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Thrilled to finally share the announcement for BLOOMING BEHIND BARBED WIRE, written by me and illustrated by the incredibly talented @mayumi.sasage.

As a young boy, my stepdad was among the more than 120,000 innocent Japanese Americans forcibly removed from their homes and sent to American incarceration camps during WWII. His father was a gardener and it’s what inspired me to dig into the history of the camp gardens and write this story. The more I learned, the more I became awestruck that people were able to create such beauty amidst such atrocity and, even more importantly, plant seeds of hope.

Thank you to my amazing editor @MattPhipps for his always thoughtful guidance and to everyone at @putnambooks for their support. And a very special thank you to my stellar agent Lara Perkins @andreabrownlit who is not only one of the best there is, but truly one of the kindest.
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#bookdeal #kidlit #picturebook #childrensbooks #aapibooks #asianbooks #asianstories #diversebooks #asiankidlit #kidlitauthor #picturebookauthor #asianauthors #aapiauthors #authorsofinstagram

Thank you to the Chinese American Librarians Association for honoring MAMIE TAPE FIGHTS TO GO TO SCHOOL with the ✨2025 CALA Best Book Award✨ in the Children’s Non-fiction Category! @michellejingchan and I are thrilled for this recognition as an outstanding book representing the diversity of the Chinese and Chinese American experience. Shoutout to our publisher Crown Books for Young Readers and @randomhousekids for all your support! And congrats, as well, to winners in the other categories and to the honor books. For the full list, visit: https://cala-web.org/awards/bestbook/2025recipients
. #chineseamericanlibrariansassociation #librarians #librariansofinstagram #kidlit #kidlitart #bookawards #picturebooks #childrensbooks #asianamericanliterature #asiankidlit #chineseamericanhistory #educators #educatorsofinstagram #schoollibrarian #mamietape #tapevhurley #mamietapebook #mamietapefightstogotoschool

Thank you Children’s Book Council & National Council for the Social Studies 💕for honoring MAMIE TAPE FIGHTS TO GO TO SCHOOL as a ✨2025 Notable Social Studies Trade Book for Young People!!✨ We are thrilled to be recognized by social studies educators as an exceptional book for use in classrooms, along with this year’s other amazing titles – congrats to all! 🎉 Check out the full list of honorees at https://www.cbcbooks.org/awards-and-book-lists/notable-social-studies/

@childrensbookcouncil
#ncss_network
@randomhousekids .
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#kidlit #picturebooks #childrensbooks #teachers #librarians #schoollibrarian #asiankidlit #aapiheritage #aanhpiheritage #asianamericanhistory #mamietape #mamietapebook #tapevhurley #changemakers #mamietapefightstogotoschool

Fun time last night with @michellejingchan and @storytimewithmrlimata kicking off postcard writing for @authorsagainstbookbans advocacy work against H.R. 7661, a nationwide book banning bill that uses misleading and overly broad language to take the freedom to read away from kids and parents. Thank you @onwaverly for hosting us! Swipe to see other postcard parties happening this week!

Fun time last night with @michellejingchan and @storytimewithmrlimata kicking off postcard writing for @authorsagainstbookbans advocacy work against H.R. 7661, a nationwide book banning bill that uses misleading and overly broad language to take the freedom to read away from kids and parents. Thank you @onwaverly for hosting us! Swipe to see other postcard parties happening this week!

I’m so excited to celebrate Asian American Pacific Islander Heritage Month with my fellow AAPI authors and illustrators from the KidLit community! 💛✨

If you need book recommendations for this month, here are our favorite stories straight from our hearts to your library! 📚

Don’t forget to follow all these amazing book creators to check out their work and more! 🎊

@hellomrsdinh
@chloeitoward
@AutumnLeaflet
@dowphumiruk
@lbontigao
@SylviaiChen
@joannahowrites
@ediblewords
@steph_steph_sy
@bshum79
@c_alemshah
@ediblewords
@jessyoonwrites
@mariechanbooks
@jleungbooks
@mmillerillustratio
@tracihuahn
@brandialwayswrites

