Grace Lin's Blog, page 5
July 8, 2017
The Book Stop: Part 3
It seems like the Book Stop was slow going, but it wasn't really. Once we got it going, we were able to pull it together pretty fast! One of the parents began building the shelves:
And another designed the the sign:
which we decided to make even more personal. At the school picnic, we had all the kids sign their names on the back:
A nice little memory for posterity!
Now, we just need to hand it over the finished Book Stop...
And another designed the the sign:
which we decided to make even more personal. At the school picnic, we had all the kids sign their names on the back:
A nice little memory for posterity!
Now, we just need to hand it over the finished Book Stop...
July 6, 2017
the art critic
About a year ago, when Rain Dragon realized what I did for a living, she asked if I would put her into a book. Little did she know, I had already been planning it for a while! Yes, she is the "star" in my upcoming picturebook, "A Big Mooncake for Little Star," the art of which I have just recently finished! The book doesn't come out until August 2018 (more than a year away!) but according to Rain Dragon, that is just fine because the art still needs work. Apparently, I forgot to make her into duck.
July 3, 2017
Win this painting!
Would you like to have this painting? It's an original piece that I just finished and it could be yours!
In honor of this 4th of July and as a proud American, I am auctioning this off with 100% of the proceeds to go to DonorsChoose, an organization that funds needy schools, one classroom at a time.
This painting is done in gouache and is 5.5 x 5.5.
Obviously, this 4th of July, I have some mixed feeling about being American...or maybe more about how America feels about me. I think that much of the anger and fear today is because people are afraid that something is getting taken from them, that they are losing something. But I truly feel that there is enough greatness in America for everyone and all Americans deserve a piece of it. Which is what I hope you get (in a fun way) from this painting!
If you want to bid, just put your bids in the comments section of this blog post. Starting bid is $50 and bidding ends on July 10th (next Monday) at 9pm EST.
Bid often and bid high! If the bids go higher than $200, I will mat and frame the painting for you as well!
Happy 4th of July!
June 30, 2017
on the radio...
my commentary "A Four Year Old Helps Her Mother Speak Out" on NEPR is, of course, inspired by Rain DragonSo, it looks like being a commentator for NEPR is going to be kind of a sort-of regular gig for me. Just in case you missed it, last week I recorded this commentary, "A Four Year Old Helps Her Mother Speak Out," featuring my post election thoughts (some of you may recognize it as an adaptation of my be brave post early in the year).
Hope you like it!
June 28, 2017
The Community Book Stop: Part 2
Making the Book Stop for Rain Dragon's preschool was a multi-step process and needed a team effort. I am so glad there were so many on the Diversity Committee that stepped up to be a part of it! Here we are, hard at work:
What are we doing? Well, first, in the front of the book, we are sticking in these reading suggestions. They are general tips to help parents share the story with their kids, just in case they are feeling a little uncomfortable:
And in the back of the book, we are sticking in these little blank notebooks:
These are so parents can write down their impressions of the book to help the next reader!
This part of the project was really important, at least to me! Because, to me, the books are not enough. Just having them is good, but sharing them--really sharing them-- by having parents and kids observing and discussing...that is what building bonds and a community is about. And the true purpose of the whole thing!
Want to know what our suggestion sheet said? Here you go:
Enjoy this book from the Community Book Stop! Sharing a book with your child is a wonderful adventure!
Every child is unique, and children come to these conversations at different times and in different ways. There is no one right way to read with your child, but if you are looking for suggestions, below are some you may find helpful.
1.Don't be afraid to bring up challenging subjects.Even if you may be uncomfortable, it is better to talk about it with your child.
2. Stop to answer your child’s questions.
Even if you do not know how to answer at that moment, think of it as the start of many conversations.
3. Pause to ask your child questions.Help involve your child in the story by asking them things like, “What do you think will happen?”, “How does this make you feel?” “What do you notice here?”
4. Accept and honor your child’s responses,
There is no wrong way for your child to interpret a story. Use it as a leaning moment.
5. Consider talking about how your child could relate to the story. What things are familiar? What things are new?
Use these suggestions during or after your reading, don’t be afraid to reread this book many times. Each reading may spark new conversations.
At the back of this book you’ll see a space for you to record your thoughts and ideas. Please share them with our community!
Maybe you can use it to help make a Book Stop of your own? Hope so! Stay tuned to see what we did next!
What are we doing? Well, first, in the front of the book, we are sticking in these reading suggestions. They are general tips to help parents share the story with their kids, just in case they are feeling a little uncomfortable:
And in the back of the book, we are sticking in these little blank notebooks:
These are so parents can write down their impressions of the book to help the next reader!
