While I Was Away

English & Japanese MG & Up Asian-American Experience Japanese-American Own Voices Growing Up Family Language Learning SEL Waka T. Brown summary Waka is a Japanese-American sixth grader in rural Kansas in the 1980’s. At home, her family speaks Japanese almost exclusively, but Waka is behind in reading and writing in kanji. After a few incidents…

More-igami

Written by: Dori Kleber Illustrated by: G. Brian Karas For ages: 4-9 years Language:  English Topics Covered: POC-Centric Narratives, Culture & Traditions, Social-Emotional Development, Self-Expression. Summary: Joey loves things that fold.  He is enamored by maps and accordions, and sleeps in a foldout bed.  When Joey learns about origami from his friend Sarah Takimoto’s mother, he decides he MUST become an…

My First Book of Japanese Words

Written by: Michelle Haney Brown Illustrated by: Aya Padrón For ages: 4 years and up Language: English & Japanese Topics Covered: Bilingualism, Japanese Culture & Traditions, Literacy, Global Community. Summary: This alphabetical rhyming book provides multiple languages and a short poem on each page, and is jam packed with information about literacy, culture, and language!  The book explains how some letters…