Diversity was God's idea
Kids books offer up delicious options to learn about culture and history
**Welcome to my Glorygram and to my table! Pull up a chair and let’s share an avocado-pineapple-salmon sushi roll. Each week I write this letter as an arrow pointing you back to God's glory and the ways He is working in our world. I use this space to get to know you better so please introduce yourself and share your stories in the comments too!
I was a voracious reader when I was young. Part of this was instigated by my mother, who was a teacher, and read books aloud to my brother and me. She invited us to venture through the wardrobe into another world with Lucy, Edmund, Susan, and Peter. She made the poetry of Robert Frost come alive as we imagined those two roads that diverged in a yellow wood. I carried around notebooks and wrote letters like Jo March.
My favorite picture book when I was a child was Nine Days to Christmas by Hall Ets, a Caldecott Winner. In the early ‘80s, it was one of the few books I could find that featured a girl with brown skin and included rich cultural details.
Although our family did not have Mexican roots, I was mesmerized by this book. It transported me to another place that somehow felt like home. My mom had lived in Mexico and she affirmed the storyline of this book, where a girl named Ceci is eagerly awaiting Las Posadas – the traditional nine-day series of Christmas celebrations in her village.
I examined the illustrations and poured over the pages of that book again and again. I felt like I was going to the market with Ceci and her mother to select the biggest piñata we could find.
I dreamed of becoming a children’s book author one day and writing books like this one. Launching my writing career in newspaper reporting and teaching, one summer I found out about a class on writing children’s books. I knew it was time to pursue my dream of writing for kids. I eventually enrolled in the MFA in Children’s Literature program at Hollins University.
Through my graduate work, I had permission to spend hours in the library reading children’s literature and writing stories. In those years, I had my first baby girl with two more to come. I longed to write books for my own multiracial daughters and others that centered characters of color.
During that season, I wrote Cora Cooks Pancit about a Filipino-American girl learning to cook a traditional noodle dish with her mama. The book was a compilation of my own experiences growing up in the kitchen with my mama, grandmas and aunties and stories I gathered of other Filipino-American families in California’s Central Valley. I wanted kids to swirl the pancit noodles in the pot, smell the garlic, and hear the hiss and sizzle of of the onions sautéing.
I tried for several years to get that book published, but continued to receive nice rejection letters. Editors and agents told me they liked the story or the writing was good, but the book was too niche to sell. In other words, stories about a specific cultural group like this one would be hard to market.
One day, I received a phone call from an editor named Renee Ting. She just read my manuscript and wanted to publish it.
I almost dropped the phone.
When I got home and consulted my notes, I discovered I had submitted to Shen’s Books two years earlier. In a few months, I signed a contract with Shen’s Books (today an imprint of Lee & Low Books). I didn’t have an agent, but Renee ushered me through the publishing process.
My book baby, Cora Cooks Pancit, was born in June 2009 with illustrations by Kristi Valiant. Our book was awarded the Picture Book of the Year by the Asian American Librarian’s Association. We were invited to Washington, D.C. to receive the award and give speeches. The most magical part was meeting my illustrator Kristi in person and hearing more about her process in creating the beautiful illustrations.
Over the next decade, I read Cora Cooks Pancit aloud and spoke at schools up and down the state of California. My greatest joy was seeing the faces of Filipino-American students light up when they recognized the signature dish that represented their culture – pancit.
On several occasions, I cooked pancit for classes. Students from all different cultures tasted it for the first time. This was an open door to celebrate diversity and culture and to pivot away from the colorblind rhetoric that so often finds its way into education settings.
Today, my Cora book is 15 years old and in her eleventh printing. I like to think of her as a high schooler in a new season for publishing. Now more than ever we need to stand up for representation in picture books and the world.
After all, diversity was God’s idea.
He created man and woman in his image (Genesis 1:27) This verse highlights that every person is made in the image of God, emphasizing the equal value and worth of all individuals from all backgrounds. We are all His kids made on purpose for His glory.
