First Daughter Reviews and Interviews

Check out these new reviews of First Daughter: White House Rules at Kahani magazine and Paper Tigers, and a couple of interviews at Harmony's Book Reviews and Robin Friedman's JerseyFresh Tude.

Poetry Friday: A Paper Tigers Celebration

If you're looking for poetry between cultures and more, head to one of my favorite sites in cyber world, Paper Tigers, where the celebration of poetry month is underway. To get started, check out the interview with poet Janet S. Wong and the essay called Pairing Poetry Across Cultures by professor Sylvia Vardell.

Paper Tigers: New Issue and Book Club

The Jan/Feb 2008 issue of PaperTigers is up, focusing on the cultures and art of illustrators:

If "every childhood lasts a lifetime," as they say, so does the undoubted influence of picture books, and the world views they convey, in children's lives. Translating stories into a language that needs no introduction to children, even when the subject matter is complex, children's book illustrators communicate with their audience in a very unique way: being the language of imagination, the art of illustration lends itself perfectly to direct communication, without cultural or language barriers.

The premier place on the web about Pacific Rim and South Asian books for young readers (honored by the ALA as a Great Website), PaperTigers has also started an exciting new book club:

The Tiger's Bookshelf: It's a blog–it's a book group– it's a new meeting ground for readers who love children's books and who enjoy chatting about what they read! It's a place to find out what other people are reading and to make recommendations of your own. It's also the most convenient and the most all-encompassing book group that you will ever be part of. Join people of all ages and from all parts of the globe to read - and talk about - the monthly "Tiger's Choice" at times that are convenient to you, when you choose. Come one, come all!

Paper Tigers Sept/Oct Issue

PaperTigers commemorates Hispanic Heritage Month in the USA (9/15 - 10/15), with a host of fabulous "interviews, articles, books and artwork that capture the Hispanic temper of our times."

Once you head there, after you've clicked around like a maniac through the rich content, I recommend downloading "Notes From Another Country: Tell Me Where Your Country Ends And Mine Begins," a poignant essay by Benjamin Alire Sáenz (author of the YA novel Sammy and Juliana in Hollywood), describing why he considers the slice of territory between El Paso and Juárez his home. Here's an excerpt:

I could say something like this: I belong to the border. I examine the statement—and then decide it’s inaccurate. Then I write: The border has always owned me. I picture myself wearing a t-shirt that reads: OWNED AND OPERATED BY THE BORDER. And then I think: I would very much like to wear such a t-shirt. I am owned by the border. Explaining that harsh and illogical fact to myself has become the core of my thinking, the heart of my writing.

Note: PaperTigers' summer issue featured my list of best books for teens between cultures, which I couldn't tell you about because of this.

PaperTigers: A Chat With Aline Pereira

With the launch of PaperTigers' new blog, I invited Aline Pereira, editor of the award-winning, resource-rich site, to talk about her vision and vocation.

Q. Tell us about your journey to this land where children's literature is beloved. When did you start reading? How did you end up as the managing editor of the site?

A: I have always loved reading and writing, which I have been doing ever since I can remember. When I came to San Francisco from my native Brasil in 1996, after living in Portugal for some time, the first thing I did was join a writing group of non-native speakers writing fiction in English. To this date those co-writers are my closest friends... But before moving to Portugal and then here, I was working as assistant manager at a bookstore in Rio de Janeiro that specialized in art and children's books. It was the first bookstore in Rio to have a café, readings, music performances... It was a remarkable place to be. Lots of positive, creative energy...

In San Francisco, I worked as a project manager at a web design firm in the South of Market area for 6 years before my daughter was born (I took a 3 year-break after her birth) but I never lost sight of my dream of working with books again. And as it happens with most important things in life, serendipity played a big role in my joining PaperTigers: one day, when I was not even looking for a job, my husband was hired to work on the Pacific Rim Voices family of websites (of which PaperTigers is one of the projects) and heard that they were looking for someone to replace Elisa Oreglia, the person who conceived and started the site, as she was moving to China to pursue other projects. Needless to say, I jumped at the chance. Luckily, Peter Coughlan, the Executive Director of Pacific Rim Voices, believed in my skills and enthusiasm enough to give me the reins of the project. It's been a challenging, wonderful and very rewarding ride.

