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Mae Among the Stars | Books For Diversity

Mae Among the Stars

March 10, 2018

Little Mae’s dream to become an astronaut began when she was just a girl. She started to read books about space, she crafted an astronaut costume and she had dreams about dancing in space among the stars. When she shared her future goals with her teacher and classmates at school, she got laughed at. Mae became disheartened. But with her parents’ continual and unwavering support, Mae worked incredibly hard, even starting her university career at Stanford at the age of sixteen. Nothing was going to stop her! And nothing did. She became the first female African American astronaut, is an inspiration to countless, and continues to impact young lives in a significant way through her nonprofit initiatives.

Mae Among the Stars | Written by Roda Ahmed @rodaworld | Illustrated by Stasia Burrington @stasiaburrington | @harperchildrens

← Gordon Parks: How the Photographer Captured Black and White AmericaTurtle Island: The Story of North America’s First People →

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A new take on the classic nursery rhyme “The House That Jack Built.” This festive modern version is about a surprise party for a special girl put together by her family and the animals on their farm — each with their own important role and special contribution.  There are cascarones to be made, papel picado to be hung and alebrijes to be carved before all is ready!  A jaunty and lively read-aloud with Spanish words intermingling beautifully with the mostly English text.  Words to “The Piñata Song,” a tutorial on making a piñata, glossary and definitions conclude this jovial story.

The Piñata That the Farm Maiden Hung | Written by Samantha R. Vamos @samantha.vamos | Illustrated by Sebastià Serra @sebastia_serra | @charlesbridgepublishing
Pura Belpré was a pioneer in more ways than one — she was the first Puerto Rican librarian in New York City, an innovative storyteller who engaged local immigrant communities and author of many children’s books in Spanish at at time when there weren’t any in mainstream publishing.  This gorgeous book celebrates her vibrant life and invaluable contributions to young readers, family and diversity in children’s literature.

Planting Stories: The Life of Librarian and Storyteller Pura Belpré | Written by Anika Aldamuy Denise @anikadenise | Illustrated by Paola Escobar @paoesco8ar | @harperkids
Raksha Bandhan — also known as Rakhi — is an Indian festival that takes place every August.  It honors the special relationship between brothers and sisters.  Sisters give their brothers a bracelet make out of a thread called rakhi, which represents love, and brothers give gifts to their sisters with the promise to care for them.  This lyrical story about three siblings celebrating Rakhi bounces to the tune of Frère Jacques and its vibrant colors and art are a splendid feast for the eyes.  Included in the end notes are a glossary and instructions on how to make your own rakhi.

Thread of Love | Co-written by Kabir Sehgal & Surishtha Sehgal | Illustrated by Zara González Hoang @zarprey | @simonkids
Some ways of life are hard to preserve as we move from one country to another but there are parts of our culture that are easier to hold on to, like culinary traditions.  Food connects us to the life of our homeland.  Having our favorite dishes from back home can be bittersweet — wonderfully familiar smells and tastes mixed with sad reminders of the family and friends we left behind.

Hannah and her parents immigrate from Taiwan to San Francisco and everything is strange and new, including Hannah’s name in English.  It’s different from her Chinese name, Na-Li, which means “beautiful.” While her family anxiously awaits their green cards, they experience all sorts of other newness.  Times are difficult but not hopeless.  Good news arrives in the mail one day — their green cards!  They celebrate with a dish that they eat on special occasions — sizzling dumplings filled with meat and cabbage.

Hannah Is My Name: A Young Immigrant’s Story | Written and illustrated by Belle Yang | @candlewickpress
It’s Chinese New Year and it’s a very special time because Maomao’s father, a migrant worker who lives and works away from home the whole year, is coming home to celebrate!  Exchanging gifts, hearing firecrackers and watching dragon dances in the street are part of the annual festivities.  Maomao and her parents also make rice balls with a lucky coin hidden inside one of them.  New year traditions vary from region to region in China and we loved reading about how this particular family celebrates Lunar New Year.

A New Year’s Reunion | Written by Yu-Li Qiong, illustrated by Zhu Cheng-Liang | @candlewickpress
 

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