This part of the project was really important, at least to me! Because, to me, the books are not enough. Just having them is good, but sharing them--really sharing them-- by having parents and kids observing and discussing...that is what building bonds and a community is about. And the true purpose of the whole thing!
Want to know what our suggestion sheet said? Here you go:
Enjoy this book from the Community Book Stop! Sharing a book with your child is a wonderful adventure!
Every child is unique, and children come to these conversations at different times and in different ways. There is no one right way to read with your child, but if you are looking for suggestions, below are some you may find helpful.
1.Don't be afraid to bring up challenging subjects.Even if you may be uncomfortable, it is better to talk about it with your child.
2. Stop to answer your child’s questions.
Even if you do not know how to answer at that moment, think of it as the start of many conversations.
3. Pause to ask your child questions.Help involve your child in the story by asking them things like, “What do you think will happen?”, “How does this make you feel?” “What do you notice here?”
4. Accept and honor your child’s responses,
There is no wrong way for your child to interpret a story. Use it as a leaning moment.
5. Consider talking about how your child could relate to the story. What things are familiar? What things are new?
Use these suggestions during or after your reading, don’t be afraid to reread this book many times. Each reading may spark new conversations.
At the back of this book you’ll see a space for you to record your thoughts and ideas. Please share them with our community!
Maybe you can use it to help make a Book Stop of your own? Hope so! Stay tuned to see what we did next!
June 19, 2017
on my desk monday
It's been a long, long time since I've illustrated another author's words...but I'm doing it now! I'm going to be illustrating an updated version of this old book:
Doesn't look familiar? Well, does the author ring a bell?
Yes! It's that Eleanor Roosevelt! I'm honored to say that I will be the illustrator of an updated version of "When You Grow Up to Vote" by Eleanor Roosevelt!
It's going to be a bit of a challenge for me--I didn't realize how rusty I was being "only the illustrator" until now. But, hopefully, I can rise to the occasion...wish me luck!
Doesn't look familiar? Well, does the author ring a bell?
Yes! It's that Eleanor Roosevelt! I'm honored to say that I will be the illustrator of an updated version of "When You Grow Up to Vote" by Eleanor Roosevelt!
It's going to be a bit of a challenge for me--I didn't realize how rusty I was being "only the illustrator" until now. But, hopefully, I can rise to the occasion...wish me luck!
June 15, 2017
School visit, Slingerland NY!
Here is another school visit I did, all the way back in April! This one was in Slingerlands, NY where they did a One Book, One School Read (my favorite thing!) of Where the Mountain Meets the Moon:
Why do I love visiting schools that do this so much? Well, because the kids there are so awesome:
Of course, they are taught to be so awesome by their amazing teachers and librarians who take my little book and turn it into a school-wide opportunity for learning and community building.
For example, they used the idea of the red thread and had students draw who they were connected to:
They even had a red thread wrap on all the walls of the school to show everyone was connected...with the red thread ended at a mountain, of course.
And this is the first time I've ever seen a class use my TEDx Talk as part of their lesson curriculum. Kids reflected on which parts of the books were like a window and which parts were like a mirror:
As well as pinpointing and illustrating the figurative language in the book:
Oh, and there were also goldfish swimming in the halls:
And, after the visit, I received this:
Did I mention how the kids were so awesome? Thanks so much, Slingerlands!
Why do I love visiting schools that do this so much? Well, because the kids there are so awesome:
Of course, they are taught to be so awesome by their amazing teachers and librarians who take my little book and turn it into a school-wide opportunity for learning and community building.
For example, they used the idea of the red thread and had students draw who they were connected to:
They even had a red thread wrap on all the walls of the school to show everyone was connected...with the red thread ended at a mountain, of course.
And this is the first time I've ever seen a class use my TEDx Talk as part of their lesson curriculum. Kids reflected on which parts of the books were like a window and which parts were like a mirror:
As well as pinpointing and illustrating the figurative language in the book:
Oh, and there were also goldfish swimming in the halls:
And, after the visit, I received this:
Did I mention how the kids were so awesome? Thanks so much, Slingerlands!
June 12, 2017
School Visit Photo Album
My school visit season is winding down and I'm a bit aghast at how little I posted about them. Dear schools, please know it is not a reflection on how much I enjoyed our event! Because I have visited so many amazing schools that have welcomed me in such creative and fun ways! I love seeing how every school uses my books!
Here are some examples of some schools I visited in April:
There were beautiful welcomes and decorations:
beautiful Kite Flying kites!
look at all the details!