Q. (Note to confused Fire Escape visitors: In the photo, the stony dude with large nostrils is neither Aline's hubby nor Peter Coughlan.) What do you like about managing the PaperTigers site?

A: The most rewarding things are being familiar with the great work of authors and illustrators; letting others know about new books, talents and projects, and providing a type of grassroots overall support to those involved in writing, producing, recommending and reading these great books (authors, illustrators and publishers, and also librarians, teachers and parents) in their attempts to encourage children to become hungry readers and respectful citizens of the world. Knowing that our rapidly growing readership thinks that we are doing a good job feels pretty good, too.

Q. What are your dreams for the site and the blog?

A: I hope that PaperTigers new team blog helps us get closer to our audience, which includes teachers, librarians and parents working with and raising children in different parts of the world. As for the website, I hope for more funding so we can do more of what we do, and better: that is, to promote understanding within and across cultures through children's literature with a particular focus on the Pacific Rim and South Asia. Growing our pool of overseas contributors is also a priority, to make sure we are covering more literature coming out of other important but less talked about parts of the region as well.

Q. Name a couple of reads with bookmarks that are on your nightstand right now.

A: To the horror of many an avid reader, I admit to having a chronic problem with dog-earing my books. My nightstand is almost collapsing under the weight of my dog-eared piles, but their company helps me sleep better. The books don't get moved from my nightstand (or the floor around my bed, for that matter) to the bookshelves until long after I've finished reading them.

Books there now include: Salman Rushdie's Haroun and the Sea of Stories, Lensey Namioka's Mismatch; the YA poetry collection What Have You Lost?, selected by the terrific Naomi Shihab Nye, and several others, including your First Daughter. I'm embarrassed to say Sparrow has been staring at me for a couple of weeks now, with those pretty eyes of hers. "I'll get to you soon," I assure her every evening before falling asleep.

Aline, please don't let Sparrow become a literary nag; it's heartening to know she's on your nightstand in such superb company. A thousand thanks to you and to Pacific Rim Voices for the information and encouragement you provide to those of us in children's literature circles. Até a vista!

Announcement: Paper Tigers Blog

PaperTigers (visit the award-winning site on multicultural books for young readers) announces the launch of a fabulous new blog. Note to novice bloggers: stock blog with content before going live and you just might make it on blogrolls everywhere.

Paper Tigers May/June Issue

From our friends at the award-winning Paper Tigers site (edited by Aline Pereira) comes an amazing issue for Asian/Pacific Heritage Month:

The celebration of Asian/Pacific American Heritage Month in May reminds us about the contributions of Asian Pacific Americans to every arena of life in the United States and throughout the world. The experiences that double the richness of their lives are reflected in many children's books... but do we have enough narratives?... Check the interviews, illustrators' galleries, 'personal views' articles, as well as the book reviews, resources and reading lists sections: there's much to add depth and breath to the question.

Interviews

Newbery award winner Cynthia Kadohata talks about her latest book, Cracker!, drawing inspiration from her heritage, and more...

Rose Kent spices up the world of young adult books with Kimchi & Calamari, a coming-of-age tale about a Korean boy adopted to an American family of Italian descent. Read the interview and find out for yourself why her voice is here to stay...

Personal Views

More Stories About Our American Experience, Please by Ken Mochizuki

The Extra Adjective: How I Came To Terms With Being a Multicultural Author by Grace Lin

In The Illustrators' Gallery

Yoshiko Jaeggi's illustrations (including samples from her first picture book, My Dadima Wears a Sari) display plenty of talent and sensitivity...

Meilo So's illustrations have for many years been drawing out praise from one and all ...

New Resources

Educational non-profit organizations and websites of note: Smithsonian Education (includes links to a special "Heritage Teaching" section), AskAsia, 'We The People' Bookshelf, As Simple As That, Our Voices Together and more...