Acts 17:26-28 reminds us, “And he made from one man every nation of mankind to live on all the face of the earth, having determined allotted periods and the boundaries of their dwelling place, that they should seek God, and perhaps feel their way toward him and find him. Yet he is actually not far from each one of us, for “‘In him we live and move and have our being’; as even some of your own poets have said, “‘For we are indeed his offspring.’” (ESV)
Revelation 7:9 paints a vision of the diverse congregation that will worship in heaven: "After this I looked, and there before me was a great multitude that no one could count, from every nation, tribe, people and language, standing before the throne and before the Lamb." This verse does not urge us to be colorblind but to celebrate the multicultural nature of the global church.
From the petals of the flowers to the bark of the trees, from the curves of creatures in the ocean to the delicate skin of a newborn baby, we bear witness daily to the diversity in creation. Our Creator was intentional with every detail, every nuance, every flavor.
I believe that reading and listening to diverse stories can help shape all of us.
Stories have the power to educate, instruct, and heal.
As a Christian, I look to Jesus as the best model for using stories to heal. Jesus was a storyteller. He brought the Good News. He chose to share stories that represented and challenged the people who listened. He invited the marginalized to tell their stories. He didn’t elevate the story of a tax collector over an abused woman, or a Jew over a Gentile. Instead, he treated each narrative as precious and part of the whole story being written by God Himself. His stories resounded with love and forgiveness.
Psalm 107 says: “Let the redeemed of the LORD tell their story— those he redeemed from the hand of the foe, those he gathered from the lands, from east and west, from north and south.” (Psalm 107:2-3, NIV)
These words are an invitation to tell our stories. The Israelites continued to tell the story of how God restored them from captivity. Jesus told stories that would shape our understanding of His Father’s Kingdom. And we are called to tell our stories today. When we have fuller representation of stories by God’s image bearers, we experience a more dynamic narrative of who God is and the work He is doing in our world.
May is Asian American Native Hawaiian Pacific Islander Heritage Month (AANHPI) in the United States. This month, we celebrate the histories of Americans whose roots are originally from across the Asian continent and from the Pacific islands of Melanesia, Micronesia and Polynesia. These are women and men who invested deeply in our country and their communities.
The legislation to annually designate May as Asian Pacific American Heritage Month was instigated by two key dates: May 7 and May 10. May 7, 1843, marks the arrival of the first Japanese immigrants to the U.S. May 10, 1869, or Golden Spike Day, recognizes the completion of the first transcontinental railroad in the U.S., which had significant contributions from Chinese workers. We use this month as an opportunity to learn and educate our community about the history, food, culture, and music of Asian American, Native Hawaiian and Pacific Islanders and their contributions to the United States.
As an AANHPI children’s author of Cora Cooks Pancit and Kailani’s Gift and mother of avid readers, it’s important to me to have books on our shelves from a diversity of authors. My daughters read in various genres, including picture books, chapter books, middle grade, young adult, fantasy, contemporary fiction and now adult non-fiction. This list focuses on new and old picture books that are favorites in our collection. We hope this list introduces your family to some great new reads.
Truth be told, we could have added dozens of books to this particular list. These books will appeal to kids of all ages and make great gifts. Stay tuned for more lists of great books coming soon! Leave a comment with some of your favorite picture books by AANHPI authors!
20. HOLDING ON by SOPHIA N. LEE
A young girl in the Philippines uses music to connect with her grandmother as her memory fades in this warm and moving picture book perfect for fans of Pixar’s Coco.
There is always singing in Lola’s house. Sammy Davis Jr. in the morning, Dean Martin in the afternoon, and all throughout the evening, old Tagalog love songs from Nora Aunor, Basil Valdez, and more. Lola always says: “If you want to hold on, you gotta sing your songs.”
