"In My Mosque" is a picture book created to spread joy and counter tragedy! After reading it, I could tell there was a deep story and inspiration behind this book. Therefore, I reached out to M.O. Yuksel to see if she would be interested in an interview. And, luckily, she said yes! Check out our interview below.
AAPI Leaders in History Unit: Grades K-5 Plan & Materials
In this post, I am sharing a Unit Plan & Materials that I created centered around learning about AAPI Leaders in History! This is a great lesson to START to talk about AAPI History and introduce students to some key AAPI Leaders. Please make sure the conversations do not just stop here. Check out the unit plan and materials here!
Books About AAPI Leaders: An Elementary AAPI Studies List
This month I am doing an AAPI Studies Series for Colorful Pages. My hope is to release a plethora of resources for educators, families, and librarians to ensure that our history and heritage is taught. In this booklist, I share 15 books about AAPI Leaders for elementary students, consisting of mostly picture books! Each book is written or co-written by an AAPI author because we must center AAPI voices while teaching our heritage and history. I have organized this list into two categories: (1) Books Featuring Multiple AAPI Leaders, and (2) Books Featuring a Specific AAPI Leader.
15 Wonderful Women of Color Authors
I am SO excited to write this list of 15 Wonderful Women of Color Authors! Even though it is not Women’s History Month anymore, we need to uplift women of color authors as much as possible. Also, I want to point out that this list is definitely not exhaustive and there are SO many more Wonderful Women of Color authors than the 15 I list here. Check out our social media and website resources to find more suggestions!
Diverse Books to Address Anti-AAPI Racism & Empower Our AAPI Community
To say the last week has been hard would be an understatement. On Tuesday evening, a gunman killed six Asian women and two others in attacks on spas across Atlanta, Georgia. We must call this for what it was: a hate crime and one of the worst forms of racism, murder. To help the nation address the anti-AAPI racism and help our community heal, we have created a list of 20 diverse books for educators, families, and librarians to use with your students on our website. There are 10 picture books and 10 young adult novels to address Anti-AAPI Racism, empower our AAPI Community, and provide counternarratives. Each book (besides one) is written by an amazing AAPI author. Please remember that you have future adults in your classrooms, homes, and libraries. You can have an impact on them and help them challenge anti-AAPI racism. Together, by centering AAPI voices and experiences, we can heal our community!
2021 Read Across America with Colorful Pages Week
Instead of Dr. Seuss Day or General Read Across America Day, participate in 2021 Read Across America with Colorful Pages Week. In our program, we aim to redress the harm that Dr. Seuss has done by uplifting diverse books and BIPOC authors throughout the week. Check out this article to get a unit plan, worksheets, book list, and more online free resources!
Happy Lunar New Year: 8 Lunar New Year Books By Asian Authors
Gung hay fat choy! Happy Lunar New Year! To celebrate and learn more, here is a list of 8 books about Lunar New Year: 6 picture books and 2 chapter books! Each book is written by an Asian author. It is important that we uplift #OwnVoices authors, especially when it comes to Exploration Books. Check out one or a few of these books this Lunar New Year and beyond!
Black History Month: 28 Picture Books for 28 Days and Beyond!
Happy Black History Month! There is so much rich history and amazing leaders to learn from in Black History. I know that many of you all are looking for some quality books to uplift this month and integrate into your curriculum, homes, and libraries for the rest of the year, too. Therefore, I have listed 28 Picture Books for Black History Month and Beyond, all written by #OwnVoices brilliant Black authors. Check out these amazing books so that we can make sure Black History is taught this month and year-round!
Black Lives Matter at School Week: A List of Picture Books
For Black Lives Matter at School Week, I have created a list of picture books related to each day’s values. I encourage you to use these during your lessons, story times, bedtimes, and/or any other time to make sure that Black Lives Matter at School Week is weaved throughout our students and children’s days. There are 27 picture books listed below. The majority were written by Black authors.
Happy Inauguration Week: A Presidential Diverse Book List
Happy Inauguration Week! On Wednesday, January 20, 2021, President-Elect Joe Biden and Vice President-Elect Kamala Harris will be sworn into office at the US Capitol. To kick off this historical Inauguration, I have compiled A Presidential Diverse Book List. These are all books that your classroom, home, and/or library can use to celebrate the Inauguration, learn more about our US Government, and inspire your little ones to one day help change our country. There are 7 Picture Books and 3 Middle Grade & Young Adult Books to pick from. Here’s to four years of change and progress (hopefully)!
Colorful Pages 