Book of the Month

American Dragons: Twenty-Five Asian American Voices by Laurence Yep, illustrated by Kam Mak (Harper Teen, 1995)

Book Reviews

Many new reviews by PaperTigers and other trusted sources:

Shaun Tan's graphic powerhouse, The Arrival, Cynthia Kadohata's Cracker! The Best Dog In Vietnam, Janet Wong's Twist: Yoga Poems; plus Kimchi & Calamari, My Dadima Wears a Sari, The Bee Tree, Three Names of Me, A True Person, Celebrate! It's Cinco de Mayo, Sky Sweeper; Nana's Big Surprise (bilingual), We and more...

Plus new reading lists, including: Asian American Booklist, by NEA (National Education Association); China and the Chinese-American Life: Books for Children and Young Adults, by the Cary Memorial Library; South Asian Books for Children, by the Wisconsin International Outreach Consortium; Bibliography of Asian Pacific Americans on K-12 and Higher Education, by EDEN (Equity Through Distributed Education Network)...

Happy reading, and 'til next time!

The Tiger

Earth Day Issue of Paper Tigers

Check out the March/April 2007 edition of Paper Tigers, a wonderful website edited by Aline Pereira for librarians, teachers, publishers, and all those interested in young readers' books from and about the Pacific Rim and South Asia. This issue has a focus on children's books and the environment, and (full disclosure) a school visit my mother and I made to the Waldorf School in San Francisco is featured in the outreach section. That's my beautiful Mom, Madhusree Bose, teaching the children how to create alpana, traditional designs from Bengal.

Inspired by the Year of the Boar and the approaching Earth Day–and going beyond our regular regional scope–these bimonthly highlights focus on children's books about animals and the natural environment. Read the thought-provoking interviews and book of the month feature, browse the galleries, and make sure to explore the links below and share them with others. We hope they will inspire you to take meaningful action.

Personal Views:

Gaia Opens an Eye by author Diane Haynes talks about species' extinction, miracles and hope; Drawing from Eco-riches: Australia's Environment in Children's Books by author Chris Cheng, talks about his favorite titles on the subject.

Resources:

American Museum of Natural History's Young Naturalist Awards; Wilderness Society's Environment Award for Children's Literature, ALA's Sibert Medal for Informational Books for Children; Skipping Stones Youth Honor Awards; Institute for Global Environmental Strategies Art Contest...

Book Reviews:

From PaperTigers, and Resource Links, including: Crow Medicine by Diane Haynes; Rainforest Bird Rescue by Linda Kenyon; The Killing Sea by Richard Lewis; Dale Auger's Mwâkwa Talks to the Loon; Keltie Thomas' Bear Rescue: Changing the Future for Endangered Wildlife; Jan Thornhill's Folktails: Animal Legends from Around the World and more...

Reading Lists:

Children's Books about Nature; We're Planting the Seeds; Nature Links; Eco Books; Green Museum's Suggested Reading; Theme Park's Exploration.

On Such A Winter's Day

I'm heading off tonight to California for a wild long weekend. Here's the schedule:

• Friday, February 9, 10-2: Redwood Middle School, Saratoga. Writer's workshop and two assemblies.
  
  
• Saturday, February 10, 10-12: Towne Center Books, Pleasanton. Reading of Rickshaw Girl and alpana drawing demonstration by my mother, Madhusree Bose.
  
  
• Saturday, February 10, 3-5:30: California Association of Teachers of English Conference, Fresno. Book signing and workshop, "Books Between Cultures."
  
  
• Sunday, February 11, 4: Cody's Books, Berkeley. Reading of Rickshaw Girl and Ma's drawing demo #2.
  
  
• Monday, February 12, 10-2: San Francisco Waldorf School. Author visit and alpana art lesson, sponsored by Paper Tigers.

Whew! I'll be back on the Fire Escape on Tuesday, February 13 (via a Jet Blue Oakland-Boston red-eye, so don't expect coherence.) Hope to see some of you on the other coast ...

