May is Asian American and Pacific Islander Heritage Month! We get to celebrate the incredible contributions of Asian and Pacific Islanders to American culture.
While it may be difficult to visit nearby sites at this time, you can enrich your family’s learning through books, food, movies, poetry.
We have a few resources in our Brave Writer library that may help.
Own Voices Mechanics and Literature Titles
Dart: The Year of the Dog by Grace Lin
When Pacy’s mom tells her that this is a good year for friends, family, and “finding herself,” Pacy begins searching right away. As the year goes on, she struggles to find her talent, deals with disappointment, makes a new best friend, and discovers just why the Year of the Dog is a lucky one for her after all. ~Amazon
Arrow: The Thing about Luck by Cynthia Kadohata
There is bad luck, good luck, and making your own luck–which is exactly what Summer must do to save her family in this winner of the National Book Award. ~Amazon
Boomerang: American Born Chinese by Gene Luen Yang
Jin Wang starts at a new school where he’s the only Chinese-American student. When a boy from Taiwan joins his class, Jin doesn’t want to be associated with an FOB like him. Jin just wants to be an all-American boy, because he’s in love with an all-American girl. Danny is an all-American boy: great at basketball, popular with the girls. But his obnoxious Chinese cousin Chin-Kee’s annual visit is such a disaster that it ruins Danny’s reputation at school, leaving him with no choice but to transfer somewhere he can start all over again. The Monkey King has lived for thousands of years and mastered the arts of kung fu and the heavenly disciplines. He’s ready to join the ranks of the immortal gods in heaven. But there’s no place in heaven for a monkey. Each of these characters cannot help himself alone, but how can they possibly help each other? They’re going to have to find a way―if they want fix the disasters their lives have become.―Amazon
Poetry Resources
Celebrating Asian American Heritage
If you aren’t familiar with Asian/Pacific American poets, this Poetry Teatime post will give you a good place to get started! Keep reading.
Types of Asian and Pacific Poetry
Ever heard of a syair? What about twin cinema? While one of those poetic forms is ancient and one is brand new, they do have one thing in common: they were both created in Asia. In honor of Asian and Pacific American Heritage Month in the US, let’s take a look at the vast array of forms in Asian and Pacific poetry. Keep reading.
Japan has one of the most elaborate tea ceremonies in the world. It involves special utensils, treats, gestures, and an entire philosophy for sharing tea! In today’s post, learn about this philosophy of the Japanese tea ceremony and ways to incorporate some of those practices into your own teatime routines. Keep reading.