One school had a giant mountain & moon, with student-made goldfish all over the school "leading" the way to it:
And there's my first lego welcome sign:
lego Dragon!Sometimes the artistic talent shown just put me to shame:
And the projects! Like I said, SO creative. At one school, kids made "baseball" trading cards of all the characters in Where the Mountain Meets the Moon:
and postcards to and from characters in the book:
I find this so funny! The Buffalo sending a peeved postcard to the Buffalo Boy because Minli came over.
the goldfish asking Aunt Jin if she's a dragon yet.
And then there were old fashioned book reports done so elaborately and with so much care that they was nothing old fashioned about it...this one actually lit up:
And there's lots more! I just have to get my act together and share them! Thank you, students, teachers and librarians for being so awesome!
Here are some examples of some schools I visited in April:
There were beautiful welcomes and decorations:
beautiful Kite Flying kites!
look at all the details!One school had a giant mountain & moon, with student-made goldfish all over the school "leading" the way to it:
And there's my first lego welcome sign:
lego Dragon!Sometimes the artistic talent shown just put me to shame:
And the projects! Like I said, SO creative. At one school, kids made "baseball" trading cards of all the characters in Where the Mountain Meets the Moon:
and postcards to and from characters in the book:
I find this so funny! The Buffalo sending a peeved postcard to the Buffalo Boy because Minli came over.
the goldfish asking Aunt Jin if she's a dragon yet.And then there were old fashioned book reports done so elaborately and with so much care that they was nothing old fashioned about it...this one actually lit up:
And there's lots more! I just have to get my act together and share them! Thank you, students, teachers and librarians for being so awesome!
June 11, 2017
The Community Book Stop, Part 1
For the past month the foyer in my daughter's preschool has looked like this:
It's the planned location of the Community Book Stop project I mentioned earlier! We had a book drive asking for parents to purchase or donate the books on our booklist. We crowdsourced it from parents, teachers, and online booklists from libraries and educational journals. Every time a books was donated, we checked it off from the list. It was super fun to see more and more checkmarks everyday!
Do you want to see our booklist? Here it is! Of course, this is just the start of our small library--we hope it will grow and grow in the years to come. So, if you have any suggestions of books to add or see books that we missed, please let me know (fyi, the school is a preschool so the books should skew very young).
And stay tuned to see photos of the finished project!
COMMUNITY BOOK STOP WISH LIST
Faith by Maya AjmeraBesos for Babies: A Little Book of Kisses by Jen Arena (board)Thunder Boy Jr. by Sherman AlexieWorm Loves Worm by J. J. AustrianI Can Do It Too! By Karen Baicker (board)Morris Micklewhite and the Tangerine Dress by Christine BaldacchinoTen, Nine, Eight by Molly Bang (board)The Table Where Rich People Sit by Byrd BaylorAda Twist, Scientist by Andrea BeatyRosie Revere, Engineer by Andrea BeatyThose Shoes by Maribeth BoeltsMaybe Something Beautiful by F. Isabel CampoyLast Stop on Market Street by Matt de le PeñaChirri & Chirra by Kaya DoiAbuela by Arthur DorrosDrum Dream Girl: How One Girl’s Courage Changed Music by Margarita EngleFeast for 10 by Cathryn FalwellMonster Trouble by Lane FredricksonTen Little Fingers and Ten Little Toes by Mem Fox (board)Whoever You Are (board) by Mem FoxBy Day, By Night by Amy GibsonGlobal Babies by The Global Fund for Children (board)Global Baby Bedtime by The Global Fund for Children (board)Red: A Crayon's Story by Michael HallThe Hello Atlas by Ben HandicottGanesha's Sweet Tooth by Emily Haynes Hush: A Thai Lullaby by Minfong HoAmazing Grace by Mary HoffmanHappy to be Nappy by Bell Hooks (board)Be Boy Buzz by Bell Hooks (board)Skin Again by Bell HooksSay Hello! By Rachel Isadora (board)Julius by Angela JohnsonThe Colors of Us by Karen KatzPeter's Chair by Ezra Jack Keats (board)Golden Domes and Silver Lanterns: A Muslim