Author: Mary Van Akin

In July we celebrate Disability Pride Month by reading and sharing stories about the disabled community. Celebrate in your school or library by sharing the history of Disability Pride Month and by introducing readers to disabled fiction and memoir writers sharing their stories.

Celebrate AANHPI Heritage Month and The Year of the Dragon with The Truth About Dragons, winner of the 2024 Asian Pacific American Award for Literature and a Caldecott Honor! 

The Truth About Dragons is an unforgettable lyrical picture book that celebrates biracial identity from the award-winning author of Paper Son: The Inspiring Story of Tyrus Wong, Immigrant and Artist.

Enter the sweepstakes for a chance to win a classroom poster. One grand prize winner will win a virtual visit with Julie Leung and Hanna Cha! Plus, download the free activity kit!

Go behind the scenes of I Am Both: A Vietnamese Refugee Story by Kerisa Greene. I Am Both is a inspired by Kerisa’s family’s journey on the last flight out of Saigon and is a compelling exploration of identity, immigration, and family.

Read on for an interview with Kerisa Greene, Rachel Diebel, Editor at Feiwel & Friends, and Naomi Silverio, Associate Designer at Macmillan Children’s Publishing Group to learn more about how this book was made, preview interior art, and to discover one of the most inventive uses of rice paper we’ve seen in a picture book!

In April we celebrate Arab American Heritage Month by reading and sharing stories by Arab American authors and illustrators. Celebrate in your school or library by uplifting these voices in April and all year round! Find more resources on the Arab America Foundation and Smithsonian websites.