Bringing Asha Home and Kimchi & Calamari

Two excellent new books about adoption

Uma Krishnaswami's picture book, Bringing Asha Home (Lee & Low, September 2006), illustrated by Jamel Akib, provides an alternative answer to the "where do babies come from?" question. Eight-year-old Arun longs to celebrate the wonderful brother-sister holiday of Rakhi, but must wait months before Asha arrives from India. A perfect choice for a parent who wants to introduce the process of adoption to an older sibling, this book will also spark a re-telling of a family's own impatient waiting for a child. Teachers can use it to explore the concept of waiting for good things in general -- like spring, festival days, and babies, adopted or biological. I especially appreciated that neither text nor pictures make a fuss about the fact that the family is interracial. This makes Bringing Asha Home a prototype of a new generation of picture books where multiculturalism is celebrated but not allowed to commandeer the plot. For more reviews, visit Big A little a, the Asian Reporter, PaperTigers, or Cynsations. (Note: this book was sent to me by the publisher.)


A forthcoming middle reader by a member of the Class of 2k7, Rose Kent, Kimchi & Calamari (HarperCollins, April 2007) also features a multiracial family as a secondary theme. This funny, touching story is a coming-of-age tale told in first person by a main character that boys -- and girls -- are going to love. I can already hear them clamoring for a sequel. A delightful supporting cast of characters, a strong voice, and an honest exploration of adoption and ethnic identity from a fourteen-year-old's perspective make this a five-star book for kids between cultures. My only fear is that the cover might serve as a roadblock instead of a lure, especially for young guy readers -- could somebody at HarperCollins please explain the reasoning behind it? For more, read Chicken Spaghetti's take or a review from A Year of Reading. (Note: this book was sent to me by the author's daughter, who is serving as her publicist.)

The White House, PaperTigers, and Just One More Book

Back from a weekend in D.C. where I kept imagining Sameera, the heroine of First Daughter: Extreme American Makeover (Dutton 2007) gazing down from the solarium on the third floor of the White House. As I tried to identify the languages in the myriad of conversations swirling around me, I thought of our first visit to D.C. about a year after arriving in America (pictured are my parents during that visit in the 1970s -- note the absence of wire across the fence.) Who knew I'd be writing a book years later with 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue as a setting?

Now I'm wading through my in-box, and want to feature a few great links sent my way. First, from Aline Pereira, editor of PaperTigers:

• Interview with author Cynthia Chin-Lee
• Interview with author Debjani Chatterjee
• Di Wu's gallery
• Pooja Makhijani's article on blogs (A String of Bright Lights)
• Cynthia Chin-Lee's article about why she writes multicultural books

And check out Just One More Book!, featuring podcasts about beloved books and interviews with their authors. Cyber goodies galore for children's book aficionados! Enjoy ...

Tiger Tales: Hispanic Heritage Month

Con permiso, the Fire Escape is delighted to excerpt the newest issue of Tiger Tales, a wonderful bimonthly newsletter from Papertigers.org, a project of Pacific Rim Voices:

The very foundation of today's Hispanic culture rests on the original immigrants and the twenty nations that have contributed to the rich tapestry we call Hispanic America today – each one of them a microcosm of cultures and traditions in itself. With the increased numbers of Hispanic Americans comes increased cultural influence, but also more widespread stereotypes. We hope the books we highlight here can help children and young adults understand more about their rich heritage and that of their peers.

Authors and Illustrators

Author/illustrator Amelia Lau Carling talks about growing up in Guatemala, in a Chinese household, and the books her childhood experiences inspired.

Author René Colato Laínez talks about coming to the United States as a teenager, from El Salvador, his challenges and accomplishments ever since, and his latest book, I am René, the Boy, winner of the International Latino Book Award for Best Bilingual Picture Book.

Illustrator Leyla Torres' beautifully crafted artwork stands out, whatever theme she is tackling, and is at its best when richly evoking family life, and her native Colombian culture.

Personal Views

Bilingual Storytime: 10 Best Books To Read to a Young Audience by Ana-Elba Pavon.

Wisdom and Heritage: Stories about Grandparents and their Grandchildren by Aline Pereira.

