Crying in H-Mart

Oh H-Mart and childhood memories…this was a moving memoir about family bonds, obligations, and love. Notable lines: “Every time she . . . pressed her hand between my shoulder blades to keep me from slouching or rubbed her fingers on my forehead to ward off wrinkles, it felt like a hot iron puckering against my Read More…

Jeong

Jeong is a Korean word that is difficult to define, but Charlotte Cho defines it as “a deep and emotional connection with a person, place, or thing that builds over time and through shared experiences” in her book, “The Little Book of Jeong.” I absolutely love Charlotte Cho, Soko Glam, her Then I Met You Read More…

Little People, Big Dreams

I’ve read some of the toddler board books in this series, and now I’m reading the nonfiction picture books for my son! There’s so many, I want to get them all-but here’s some :D. I think all of these books are so inspirational and leave me teary-eyed…what a great way to share real stories of Read More…

AAPI Book Recs!

I won a pile of amazing board books by Joyce Wan, who I’ve met before and absolutely love! I bid on her books for the “Kid Lit Against Anti-AAPI Racism Auction Fundraiser.” As I’ve seen several AAPI book recs from different people and organizations, I thought I’d put together my own list. Happy Reading! 1. Read More…

The Hill We Climb

Too many amazing lines, but here are some: “ . . . We’ve learned that quiet isn’t always peace . . .” “We close the divide, / Because we know to put / Our future first, we must first / Put our differences aside.” “We lay down our arms / So that we can reach Read More…

Being Woke

SO many amazing poems-I love my spoken word! Notable lines: “And so, immigration is like tucking your roots / carefully into yourself / and repotting in a different land.” “Your body is always a good body / because it carries the good in you.” “We can choose to keep the tools for ourselves, or we Read More…

Outside, Inside

Fantastic children’s book of how we lived (and continue to live) our lives inside and outside. Loved the references to still being able to reach out to one another, share in celebrations, and await for a hopeful spring.

The Making of Asian America

I wish I learned this, anything about Asia versus the single page we had in our history textbooks, in schools. From the Angel Island barracks: “There are tens of thousands of poems composed on these walls.They are all cries of complaint and sadnessThe day I am rid of this prison and attain success,I must remember Read More…

Drawing

I’ve never been good at drawing, and that’s a skill I wish I had. However, I’m always looking to challenge myself to learn new things-so here I go! I got Angela Nguyen’s “How to Draw Cute Stuff” and started drawing away-I love making cute illustrations! It just makes things (and life) so much sweeter. Maybe Read More…

Your House Will Pay

So relevant and such a great book to talk about race relations. Notable lines: “So many Koreans lost everything. Some of them, I know they blamed us. But it was the police who made us the villains, and then they abandoned us. They let us take the fall. All the rioting in South Central and Read More…