Book of Colors by Hena KhanHooray, a Piñata! by Elisa Kleven (paperback)Harvesting Hope: The Story of Cesar Chavez by Kathleen KrullFamilies, Families, Families! by Suzanne LangDim Sum For Everyone! by Grace Lin (board)The Ugly Vegetables by Grace LinLing and Ting: Not Exactly the Same by Grace LinI Once was a Monkey: Stories Buddha Told by Jeanne M. LeeThe Invisible Boy by Trudy LudwigKitchen Dance by Maurie ManningKnots on a Counting Rope by Bill Martin Jr. & John Archambault Emma and Julia Love Ballet by Barbara McClintockLola at the Library by Anna McQuinnLeo Can Swim by Anna McQuinn Mango, Abuela and Me by Meg MedinaTake Me Out to the Yakyu by Aaron MeshonEverywhere Babies by Susan Meyers (board)I am Rosa Parks by Brad MeltzerGracias/Thanks by Pat MoraNiño Wrestles the World by Yuyi MoralesA is for Activist by Innosanta Nagara (board)Counting on Community by Innosanta Nagara (board)Eight Candles and a Tree by Simone Bloom NathanHeather Has Two Mommies by Leslea NewmanI'm New Here by Anne Sibley O'BrienTickle, Tickle by Helen Oxenbury (board)The Adventures of Sparrowboy by Brian PinkneyThis Day in June by Gayle E.PitmanThe Family Book by Todd ParrShade of Black: A Celebration of Our Children by Sandra L. Pinkney (board)What does Peace feel like? By Vladimir RadunskyWabi Sabi by Mark ReibsteinAnd Tango Makes Three by Justin Richardson (board)Tar Beach by Faith RinggoldWe Came to America by Faith RinggoldShades of People by Sheila M. KellyAll my Stripes: A Story for Children with Autism by Shaina RudolphStepping Stones: A Refugee Family’s Journey by Margriet RuursOne Family by George ShannonMy Heart Fills with Happiness by Monique Gray Smith (board)Elizabeti’s Doll by Stephanie Stuve-BodeenToddler Two (board) by Anastasia SuenEmmanuel’s Dream: The True Story of Emmanuel Ofosu Yeboah by Laurie Ann ThompsonRound is a Tortilla by Roseanne Greenfield ThongPancho Rabbit and the Coyote: A Migrant's Tale by Duncan TonatiuhLittle You by Richard Van Camp (board)We Sang You Home by Richard Van Camp (board)Delores Huerta: A Hero to Migrant Workers by Sarah WarrenVoice of Freedom: Fannie Lou Hamer by Carole Boston Weatherford Circles of Hope by Karen Lynn Williams“More More More,” Said the Baby by Vera B. Williams (board)A Chair for My Mother by Vera B. WilliamsSusan Laughs by Jeanne WillisWangari's Trees of Peace: A True Story from Africa by Jeanette WinterSonia Sotomayor: A Judge Grows in the Bronx by Jonah WinterEach Kindness by Jacqueline WoodsonPuddle by Hyewon YumNot all Princesses Dress in Pink by Jane Yolen
It's the planned location of the Community Book Stop project I mentioned earlier! We had a book drive asking for parents to purchase or donate the books on our booklist. We crowdsourced it from parents, teachers, and online booklists from libraries and educational journals. Every time a books was donated, we checked it off from the list. It was super fun to see more and more checkmarks everyday!
Do you want to see our booklist? Here it is! Of course, this is just the start of our small library--we hope it will grow and grow in the years to come. So, if you have any suggestions of books to add or see books that we missed, please let me know (fyi, the school is a preschool so the books should skew very young).
And stay tuned to see photos of the finished project!
COMMUNITY BOOK STOP WISH LIST
Faith by Maya AjmeraBesos for Babies: A Little Book of Kisses by Jen Arena (board)Thunder Boy Jr. by Sherman AlexieWorm Loves Worm by J. J. AustrianI Can Do It Too! By Karen Baicker (board)Morris Micklewhite and the Tangerine Dress by Christine BaldacchinoTen, Nine, Eight by Molly Bang (board)The Table Where Rich People Sit by Byrd BaylorAda Twist, Scientist by Andrea BeatyRosie Revere, Engineer by Andrea BeatyThose Shoes by Maribeth BoeltsMaybe Something Beautiful by F. Isabel CampoyLast Stop on Market Street by Matt de le PeñaChirri & Chirra by Kaya DoiAbuela by Arthur DorrosDrum Dream Girl: How One Girl’s Courage Changed Music by Margarita EngleFeast for 10 by Cathryn FalwellMonster Trouble by Lane FredricksonTen Little Fingers and Ten Little Toes by Mem Fox (board)Whoever You Are (board) by Mem FoxBy Day, By Night by Amy GibsonGlobal Babies by The Global Fund for Children (board)Global