Her granddaughter tucks these sounds and Lola’s wisdom deep within her heart. And when Lola starts slipping into silence and stillness, she helps Lola hold on, piece by piece, with the joy and music that Lola taught her. This book is like a warm hug for the soul.
19. THE OCEAN CALLS BY TINA CHO
A breathtaking picture book featuring a Korean girl and her haenyeo (free diving) grandmother about intergenerational bonds, finding courage in the face of fear, and connecting with our natural world.
Dayeon wants to be a haenyeo just like Grandma. The haenyeo dive off the coast of Jeju Island to pluck treasures from the sea--generations of Korean women have done so for centuries. To Dayeon, the haenyeo are as strong and graceful as mermaids. To give her strength, Dayeon eats Grandma's abalone porridge. She practices holding her breath while they do the dishes. And when Grandma suits up for her next dive, Dayeon grabs her suit, flippers, and goggles. A scary memory of the sea keeps Dayeon clinging to the shore, but with Grandma's guidance, Dayeon comes to appreciate the ocean's many gifts.
This is a truly gorgeous book that combines beauty, story and history you won’t forget because of the way Tina tells it.
18. A IS FOR ASIAN AMERICAN BY VIRGINIA LOH-HAGAN
The fabric of America is made up of countless threads weaving together different backgrounds and cultures. Using poetry and expository text, A is for Asian American celebrates the cultures of and contributions from Asian Americans throughout our country’s history.
Letter topics include traditions in food, family, and social celebrations, as well as key moments in history and milestone achievements. A is for Asian American illuminates the amazing and ongoing role the Asian American community has played in the shaping of America. Front and back matter provides additional information, including a glossary.
This is a great resource for the classroom or a home library!
17. RAMEN FOR EVERYONE BY PATRICIA TANUMIHARDJA
In this adorable picture book for fans of Amy Wu and the Perfect Bao and Bilal Cooks Daal, Hiro aspires to make a bowl of ramen as delicious as his dad’s—and runs into some surprises on his first attempt!
Hiro loves ramen. Every Sunday, Hiro’s dad makes delicious, perfect ramen for dinner, using a recipe passed down from his dad. There’s nori seaweed, briny like the ocean; nitamago egg, the yolk golden like the sun; and chashu pork so tender, it melts in your mouth. Yum!
Hiro’s dream is to make his own perfect bowl, and he’s sure he can do it after watching his dad and taking notes. But when he gets started, things don’t go according to plan. The seaweed crumbles! The eggs slip through his fingers! The pork falls apart! Hiro is worried he’ll never be a real ramen chef…but thanks to his father’s wise advice and his own creativity, Hiro discovers that every person’s perfect bowl of ramen is unique.
Watch out, this book will make you hungry in a flash. I’m off to make some ramen!
16. FINDING PAPA BY ANGELA PHAM KRANS
Finding Papa has been named the 2024 Asian/Pacific American Award Picture Honor Book by the Asian Pacific American Librarians Association!
This poignant and lyrical debut picture book based on the author’s own experience and illustrated by Caldecott Honoree Thi Bui follows young Mai and her mother’s perilous journey from Vietnam to America to find Papa—who left ahead of them to start a better life for their family.
No one can make Mai laugh like her Papa! She loves playing their favorite game—the crocodile chomp chomp! But then Papa leaves Vietnam in search of a new home for their family in America and Mai misses him very much.
One day Mama and Mai pack a small bag and say goodbye to the only home Mai has ever known. And so begins Mai and Mama’s long, perilous journey by foot and by boat, through dangers and darkness, to find Papa.
This is an important book that gives us a window into history and one family’s perseverance through hardship.
15. A DUPATTA IS… BY MARIEH ABBAS
A Dupatta Is…, written by Marzieh Abbas and vividly brought to life by the artwork of Anu Chouhan, is a loving and lyrical ode to the dupatta.
A dupatta is so much more than a beautiful piece of fabric.
A dupatta is sound―swooshing and swashing like a superhero cape.