Okay, I’ll play along! ✨If my book went to the #MetGala✨ Pairing with Alysa Liu, not only for her color-coordinating dress, but because just like Mamie Tape, she is the daughter of a Chinese immigrant and proudly born and raised in the Bay! (And while I don’t know if Mamie ever ice skated, I do know what she loved to roller skate!) 💕

@michellejingchan
@rhcbteacherslibrarians @randomhousekids
#MamieTape #mamietapefightstogotoschool #kidlit

📣 Our lucky winner is @nojobee! Thank you so much to everyone who entered! We may or may not have a second giveaway coming up this month, so be sure you are following all of the book creators in our caption to find out soon!!! ✨ 🎉
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🎊 Happy Asian American Pacific Islander Heritage Month, teachers and librarians!To celebrate, I have teamed up with my fellow AAPI author and illustrator friends to gift ONE lucky teacher/librarian this extensive collection of AAPI books for their students. 🎊

To enter this giveaway:

❤️ Like this post and FOLLOW all the creators listed.We will check before announcing a winner.
👩🏻‍💻 Comment how you plan on using these books in your library!
📚 That is IT!

MUST FOLLOW ALL OF THESE ACCOUNTS:
@hellomrsdinh
@hbui333
@chloeitoward
@AutumnLeaflet
@dowphumiruk
@angela.pham.krans
@lbontigao
@hannakimwrites
@SylviaiChen
@andreawhywang
@marietangauthor
@biculturalmama
@joannahowrites
@suma_subramaniam
@ediblewords
@steph_steph_sy
@authornatashayim
@baophi_writer
@bshum79
@brandialwayswrites
@csoontornvat
@c_alemshah
@debbi_michiko_florence
@jessyoonwrites
@mariechanbooks
@jleungbooks
@nmillerillustration
@richkarho
@sharonfjart
@tracihuahn

Open to USA ONLY!

🚨 We do NOT ask for credit card information🚨

One winner will receive a copy of each book featured in the graphic.

⭐ We will announce the winner publicly and contact them to confirm.
⭐ We will ONLY ask the winner for their mailing address.

📖 This runs until May 3rd, at 11.59 pm Eastern Standard Time Zone.
📖Open to US territory only.
📖This is in no way affiliated with or sponsored by Instagram.
📖Must be following ALL accounts to be eligible to win.
📖Must be 18 years or older.
📖Must be a current TEACHER/LIBRARIAN to enter with a valid school email.
📖The individual creators are responsible for sending a copy of their book to the winner.

🎁 The winner has 24 hours to claim any prize, otherwise, another one will be chosen! Good luck!

#iteach
#librarians
#teachers
#aapihmonth

Thank you @sojustbooks for sharing my and @michellejingchan’s book about Mamie Tape as part of your Women’s History Month “Book a Day” feature…and what perfect timing on what marks the 141st anniversary of Mamie’s California Supreme Court case, Tape v. Hurley (decided March 3, 1885)! 📚✏️📓⚖️

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Shared with @reshare_app • @sojustbooks Mamie Tape Fights to Go to School by Traci Huahn, is a picture book that tells the true story of a fight for access to public education by an 8-year-old Chinese American girl, Mamie Tape, and her parents.

In a review for @rethinkingschools , @teach_change's executive director, Deborah Menkart (@dmenkart) wrote, "Mamie Tape Fights to Go to School sheds light on the reality of many fights for desegregation and quality education in the United States — including the role of children and their families as organizers and the countless ways that white supremacists circumvent the law when a court rules for equitable access. Children reading this book will realize that court rulings are just one part of any campaign for human rights."

[Graphic: Features the cover of Traci Huahn's Mamie Tape Fights to Go to School. Off-white text with blue background reads Women's History Book A Day March 3]

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Shop Indie and small business: When you find a book at socialjusticebooks.org , please purchase it here. Our titles are linked to @bookshop_org . A portion of your book purchase helps sustain our work.

Another fun thing I did while in SF Chinatown was wander some of the alleys and I was thrilled to find the mural honoring Mamie Tape’s mom, Mary Tape, and their California Supreme Court case, Tape v. Hurley. The mural also pays tribute to Lau v. Nichols, a U.S. Supreme Court case that established the right to bilingual education (which coincidentally, was won by one of my former law school professors!)

