Asia in the Heart, World on the Mind

The 2012 Bologna Ragazzi Awards for the best children's books in terms of graphic and editorial design have been announced. Champagne, cake, confetti, coffee, and CONGRATULATIONS go to: New Horizons - Mentions Misunderstanding , written by Farideh Khalatbaree and illustrated by Ali Boozari (Shabaviz Publishing Company, Tehran – Iran) Waterlife , written and illustrated by Rambharos Jha (Tara Books, Chennai – India) Opera Prima - Winner Tabati , written by Nadine R. L. Touma and illustrated by Lara Assouad Khoury (Dar Onboz, Beirut - Lebanon) Opera Prima - Mention Grimmie's White Canvas , written and illustrated by Hyunjoo Lee (Sang Publishing, Seoul – Republic of Korea) Thanks to my friend Jules , one of the Ragazzi jurors, for this information!

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.

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.]

This was originally posted at Into the Wardrobe on July 13, 2009. We're in for a real special treat today! Today, I have the honor and great pleasure of interviewing Anne Sibley O'Brien , an American author/illustrator who creates multicultural children's books. Anne Sibley O'Brien was raised bilingual and bicultural in South Korea (as the daughter of medical missionaries). She has received the National Education Association’s Author-Illustrator Human and Civil Rights Award for her work with Margy Burns Knight, TALKING WALLS and other books; the Africana Award for AFRICA IS NOT A COUNTRY by Margy Burns Knight and Mark Melnicove; and the Aesop Award, the Asian/Pacific American Award for Literature, and the Global Korea Award for THE LEGEND OF HONG KIL DONG: THE ROBIN HOOD OF KOREA, a graphic novel she wrote and illustrated. Her latest book is AFTER GANDHI: 100 YEARS OF NONVIOLENT RESISTANCE, which she illustrated and co-wrote with her son, Perry. (Click here for a comp...

This was originally posted at Into the Wardrobe on May 24, 2009. Today, I have the privilege of interviewing blogger and YA writer Ellen Oh . I first came across Ellen's popular blog Hello Ello while I was doing research for my interview with Ingrid Law . ( Ellen's oldest daughter had interviewed Ingrid .) I checked out Hello Ello and really liked what I saw and discovered that Ellen had written Seven Kingdoms , a young adult fantasy set in ancient Korea. My interest was further piqued and I immediately emailed Ellen to let her know that I thought Seven Kingdoms sounded AWESOME. Alas, Seven Kingdoms is not yet a published book. But I think it's only a matter of time before we see Ellen's work on bookstore shelves. And the wait will be well worth it. Ellen, can you tell us a bit about your Asian American heritage? I'm an American Gyopo - which is the Korean term for any person of Korean ethnic descent who lived the majority of their lives outside of Korean...

This was originally posted at Into the Wardrobe on May 20, 2009. I am so happy that today's guest is Jama Kim Rattigan ... the author of these picture books. :D Jama's blog alphabet soup , which "offers food for thought and fine whining," is one of my favorite blogs. It features children's books, young adult books, art, interviews, bunnies, alphabet pasta, soup, cakes, cupcakes, flowers, poetry... Every day, Jama blogs about what is cute, excellent, lovely, awe-inspiring, and heartwarming. And she responds to every comment! If you love literature for the young and young at heart and food, and you don't already visit alphabet soup, all I can say is: Why??? I consider Jama a very special online friend, so I am particularly pleased to be interviewing her. Welcome, Jama! Can you please tell us a bit about your Asian American heritage? I’m a third generation Korean American who grew up in Hawai’i. Both of my grandfathers emigrated from Korea to work on the sug...

This was originally posted at Into the Wardrobe on May 7, 2009. In 1985, Chiune Sugihara received the "Righteous Among Nations" Award from Yad Vashem, the famous Holocaust memorial in Israel. Chiune Sugihara was the first and only Asian to be given this award. In 1940, Sugihara was representing Japan as a diplomat in Lithuania. Polish Jews sought visas from Sugihara. They wanted to travel through the Soviet Union to Japan in order to escape the Nazis. The Japanese government did not allow Sugihara to issue the visas, but he gave them anyway, because he knew that if he didn't many people would die. In this way, Sugihara saved the lives of thousands of Jews. This amazing story is told through the eyes of Sugihara's then five-year-old son, Hiroki, in Passage to Freedom: The Sugihara Story written by Ken Mochizuki and illustrated by Dom Lee ( Lee & Low Books , 1997). This picture book for ages six and up is a different, interesting, engrossing, and powerful way...

This was originally posted at Into the Wardrobe on November 15, 2008. The AMAZING Paula Yoo is the author of the young adult novel Good Enough . In this very enjoyable read, honor student and violin player Patti Yoon shares her worries, uncertainties, frustrations, fun, hopes, and dreams during her senior year in high school. (Click here for my review of Good Enough . I thought it was SO GOOD!) Paula is also the author of the children’s non-fiction picture book, Sixteen Years in Sixteen Seconds: The Sammy Lee Story (illustrated by Dom Lee). Paula holds a B.A. in English (cum laude) from Yale University, an M.S. in Journalism from Columbia University, and an MFA in Creative Writing from Warren Wilson College. She is a TV drama screenwriter and her TV writing credits include NBC's "The West Wing," FOX’s "Tru Calling," and The CW’s "Hidden Palms." She has taught English and music and written for The Seattle Times, The Detroit News, and PEOPLE magazine...