New Resources

The results of the International Latino Book Awards, an annual set of awards for Spanish, English and Bilingual books written by Latinos.

Colorín Colorado, a web-based project that provides information and advice for educators and Spanish-speaking families of English language learners.

Book Reviews

Tales Our Abuelitas Told: A Hispanic Folktale Collection by Alma Flor Ada and F. Isabel Campoy, illustrated by Felipe Dávalos, Viví Escrivá, Susan Guevara and Leyla Torres (Atheneum, 2005). Tiger Tales' Book of the Month!

Guatemala ABCs / A Book About the People and Places of Guatemala by Marcie Aboff, illustrated by Zachary Trover (Picture Window Books, 2006, ages 4-8).

I am a Taxi by Deborah Ellis (Groundwood Books, 2006). This novel begins in a cell in San Sebastián Women’s Prison in Cochabamba, Bolivia, where twelve-year-old Diego has already lived with his mother for nearly four years, as well as with his three-year-old sister, Corina, who has never known any other form of existence. His father is held in the men’s prison across the square and Diego has a certain amount of freedom to move between the two. His parents were sentenced to seventeen years imprisonment for drug-smuggling when drugs were found taped under their seats on a bus.

Off We Go To Mexico: An Adventure in the Sun by Laurie Krebs, illustrated by Christopher Corr (Barefoot Books, 2006, ages 4-8).

I am René, the Boy / Soy René, el Niño by René Colato Laínez (Piñata Books, Arte Público Press, 2005, ages 4-8). What’s in a name? That’s what René sets out to discover when his identity is threatened on the day a new girl arrives in his class – and her name is René too. How can his name be a girl’s name?!? He is proud of his name: it is tied up with his roots in El Salvador, not only because his father and grandfather are both René too but also because that is where he first learned to write it. Things are not so bad though. It turns out that René the girl actually spells her name differently: Renee.

Truth and Salsa by Linda Lowery, by René Colato Laínez, illustrated by Fabiola Graullera Ramírez (Peachtree, 2006). Twelve-year-old, Michigan-born-and-bred Hayley is having difficulty coping with her parents' separation. When her Mom needs some time alone, Hayley has to go and spend six months with her "weird" Gran who's taken herself off to live in Mexico.

Winter Afternoon / Tarde de Inviern, by Jorge Luján, illustrated by Mandana Sadat, translated by Elisa Amado (Groundwood Books / Libros Tigrillo, 2006, ages 2-5).

The Frog and His Friends Save Humanity / La rana y sus amigos salvan a la humanidad by Victor Villaseñor, illustrated by José Ramírez, Spanish translation by Edna Ochoa (Piñata Books, 2005, ages 4-8).

Papertigers also provides new book lists focusing on Latino people, history, and culture, as well as many other wonderful resources. You'd be muy loca not to go there right now.

Paper Tigers July Issue

Paper Tigers is a wonderful website for "teachers, librarians, publishers, and all those interested in books for young readers from and about the Pacific Rim and South Asia." As usual, they provided some great reads and resources in their monthly on-line issue, including an illuminating interview with Allen Say, a thoughful article by Laura Atkins about diversity in children's publishing, and Pooja Makhijani's fascinating take on our recent South Asian Writer's Children's Literature Panel in New York. Also featured are some new book reviews. Feel free to go wild with your advanced bookmarking, linking, and forwarding cyberspace skills.

Linda Sue Park's Hyphenated Life

I spoke at Waltham Public School's Library Volunteer Luncheon today, emphasizing how vital the hospitality of librarians can be to kids growing up with a hyphen. What's it like to grow up with a racially-identifiable hyphen? Newbery-award winning author Linda Sue Park describes it well in an excerpt on the fabulous Paper Tigers site:

. . . If you are racially hyphenated in a way that is immediately visible, then you confront the fact of your hyphen every day. Not always in a negative sense, but in an unavoidable one ... Being visibly hyphenated in a racial sense, those experiences are a constant in your life. As an Asian-American, I am well aware that my family and I experienced racism for the most part in far more benign ways than most African-Americans. There was hostility only rarely. But the countless, daily, often seemingly harmless encounters—the assumptions people made about me based on my race alone—have worked to shape what would eventually become my writing sensibility.

