Grace Lin's Blog, page 108
April 17, 2011
Sunday Chinese School
Welcome to Sunday Chinese School, where we learn a Chinese word (or phrase) a week with my mom!Today's word is:
bird
niǎo
April 16, 2011
IndieBound Bestseller List!
Where the Mountain Meets the Moon is #9 on the IndieBound Bestseller List this week!
9 is a lucky Chinese number signifying longevity so I'm hoping it's a good sign...
Don't forget to enter the paperback celebration contest ! You can win a free print of your choice from my etsy store just by e-mailing gracelin.manager @gmail.com. And to accommodate KidsBuzz Readers, I've just extended the entry deadline April 27th! Read here for more details.
April 15, 2011
fortune cookie friday
"A bird can roost but on one branch, a mouse can drink not more than its fill from a river."
-Chinese Proverb
April 14, 2011
School Visit Photo Album, Ohio
Recently, I've been blessed with a run of amazing school visits.
The latest schools were in Lima and Finlay, OH. Both schools did incredible jobs preparing the students. Even though I was a bit fatigued, the energy of the students carried me through. First they welcomed me with Lissy and some origami friends (from Lissy's Friends):
Some students compared Ling and Ting to themselves:
And one grade picked their favorite Seasons:
(summer seemed to be the big winner in the popularity contest)
Fourth graders illustrated scenes from The Year of the Dog:
And, inspired by Thanking the Moon, one class wrote their secret wishes:
I love this one, I wanted to be a unicorn too when I was a kid!
This display had me a little confused. I didn't remember doing a book about fans.
But then I read the sign:
Ha ha! 
The latest schools were in Lima and Finlay, OH. Both schools did incredible jobs preparing the students. Even though I was a bit fatigued, the energy of the students carried me through. First they welcomed me with Lissy and some origami friends (from Lissy's Friends):
Some students compared Ling and Ting to themselves:
And one grade picked their favorite Seasons:
(summer seemed to be the big winner in the popularity contest)
Fourth graders illustrated scenes from The Year of the Dog:
And, inspired by Thanking the Moon, one class wrote their secret wishes:
I love this one, I wanted to be a unicorn too when I was a kid!
This display had me a little confused. I didn't remember doing a book about fans.
But then I read the sign:
Ha ha!
April 13, 2011
they say the camera adds ten pounds
When I arrived at my hotel room in Ohio, this was waiting for me:
Boxes of books that needed to be signed for the next day's visit! There were so many of them! I was happy to sign them, but when I began the clock said:
And when I finished the clock said:
Which is why I am so haggard looking HERE!
Edited to add: I just noticed that the clip of me on the news may have been deleted (here's the text excerpt). I guess I must have looked THAT bad!
Boxes of books that needed to be signed for the next day's visit! There were so many of them! I was happy to sign them, but when I began the clock said:
And when I finished the clock said:
Which is why I am so haggard looking HERE!Edited to add: I just noticed that the clip of me on the news may have been deleted (here's the text excerpt). I guess I must have looked THAT bad!
April 12, 2011
booktalk tuesday
Encyclopedia Brown, Boy Detective By Donald J. Sobol
IndieBound Description:
Leroy Brown, aka Encyclopedia Brown, is Idaville neighborhood's ten-year-old star detective. With an uncanny knack for trivia, he solves mysteries for the neighborhood kids through his own detective agency. But his dad also happens to be the chief of the Idaville police department, and every night around the dinner table, Encyclopedia helps him solve his most baffling crimes. And with ten confounding mysteries in each book, not only does Encyclopedia have a chance to solve them, but the reader is given all the clues as well. Interactive and chock full of interesting bits of information--it's classic Encyclopedia Brown!
My Thoughts: Another childhood favorite! I have a shelf of these books, bought fairly recently but still enough in the past that the cover does not look like the one above!
I bought them a couple of years ago when I harbored dreams of writing a mystery series. I put that idea on the backburner when I realized that the idea I had was pretty similar to the Hannah West series that are being published. Oh well, maybe someday!
April 11, 2011
on my desk monday & Where the Mountain Meets the Moon Paperback Celebration!
On my desk are paperback editions of Where the Mountain Meets the Moon!
Yes, I'm thrilled to announce that the paperback edition of Where the Mountain Meets the Moon is NOW available. The interior illustrations are still printed in full color and there is extra-special back matter that show photos from my inspiration trip to China. If the hardcover was just a little too pricey, the paperback is now here!
AND to celebrate the paperback edition of Where the Mountain Meets the Moon, I'm giving away a FREE PRINT OF YOUR CHOICE from my etsy shop to 8 random people. To enter, just email* gracelin.manager@gmail.com with the title of your favorite print!
Winners announced next Wednesday on April 20th (so you have more than a whole week to enter).
*please note that if you enter you will most likely end up receiving my monthly e-newsletter in the future but it is very easy to opt out of, if you wish (a click at the bottom of the newsletter)
April 10, 2011
Sunday Chinese School
Welcome to Sunday Chinese School, where we learn a Chinese word (or phrase) a week with my mom!Today's word is:
umbrella
yǔsǎn
April 8, 2011
fortune cookie friday
"When a worthless man has much wealth, it increases his faults."
-Chinese Proverb
April 7, 2011
Where the Mountain Meets the Moon: Board Game
Even though I've already wrote about this in my newsletter, I wanted to post this on my blog, too--it just impressed and amazed me so much! On my facebook page, a lovely reader named Emme posted the photo on the left. Apparently, she had read Where the Mountain Meets the Moon and as a project for her class made a board game based on the book. Wow, right?!!It was so well done that I asked her if she would let me make her game available for others to play as well. She enthusiastically agreed and I am so pleased to have her work included as part of the Activities Page of Where the Mountain Meets the Moon on my website.
I think it's the perfect activity for small book clubs or even any family that has read Where the Mountain Meets the Moon together.
My favorite part is the following message that Emme includes in the instructions:
Thank You for Playing
WHERE THE MOUNTAIN MEETS THE MOON
Based on Grace Lin's Novel That Honors Chinese Legends
Reading a book is like taking a journey. Some of the things that
happen do not make sense until the journey is over or the book is
finished. The book Where the Mountain Meets the Moon is
one of those journeys. I highly recommend you check out this
book and begin your journey of discovery and harmony
the same way that Minli did.
Sincerely,
Emme
Isn't that just wonderful?
To play, just download the links below and print:
Game Instructions
Game Board
Dragon Character Pawns - Set of 4
Minli Journey Cards - Fact & Opinion Questions, Set 1
Minli Journey Cards - Fact & Opinion Questions, Set 2
Minli Journey Cards - Fact & Opinion Questions, Set 3
