How We Say I Love You by Nicole Chen, illustrated by Lenny Wen How We Say I Love You tells the story of Hana and how her family shows love to each other without verbally saying it. "My mom stirs her love into a pot of steaming xi fan." Each spread shows different family members--grandparents,… Continue reading How We Say I Love You
Author: tinamcho
The Kindest Red
The Kindest Red: A Story of Hijab and Friendship by Ibtihaj Muhammad and S.K.Ali, illustrated by Hatem Aly In The Kindest Red, Faizah gets ready for picture day at school by wearing a hand-me-down red dress that she had been longing to wear. She and her friend Sophie twirl in their dresses. At school, her… Continue reading The Kindest Red
Twelve Dinging Doorbells
Twelve Dinging Doorbells by Tameka Fryer Brown, illustrated by Ebony Glenn, is set to the tune of the familiar Twelve Days of Christmas. In this version, a little girl gathers with family for the holiday. As the doorbell rings, relatives arrive filling the house with foods such as chitlins and baked macaroni and cheese. The… Continue reading Twelve Dinging Doorbells
Ten Blocks to the Big Wok
I really like Ten Blocks to the Big Wok by Ying-Hwa Hu, published by Children’s Book Press 2022. Uncle Eddie & Mia walk to the Big Wok for dim sum, and along the way, they count all sorts of interesting Chinese cultural items such as neighbors practicing Tai Chi Chuan, lychee fruit, silk fans, fortune… Continue reading Ten Blocks to the Big Wok
Luli and the Language of Tea
Food is a way to connect all cultures. So when I read about Andrea Wang's newest book, I had to reserve it at my library! I also connected to this book because the word for tea in Korean is the same in Chinese, "cha." The story starts on the end papers showing parents going to… Continue reading Luli and the Language of Tea
A Hundred Thousand Welcomes
by Mary Lee Donovan, illustrated by Lian Cho This is a beautiful picture book that shows how to welcome someone in many languages, including sign language. The beginning explains how to pronounce the word welcome in various languages and what it means to “welcome the stranger.” I love this statement, “In one place or another,… Continue reading A Hundred Thousand Welcomes
I Am Golden
I Am Golden, by Eva Chen, illustrated by Sophie Diao, is a love letter from Mei’s parents to their daughter, explaining her name and how her differences can be powerful. They tell her she has a golden flame on the inside. She is made of “dragons, of phoenixes, of jade rabbits, and of monkey kings.” … Continue reading I Am Golden
Exquisite: The Poetry & Life of Gwendolyn Brooks
Exquisite: The Poetry & Life of Gwendolyn Brooks by Suzanne Slade, illustrated by Cozbi A. Cabrera In honor of February’s Black History Month and March’s Women’s History Month and April’s upcoming Poetry Month, I tried to find a narrative picture book biography on a BIPOC woman that my kindergartners would understand. I succeeded with Exquisite:… Continue reading Exquisite: The Poetry & Life of Gwendolyn Brooks
Usha and the Big Digger
Usha and the Big Digger by Amitha Jagannath Knight, illustrated by Sandhya Prabhat, is a picture book in the Storytelling Math Series by Charlesbridge Publishing. In this story, sisters Usha & Aarti look at the night sky, but each sees something different. Usha sees a big digger; whereas, Aarti sees a big dipper. And more… Continue reading Usha and the Big Digger
Circle Round
Circle Round by Anne Sibley O'Brien, illustrated by Hanna Cha is a lovely book I discovered that can be used with multiple hooks in the classroom. First, it's a simple counting book and book about circular items. Second, it's a beautiful picture book of inclusion, featuring a diverse cast of children who include everyone in… Continue reading Circle Round
Words to Make a Friend
Here in the Midwest, we’ve had some wintry weather already. Words to Make a Friend: A Story in Japanese and English by Donna Jo Napoli, illustrated by Naoko Stoop is a beautiful story of friendship. A Japanese girl moves to a new neighborhood and sees the neighbor girl outside building a snowman. She puts on… Continue reading Words to Make a Friend
Thank You, Omu!
In anticipation of the Thanksgiving holiday I read an award winning picture book by Oge Mora, Thank You, Omu! I wanted to share a book about gratitude that wasn’t about a turkey because for some students in our classrooms, their families don’t celebrate with a traditional Thanksgiving meal. And for BIPOC Thanksgiving books, this book… Continue reading Thank You, Omu!
I’m Sorry by Michael Ian Black & Debbie Ridpath Ohi
by Michael Ian Black, illustrated by my writing friend Debbie Ridpath Ohi This year my school is emphasizing social emotional learning since our kiddos have lived through a pandemic which isn't over. I've been reading one picture book each week that emphasizes some characteristic that we can learn and discuss during our morning meetings. Some… Continue reading I’m Sorry by Michael Ian Black & Debbie Ridpath Ohi
Dozens of Doughnuts
I love infusing math time with math literature. And it’s all the better when the book is about doughnuts! Dozens of Doughnuts by my critique partner Carrie Finison and illustrated by Brianne Farley is a delightful, fun, and delicious book that kids will enjoy, served with a side of math. LouAnn the bear cooks up… Continue reading Dozens of Doughnuts