A dupatta is scent―cinnamon and cardamom, crushed coriander and peppermint oil.
A dupatta is fun―playing peekaboo and building cushion forts with dupatta canopies.
Dupattas―shawls traditionally worn by women in various cultures of South Asia―are beautiful and colorful of course, but they’re also fun, functional, and carry the sounds and smells of family and identity.
I loved learning about dupattas in this creative and beautiful take.
14. FRIENDS ARE FRIENDS, FOREVER BY DANE LIU
A picture book based on the author’s own immigration story, the infinite impact of friendship, and passing on love and kindness around the world.
On a snowy Lunar New Year’s Eve in Northeastern China, it’s Dandan’s last night with Yueyue. Tomorrow, she moves to America. The two best friends have a favorite wintertime tradition: crafting paper-cut snowflakes, freezing them outside, and hanging them as ornaments.
As they say goodbye, Yueyue presses red paper and a spool of thread into Dandan’s hands so that she can carry on their tradition. But in her new home, Dandan has no one to enjoy the gift with―until a friend comes along.
This is a sweet book about friendship set in China. I love the vantage point the author gives us in this universal story.
13. LOVE MAKES A GARDEN GROW BY TAEEUN WOO
A young girl observes the bugs and blooms and the rich smell of the soil of her grandfather’s garden. Her grandfather hums as he waters his treasured plants. And when he gives the girl a flower of her own, caring for it teaches her to feel her grandfather’s love.
Even as time passes and her grandfather’s garden grows smaller and the girl grows up, she never forgets what she learned or loses her closeness with her nurturing grandfather.
When my daughter is as small
as a sprout, we visit Grandfather
together.
Inspired by the author-illustrator’s own family, this beautiful and personal story celebrates the love that binds families and makes us who we are. A beautiful intergenerational story!
12. MARIBEL’S YEAR BY MICHELLE STERLING
New country, new school, new friends. A lot can happen in a single year. But one thing’s for certain: Maribel won’t forget her Papa, even when he’s 8,000 miles away in the Philippines.
After all, Papa is all around. He is the memory of feeding koi fish in their pond every morning. He is the constellation map as Maribel dreams of showing him her new world. He is the packages and letters sent back and forth.
He is everywhere except the place he’s wanted the most. But the bond between Maribel and Papa transcends oceans. So as the snow melts and turns to rain, as flowers blossom and welcome sun-kissed days, and as the leaves start to change and snow begins to fall once more, can Maribel wait just a little bit longer?
This is a sweet new book that invites us to experience Maribel’s world and culture with the five senses.
11. SARI-SARI SUMMERS BY LYNNOR BONTIGAO
In this love letter to the Philippines (and to grandmothers), a young girl comes up with a brilliantly delicious way to attract customers after a heat wave leaves her lola’s store empty.
Nora loves spending summers with Lola at her sari-sari store, a treasure trove filled with everything you could need, from hair accessories to toys, creamy yema to sour tamarind candy. And this year, Nora is big enough to help her grandmother. But when a heat wave strikes and no one comes to the store, Nora worries that she won’t get to spend the rest of the summer with her lola—until she gets a sweet idea. After all, the mangoes on the tree outside are finally ripe, and with a bit of measuring, mixing, and a good deal of tasting, Nora and Lola have a refreshing way to bring people together—and to the sari-sari store.
With soft, heartfelt illustrations, Lynnor Bontigao’s endearing picture book—featuring a recipe for making mango ice candy like Nora’s—is an ode to ingenuity and to intergenerational relationships that’s as sweet and gentle as a kiss on the cheek.
10. RAPUNZEL BY CHLOE PERKINS & ILLUSTRATED BY ARCHANA SREENIVASAN
This is a story of a girl locked away in a tower, the witch who climbs her heair, and the prince who falls in love with her. Rapunzel follows her dream to see the outside world and takes readers with her!
