Zen Ties by Jon J. Muth [in Bloomsbury Review]
01 May, by in Children/Picture Books, Fiction, Nonethnic-specific, Repost
I confess: I’m a Muth addict, even though technically my kids are too old for his picture books. But really, his books are ageless and we can all learn some major life lessons from them. Zen...
Young Nanami shares an afternoon with her two grandmothers: her Baachan who lives with her family in Japan, and her Gram, who is visiting from the coast of Maine. Together the three share an ancient tradition...
Arn Chorn-Pond was just 8 years old when he was torn from his family in 1975 as the Khmer Rouge invaded Cambodia. He survives years of unimaginable atrocities with only rare moments of music to soothe...
A spectacular book-without-words that traces one family’s immigration story with brilliant imagination. In an unnamed troubled land, a man leaves his wife and young daughter behind in search of freedom in a new country. His adjustments...
A lovingly illustrated poem, which was originally submitted anonymously by an adoptive mother to the 
When Aneesa, a young Muslim girl, wakes up on the first morning of Eid with just her grandmother, she greatly misses her parents, who are on a pilgrimage to Mecca. At the prayer hall, Aneesa meets...
Get ready to weep: Dog’s many lives are beautifully recounted in this gorgeous title about life cycles and reincarnation, based on the Buddhist belief of samsara (also found in Hinduism, Sikhism, and other religions).
Born again and...
Here's a delightful new spin on how adoptive parents and children are bound together. Using the age-old Chinese belief that a red thread binds people together in love, Lin has created a touching fable about a...
Because he must help his father, Armando does not have time to attend Señor David’s school, made of a single blue tarp spread on the ground. When his parents realize that education is Armando’s only way...
Mrs. Ruler finds fun and inventive ways to encourage her kindergarten students to eventually perform 100 random acts of kindness. Is there a better lesson?
Review: 
An inspiring, poignant biography – just perfect for kids! – of the legendary surfer Duke Kahanamoku, who was also the fastest swimmer in the world for 16 years! In spite of his championships, Kahanamoku still faced...
Bing’s new pet, baby rat Ralph, proves to be a handful as he must learn to mind his own business and rein in his curiosity, not to mention his uncontrollable gnawing. Of course, his smarts and...
A little boy visits a remote village with this library grandfather, bringing his little red fish along. Boy and fish have a rollicking adventure with books – literally – captured in full movement on wordless pages...
Ideally composed short poems in homage to various yoga poses for the youngest practitioner to recite, enjoy, and practice. Grand fun for yoginis of all ages!
Review: "In Celebration of Asian Pacific American Month: New & Notable...
A little girl insists on her seventh birthday that she is finally old enough to wear one of her mother’s gorgeous saris. One by one, each magical sari tells a story of the last special occasion...
From the creative team that brought you the bestselling I Love You Like Crazy Cakes comes a memorable new title that celebrates the growing bond – year after year – between a mother and her adopted...
A delightful double tale about a little girl’s adventures at the zoo, so very cleverly told through black-and-white pages that show one alarming story about the fearful parents searching for their child, and an imaginative parallel...
To cure his grandmother’s “bad case of sadness” one year after his grandfather’s death, young Daysha collects special treasures that bring back the loving experiences and memories of his much-missed grandfather. When he shares the treasures...
Written for an older audience of grade-school children, the recent sequel to Owen & Mzee: The True Story of a Remarkable Friendship (February 2006) continues the inspiring story through fabulous photographs that follow the remarkable relationship...
One too many uses of what my kids call ‘the s-word” – as in ‘stupid’ – somewhat mars an otherwise entertaining tongue-in-cheek version of an age-old tale, this time narrated by a Chinese fisherman and his...