It was also lovely to pop into the Chinese Culture Center Design Store at their @41.Ross location and discover copies of my and @michellejingchan’s book, which I happily signed! Stop by next time you’re in Chinatown, and also check out the Culture Center’s revolving exhibits and events!

@cccdesignstore
@cccsanfrancisco

#SFChinatown #SanFranciscoChinatown #chineseculturalcenter #shopchinatown #childrensbooks #picturebooks #Asiankidlit #chineseamericanvoices #mamietape #mamietapebook #mamietapefightstogotoschool

Another fun thing I did while in SF Chinatown was wander some of the alleys and I was thrilled to find the mural honoring Mamie Tape’s mom, Mary Tape, and their California Supreme Court case, Tape v. Hurley. The mural also pays tribute to Lau v. Nichols, a U.S. Supreme Court case that established the right to bilingual education (which coincidentally, was won by one of my former law school professors!)

It was also lovely to pop into the Chinese Culture Center Design Store at their @41.Ross location and discover copies of my and @michellejingchan’s book, which I happily signed! Stop by next time you’re in Chinatown, and also check out the Culture Center’s revolving exhibits and events!

@cccdesignstore
@cccsanfrancisco

#SFChinatown #SanFranciscoChinatown #chineseculturalcenter #shopchinatown #childrensbooks #picturebooks #Asiankidlit #chineseamericanvoices #mamietape #mamietapebook #mamietapefightstogotoschool

A little late in posting, but last weekend I got to celebrate the release of @bowru’s gorgeous new picture book REN’S PENCIL🩷💜 — an evocative tale about an immigrant girl struggling to find belonging in her new home, until she discovers drawing as a way to connect her two worlds. Also great to hang out with fellow #kidlit author @susancabael and take home some fun swag (those choco mushrooms were delish!🍄‍🟫🍫) And bonus, re-connecting with the always amazing @onwaverly team and signing stock copies of my and @michellejingchan’s MAMIE TAPE FIGHTS TO GO TO SCHOOL📚✏️📓 Be sure to check out their shop not only for a wonderful selection of books, but unique gifts and knick-knacks, all from AAPI creators!


#SFChinatown #SanFranciscoChinatown #SupportSmallBusiness #indiebookstore #childrensbooks #picturebooks #aapicreators #aapiauthors #Asiankidlit #mamietape #mamietapebook #mamietapefightstogotoschool

A little late in posting, but last weekend I got to celebrate the release of @bowru’s gorgeous new picture book REN’S PENCIL🩷💜 — an evocative tale about an immigrant girl struggling to find belonging in her new home, until she discovers drawing as a way to connect her two worlds. Also great to hang out with fellow #kidlit author @susancabael and take home some fun swag (those choco mushrooms were delish!🍄‍🟫🍫) And bonus, re-connecting with the always amazing @onwaverly team and signing stock copies of my and @michellejingchan’s MAMIE TAPE FIGHTS TO GO TO SCHOOL📚✏️📓 Be sure to check out their shop not only for a wonderful selection of books, but unique gifts and knick-knacks, all from AAPI creators!


#SFChinatown #SanFranciscoChinatown #SupportSmallBusiness #indiebookstore #childrensbooks #picturebooks #aapicreators #aapiauthors #Asiankidlit #mamietape #mamietapebook #mamietapefightstogotoschool

Have you been following along with the Nonfiction Ninjas and checking out NF Fest this month? If not, head on over to www.nffest.com to catch up on the daily posts from 20+ authors and illustrators offering tips and inspiration to get you researching and writing in small steps. And today’s post is from yours truly sharing about using scholarly journals in your research!

#NFFest #Nonfiction #NFkidlit #kidlit #picturebooks #childrensbooks

My kiddo made homemade char siu bao for a school project (with just a tad of parental help 😉) Turned out as good as ones you might bring home from a bakery with a pink box!
#authorlife #authorsofinstagram #iykyk