This timeless tale is set in India with vibrant illustrations as part of the Little Simon Fairy Tales board book series. We also love the Snow White board book set in Japan.
This is one of my favorite books to give for baby showers. The illustrations are delightful and colorful. This offers a fun take on the Rapunzel story.
9. BINDU’S BINDI’S BY SYPRIYA KELKAR
Bindu has different bindis for every mood. And Bindu especially loves to wear matching bindis with her Nani. When Bindu signs up for the Talent Show along with Nani, she finds she doesn’t want to wear her bindi in front of her. Will she ever be brave again?
This beautiful book focuses on the bond between granddaughter and grandmother and the joy of celebration their culture together. Such a sweet, colorful story to read aloud!
8. NIKI NAKAYAMA: A CHEF’S TALE IN 13 BITES BY JAMIE MICHALAK & DEBBI MICHIKO FLORENCE & ILLUSTRATED BY YUKO JONES
When Niki was a kid, she hungered to create her own life story. She loved designing her own recipes. She went on to become one of the most celebrated chefs, earning two Michelin stars for her dynamic take on traditional Japanese cuisine.
His is the story told in 13 bites of how one little girl grew up to prove the critics wrong. This was a delicious story that made me want to get in the kitchen and create.
7. FILIPINO CELEBRATIONS: A TREASURY OF FEASTS AND FESTIVALS BY LIANA ROMULO
In the Philippines, people love to celebrate! Holidays are filled with music and dancing, sometimes wonderful costumes, and always great food.
This book gives readers a glimpse into the major holidays and family gatherings celebrated by many Filipino families. From these pages, children will learn the history of each holiday, its cultural influences and the variety of ways people celebrate across the regions.
The colorful and playful illustrations help us delve deeper into the spirit of these celebrations! A great addition for any classroom!
6. HOT, HOT ROTI FOR DADA-JI BY F. ZIA
When Aneel’s grandparents come from India to live with his family, he delights in their customs, stories, and especially their tradition of making homemade roti. Here’s another food story that combines contemporary Indian-American life, good old-fashioned storytelling and delicious eats.
Another delicious read that brings us into this culture in an authentic way!
5. MALALA’S MAGIC PENCIL BY MALALA YOUSAFZAI
When Malala was a child in Pakistan, she wished for a magic pencil. But as Malala grew, her world changed and so did her wishes. Her right to attend school was threatened – just because she was a girl. Instead of a magic pencil, Malala picked up a real one and wrote in her room about the challenges she faced. People from all over the world read her words.
This book is based on a true story about the youngest-ever recipient of the Nobel Peace Prize. A wonderful non-fiction biography to helP kids learn more about Malala’s inspiring history!
4. ABADEHA: THE PHILIPPINE CINDERELLA BY MYRNA J. DE LA PAZ
As Abadeha wept and prayed, she was a beautiful woman, bathed in radiant light, who appeared to take her worries away. Her fairy godmother walked her through her trials and triumphs as a young girl faces her oppressors.
This book is a retelling of the Cinderella story set in the Philippines, which captures the charm of the indigenous culture of the Filipinos.
I was given this book as a gift for my oldest girl’s baby shower. Now my girl is turning 18, but we still love to read this magical Filipino tale!
3. HULA LULLABY BY ERIN EITTER KONO
In Hawaii, the warm breeze often carries the sound of ocean waves, the rustling of leaves, and the rhythmic chants of the hula.
This book takes readers on a poetic journey, introducing traditional hula dance sounds and instruments. This book features a sweet relationship between mother and child while celebrating Polynesian culture.
A wonderful bedtime book to read aloud! I read this to my girls often as they were growing up. The text transports us back to the islands.
2. EYES THAT KISS IN THE CORNERS BY JOANNA HO
A young girl notices that her eyes look different from her friends. Her eyes kiss at the corners like her mother’s, sister’s and grandmother’s eyes. They help her gain confidence in her own beauty and strength.