When I chatted briefly with Linda at a recent NESCBWI conference, we compared notes on how the world of children's book editors is also slowly but surely becoming dashed with visible hyphens. What's happening in the demographic of librarians, I wonder? I'll be checking that out when I head to New Orleans to present at the ALA Convention in couple of weeks.

Tiger Tales: Asian Pacific American Heritage Month

If you don't know about the fantastic resource called PaperTigers.org, head over there right now to peruse book lists, reviews, and interviews related to children's books from and about the Pacific Rim and South Asia. With their permission, I post the most recent issue of their e-newsletter, Tiger Tales, here:

May is Asian Pacific American Heritage Month, and a great time to celebrate the rich history of Asian Americans and their contributions to strengthening the fabric of this country. Asian Pacific Americans are not a single group. They are made up of more than 24 ethnic groups that speak different languages, each with its own historical roots and branches. Their ethnic or multi-ethnic identities have a long, and not always acknowledged, history. Reading the books we highlight here and spreading the word about them and about APAH month, is one way to acknowledge and celebrate their importance. By introducing young minds to the complex questions of racial and ethnic identities, we help them find out the reality that lies beyond skin color and accents...

{Book of the Month}
This month, we highlight Landed, by Milly Lee, a very important book that helps counter the dearth of immigration stories from across the Pacific. It tells the story of her father-in-law, Sun’s journey from China to America to join his father and brothers, and how he is detained for weeks at San Francisco's Angel Island Immigration Station until he is called for interrogation and granted entry. Although not a 'paper son' (a term used to describe those falsely claiming blood ties for purposes of immigration), everything still depends on him getting his answers right, and failing to do so means deportation.

{Interview}
Author Uma Krishnaswami talks to PaperTigers about her new book Closet Ghosts (CBP, 2006), the importance of heritage, windows, and "filing cabinets."

{Personal Views}
In celebration of APA Heritage Month, we offer two personal views for thought, one focusing on picture books, the other on books for older readers:

My Favorite Asian Pacific American Picture Books by Frances Kai-Hwa Wang, a sample of some of her favorite reads, dealing with a range of issues faced by Asian American children.

Asian American Literature for Children and Teens: Where We Fit In by children's book author and poet Janet Wong, on how Asian Americans are more than the sum of their mixed-heritage. This reading list packs a punch.

{Gallery}
In the illustrator's gallery, the delightful world of Belle Yang: bright and expressively painted, her illustrations leap at you with a life much larger than the few inches they fill on the screen.

{Essential Reading}
The American Experience: Strength from Diversity is a great (and timely!) reading list – including many Asian American titles–put together by ALA's Association for Library Services to Children's International Committee.

{Resources}
The Asian American Curriculum Project is an award-winning non-profit voluntary educational organization that offers a vast collection of Asian American books and educational resources to schools, libraries and the general public.

Growing Up Asian in America Art and Essay Contest, an annual art and essay competition for K-12th grade students in the San Francisco Bay Area is a meaningful celebration of Asian and Pacific-Island Heritage. "On My Street & In My Neighborhood," this year's theme, gives youth a chance to illustrate and voice their points of view

{Book Reviews}
Check out the new book reviews, including, from Resource Links, Canada, Bamboo by Paul Yee (Tradewind Books, 2006), and from CCBC, US, Koyal Dark, Mango Sweet, by Kashmira Sheth (Hyperion, 2006).

There's a world of Asian and Pacific-Island cultures and voices out there! So read, learn, and join in the celebration!

Pacific Rim Holiday Memories

Pacific Rim Voices' wonderful Paper Tigers site features the memories (including mine) of a few writers' and illustrators' childhood holidays.

Paper Tigers and Pacific Rim Voices

Just posted: an interview with "dichan" ("me" in Thai) on one of the fabulous websites maintained by Pacific Rim Voices. Laura Adkins, the interviewer, asked some great questions — she inspired me to be grateful once again for the wonders of life between cultures.