We Are Inspiring: The Stories of 32 Inspirational Asian American Women

by Angel Trazo

Designed for reading-with your child or for children ages 10+ to read independently, "We Are Inspiring" brings to life the inspiring stories of Asian American women. This work encompasses API femmes of various ethnicities, professions, and body sizes, and is inclusive of LGBTQ folks, immigrants, and mixed-race women. I began this project in August 2018. Browsing through a local used bookstore and casually flipping through pages of colorfully-illustrated children's books, I admired the growing collection of books about women. However, I was looking for a particular kind of woman. WAIT. HOLD UP.Where were my Asian Americans at? There HAD to be some inspirational Asian Americans, right? However, I couldn't find an anthology in bookstores nor comprehensive lists online. Why was this information so difficult to find?My goal is to prevent the erasure of Asian American history by helping author it. Asian American history is an integral part of American history as we have been a part of the North American cultural fabric for centuries. In fact, Filipinos, the first Asians in North America, arrived in Morro Bay as early as the 16th century. Why are our stories omitted from much of the American historical literary canon? Why has this persisted for so long? Why does this continue to happen? What can I do about this? Well, I can write and I can draw. This is the story of how We Are Inspiring was born.I wondered why I couldn't find this kind of book anywhere... I realized it was because I hadn't made it yet. Dear reader, thank you for supporting me in my mission to create the book of American stories that I have wanted to hold since I was child.

Genres: Picture Books, Nonfiction, Childrens

50 pages, Paperback

Published July 10, 2019

Reviews

[John]

I really liked this book! I think there are a few things that might need some explaining when going through this with a young reader - but that's how we learn! I even learned about some great, Asian American women from this book and I'm thankful that Angel Trazo pulled together such a great variety! I think there's something powerful about Angels' own story - that she saw something was missing from her local bookstore, and decided to do something about it.

[Tanya]

I am so glad this book was written!. Fun artwork and font that was also artfully drawn. Most impressive collection of women to know that have Asian backgrounds - and a wide variety of Asian ethnicities are represented. Glad author/illustrator included herself too - hope to see more! Want to buy this one!

[Kris]

Needed, and I liked that it introduced me to some women I hadn't heard of before. I added this to my school library collection, where there was an absence of books with Asian women and girls as characters.

Not a huge fan of the art, which felt cartoony, but a good book.

[Rachel]

Loved it! The art was amazing. A great resource for kids