamarind , written by Malathi Michelle Iyengar and illustrated by Jamel Akib, published by Children’s Book Press. The youth literature winner is Everything Asian , written by Sung J. Woo and published by Thomas Dunne Books. The youth literature honor was given to Tofu Quilt , written by Ching Yeung Russell and published by Lee & Low Books. The winners and honor books were chosen from titles by or about Asian/P

More Good News

* Naku, Nakuu, Nakuuu! written by Nanoy Rafael and illustrated by Sergio Bumatay III (Adarna House, 2008) will be published in translation next year by the Swedish publishing house Trasten. Woot woot! Philippines in the heart, world on the mind! Thanks to Chen of Trasten publishing house for this great news. =D * I've guest blogged at Zoe Toft's Playing by the book . I sang the praises of three Asian fantasies for kids and teens and Zoe suggested songs and activities to go with the books! =D

Multiculturalism Rocks!

Are you curious about why I started this blog? Children's and young adult fiction writer Nathalie Mvondo asked me about Asia in the Heart, World on the Mind. The interview is posted at her amazing blog Multiculturalism Rocks!

Tastespotting in Where the Mountain Meets the Moon

My favorite food scene in Where the Mountain Meets the Moon , written and illustrated by Grace Lin Minli entered the open air pavilion. At the center, two stools and a small table of elaborately carved gingko wood waited for them. A large, finely woven bamboo basket as tall as Minli's waist stood next to the chairs. The king eagerly lifted off its lid and rich, warm aromas floated in the air, making Minli's stomach grumble. The king took out the plates of delicate pink shrimp dumplings, savory noodles and pork, dragon's beard bean sprouts, emerald green chives, and a bowl of white jade tofu soup. A pot of tea and an assortment of cakes sat on the bottom layer of the basket, to finish off the dinner.

Where the Mountain Meets the Moon by Grace Lin

There is a barren mountain aptly called Fruitless Mountain, and by it lies the dark Jade River. In the shadow of the mountain is a poor village where everything is the dull color of mud. In this village live Ba and Ma and their quick-thinking daughter Minli. Ba, Ma, and Minli work hard in the fields every day, yet they only have plain rice to eat for their meals. Ma sighs with discontentment all the time. Minli looks at her weary father, her dissatisfied mother, and her desolate village and wishes she knew how she could change their fortune. Ba has told Minli wonderful stories about the Never-Ending Mountain and the Old Man of the Moon who knows the answer to all important questions, for he alone holds and reads the Book of Fortune. Minli decides to find the Never-Ending Mountain and climb up to the moon so that she can ask the Old Man how she can change her family's fortune. And so begins Minli's journey. Along the way, she makes many new friends, including a dragon, a buffa
I'm on the staff of Color Online, a blog that focuses on women writers of color for adults, teenagers, and children. Head on over there for my review of Yeh-Shen: A Cinderella Story from China by Ai-Ling Louie and Ed Young !

Ash by Malinda Lo

When Ash is around twelve years old, her mother dies and her father dies soon after. But not before marrying a woman with two daughters of her own. Even with a stepmother and two stepsisters, Ash is all alone, for her stepfamily treats her very unkindly and like a servant. And always, always Ash feels the loss of her mother. Ash inherited her mother's love of fairy tales and she reads stories about how fairies can take people to see their deceased loved ones. Ash seeks out fairies because magic reminds her of her mother and she would like to ask the fairies to bring her mother back from the dead. She finds fairies and forms a very peculiar relationship with one named Sidhean. Sidhean is powerful and more handsome than any man Ash has ever seen. He desires Ash and claims her as his own. Though he and Ash are strange friends/companions for many years, they rarely spend time together. Sidhean claims that Ash is not yet ready to stay with him and his people. However, Ash yearns to leav