Baby Bedtime by The Global Fund for Children (board)Red: A Crayon's Story by Michael HallThe Hello Atlas by Ben HandicottGanesha's Sweet Tooth by Emily Haynes Hush: A Thai Lullaby by Minfong HoAmazing Grace by Mary HoffmanHappy to be Nappy by Bell Hooks (board)Be Boy Buzz by Bell Hooks (board)Skin Again by Bell HooksSay Hello! By Rachel Isadora (board)Julius by Angela JohnsonThe Colors of Us by Karen KatzPeter's Chair by Ezra Jack Keats (board)Golden Domes and Silver Lanterns: A Muslim Book of Colors by Hena KhanHooray, a Piñata! by Elisa Kleven (paperback)Harvesting Hope: The Story of Cesar Chavez by Kathleen KrullFamilies, Families, Families! by Suzanne LangDim Sum For Everyone! by Grace Lin (board)The Ugly Vegetables by Grace LinLing and Ting: Not Exactly the Same by Grace LinI Once was a Monkey: Stories Buddha Told by Jeanne M. LeeThe Invisible Boy by Trudy LudwigKitchen Dance by Maurie ManningKnots on a Counting Rope by Bill Martin Jr. & John Archambault Emma and Julia Love Ballet by Barbara McClintockLola at the Library by Anna McQuinnLeo Can Swim by Anna McQuinn Mango, Abuela and Me by Meg MedinaTake Me Out to the Yakyu by Aaron MeshonEverywhere Babies by Susan Meyers (board)I am Rosa Parks by Brad MeltzerGracias/Thanks by Pat MoraNiño Wrestles the World by Yuyi MoralesA is for Activist by Innosanta Nagara (board)Counting on Community by Innosanta Nagara (board)Eight Candles and a Tree by Simone Bloom NathanHeather Has Two Mommies by Leslea NewmanI'm New Here by Anne Sibley O'BrienTickle, Tickle by Helen Oxenbury (board)The Adventures of Sparrowboy by Brian PinkneyThis Day in June by Gayle E.PitmanThe Family Book by Todd ParrShade of Black: A Celebration of Our Children by Sandra L. Pinkney (board)What does Peace feel like? By Vladimir RadunskyWabi Sabi by Mark ReibsteinAnd Tango Makes Three by Justin Richardson (board)Tar Beach by Faith RinggoldWe Came to America by Faith RinggoldShades of People by Sheila M. KellyAll my Stripes: A Story for Children with Autism by Shaina RudolphStepping Stones: A Refugee Family’s Journey by Margriet RuursOne Family by George ShannonMy Heart Fills with Happiness by Monique Gray Smith (board)Elizabeti’s Doll by Stephanie Stuve-BodeenToddler Two (board) by Anastasia SuenEmmanuel’s Dream: The True Story of Emmanuel Ofosu Yeboah by Laurie Ann ThompsonRound is a Tortilla by Roseanne Greenfield ThongPancho Rabbit and the Coyote: A Migrant's Tale by Duncan TonatiuhLittle You by Richard Van Camp (board)We Sang You Home by Richard Van Camp (board)Delores Huerta: A Hero to Migrant Workers by Sarah WarrenVoice of Freedom: Fannie Lou Hamer by Carole Boston Weatherford Circles of Hope by Karen Lynn Williams“More More More,” Said the Baby by Vera B. Williams (board)A Chair for My Mother by Vera B. WilliamsSusan Laughs by Jeanne WillisWangari's Trees of Peace: A True Story from Africa by Jeanette WinterSonia Sotomayor: A Judge Grows in the Bronx by Jonah WinterEach Kindness by Jacqueline WoodsonPuddle by Hyewon YumNot all Princesses Dress in Pink by Jane Yolen
May 27, 2017
this is 5!
The eggs were filled and inspected:
then hidden amongst the decorated yard:
which, of course, included ducks:
Because it was time for Rain Dragon's Red Egg Birthday Hunt again! She's five years old and the red egg hunt is now officially a tradition, with kids standing at the ready:
for the big signal:
to GO!:
This year's red egg hunt was fast and fierce:
But everyone made out like bandits:
And there was still enough energy to celebrate with cake:
Cake made by Auntie Christine, the fondant rainbow shapes on top are "barnacles" requested by Rain Dragon
Make a wish, Rain Dragon!
And Happy 5th Birthday!
then hidden amongst the decorated yard:
which, of course, included ducks:
Because it was time for Rain Dragon's Red Egg Birthday Hunt again! She's five years old and the red egg hunt is now officially a tradition, with kids standing at the ready:
for the big signal:
to GO!:
This year's red egg hunt was fast and fierce:
But everyone made out like bandits:
And there was still enough energy to celebrate with cake:
Cake made by Auntie Christine, the fondant rainbow shapes on top are "barnacles" requested by Rain DragonMake a wish, Rain Dragon!
And Happy 5th Birthday!