This sweet book centered inner and outer beauty passed down through generations. I love how this book introduces a celebration conversation about our most unique features.
1. CORA COOKS PANCIT BY DORINA LAZO GILMORE
Cora loves being in the kitchen, but she always gets stuck doing the kid jobs like licking the spoon. One day, however, when her older sisters and brothers head out, Cora finally gets the change to be Mama’s sous chef. She learns to make a traditional Filipino noodle dish called pancit and some family history in the process!
My book, Cora Cooks Pancit, was awarded children’s book of the year from the Asian American Librarians Association in 2010. This book was among the first featuring a Filipino-American family. I know this one will make you hungry! Good thing the recipe is included at the back!
BONUS: KAILANI’S GIFT BY DORINA LAZO GILMORE-YOUNG
A picture book celebration of family, Filipino heritage, and dance that showcases the value of patience, perseverance, and blessing others with your gifts and talents.
As Kailani watches her siblings practice a traditional Filipino dance for their grandparents’ anniversary party, she longs to join them. But keeping up with the rhythm and hopping in time with the beats of the tinikling is much harder than Kailani imagined!
With Daddy’s help, Kailani practices the motions of the dance step by step. But will she be able to learn the tinikling in time to surprise her Lolo and Lola? This is my newest picture book! It’s a message for all ages!
What are some of your favorite AANHPI books? What books have shaped and guided you through the years?
Glory recommendations
Each week I like to share links to some of my own work or resources that are inspiring me and my family to chase after God’s glory! Here are five for you to check out this week:
Are you interested in learning more about AANHPI culture, food, music and literature? Our family put together the Global Glory Chasers experience to help families “travel” to other countries from the comfort of home. You can learn about the Philippines, India, Korea, China and more countries. This unique program is perfect for family night, summer learning, or to supplement school curriculum with a special cooking video and robust lists of movies, books, games and more for each country! Details here.
Do you know a class or a group that would like to have an Author Talk? I’m booking author visits for 2025/2026 and would love to speak for your child’s class, your homeschool group, Vacation Bible School or school assembly. Send me a message if you’re interested in more details.
This week I got to chat with author and pastor Aubrey Sampson on the Redbud Hyphen podcast about the transforming work in writing through grief. Aubrey shares about the idea and experience of writing her recently-released book, What We Find in the Dark. Listen in to this meaningful conversation where we dig deep and share advice for anyone who wants to write, preach, or teach about grief and trauma.
Kaylee Prays for the Children of the World is an inspiring story about faith, empathy, and the power of prayer. Written by my friend Helen Lee and beautifully illustrated by Shin Maeng, this book follows Kaylee and her grandfather, Halbi, as they read the morning newspaper. While reading, they look for ways to pray for the children of the world. When Kaylee sees a photo of a sad boy from far away, she begins to wonder, "Does God really care?" This heartfelt story gently guides children to recognize the brokenness in our world and to turn their hearts to God with the assurance that He hears every prayer―even when words feel hard to find. This book offers a way for families to engage with global issues through prayer, fostering meaningful conversations with children. Every month I give away a book that is inspiring me. Comment below with why you are interested in winning this one for May!
Southern California friends, I’m going to be reading my latest children’s book, Kailani's Gift on Saturday, May 31 from 10:30 AM - 12 PM in Art of the Pacific Islands exhibition at the Bowers Museum. Held every last Saturday of the month, Storytime in the Galleries includes free copies of each author’s featured book for the first 35 to RSVP and free General Admission to the galleries for the first 35 participants to arrive at each event. Reading in the galleries will be followed by a simple, fun art project that kids will love. Be sure to reserve your spot with a ticket.
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Thanks, Dorina, for your words and book suggestions. Both are so necessary in this time. It would be beautiful if you could send your article and list to someone in the current administration for the USA. Perhaps the chaplain for the house or Senate, or the private one for the president or vice president?