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Educational Resources

Picture Book Recommendation- Jenny Mei is Sad

Heres a recent picture book review of a newish book called “Jenny Mei is Sad” which I LOVE by Tracy Subisak who is an author and illustrator. Its about friendship, big feelings, sadness, and its gorgeous. Never heard of it? Watch the video.

What is this? I have been working as a picture book illustrator/ writer since 2013 officially and I’ve been reading picture books since I became a young dad in 2004. In that time I’ve read nearly 700 picture books. Some trash, some ok, but with these videos I’m sharing my favorites! Watch all of them here. My last book is Fresh Juice.

Dig this? Check out the last review of “Perfect Harmony” by Charles R. Smith Jr.

December 8, 2025
in Creative Resources, Educational Resources
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Social Justice Children’s Book AWARD

So this is new for the Social Justice Children’s Book Fair, for the first time we’re giving away an award to 3 authors the night before the fair. Check out the awardees.

These are the three writers!

  • Raquel Donoso
  • Mona Damluji
  • Maya Gonzalez

RSVP for the event here whether you’ve been coming to the fair for years, you’re new, or you really support the kid lit world. Also, come check out the 9th annual Social Justice Children’s Book Fair.

Dig this? Check out this article from Oaklandside

November 27, 2025
in Creative Resources, Educational Resources, Events
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9th Annual Social Justice Children’s Book Fair

Fam, it’s that time of year. The 9th annual Social Justice Children’s Book Fair is upon us. This fair celebrates Bipoc, Queer, Immigrant, and Social Justice minded kid lit creators, literacy organizations, and the Bay kid lit community. We got over 50 creators, panels, performances, story time, and activities!!

Shout out The Conscious Kid and the Bay Area Book Festival for sponsoring this event!

Saturday Dec 6th, 11am-3pm in Oakland California

Its free and open to the public. If you’d like to attend, rsvp here: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/2025-social-justice-childrens-book-fair-tickets-1967246325717?aff=oddtdtcreator

Wanna help us get press? Send them the press release. Wanna see some photos from past fairs? Check out these albums of photos taken by Janine Macbeth, Mark Rea, Alejandra Domenzain, and more. Follow us on Instagram. Wanna see some press? Peep this from Ronnie’s List and Oaklandside.

November 20, 2025
in Creative Resources, Educational Resources, Events
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Authors Against Book Bans-JOIN THE FIGHT!

This is an incredible organization that formed recently to combat the barrage of bullshit, empty, hollow, and down right dangerous book bans that have been happening and exploding across the US. Those who are challenging and removing kids books from shelves (w/o reading them) are not worried about children being too young to learn about race, gender, sexuality, or political protest. They don’t want their kids and others in their state to develop critical thinking, empathy, and/or understanding. And even more sinister, this is a way to target, disrupt, shut down, and defund public libraries and public schools. Why? To privatize them and make sure there is LESS access to information. But don’t take my word for it, read about it. The situation is URGENT!!!!

Articles/videos about what is happening:

  • Fast Company: A revolution happening in kids publishing
  • Huff post: Author Laurin Mayeno talking about OUR BOOK being banned
  • Code Switch Podcast: Truth and lies behind book banning
  • Blavity: Zetta Elliott speaking abt one of her books being banned
  • Book Riot: A new era of banned books week
  • Lee & Low: Record surge in book bans
  • Video: Pen America testimony
  • Video: Trailer for the film The Librarians
  • Video: The Daily Show interviews Jerry Craft

After digesting that information that is where “Authors Against Book Bans” comes in because they mobilize parents, teachers, librarians, authors, illustrators, and activists to fight back. This is coalition of folks across the US. But, unlike the very well funded right wing organizations they have been doing this work with little to no funding. But they got a fiscal sponsor now and can take donations. If you can, please consider making a donation to their efforts.

LINK to donate

Dig this? Check out this post about one of my books being banned OR my “Read Banned Books” print.

November 14, 2025
in Creative Resources, Educational Resources
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Picture Book Recommendation-Perfect Harmony

This is a bit late but heres a picture book review for October featuring a lovely one that I used to read to my son called “Perfect Harmony” about the Boys Choir of Harlem. Its not often that picture book authors are also photographers but that is the case with this book and I wish more picture book would make use of it :). Watch my review.

What is this? I have been working as a picture book illustrator/ writer since 2013 officially and I’ve been reading picture books since I became a young dad in 2004. In that time I’ve read nearly 700 picture books. Some trash, some ok, but with these videos I’m sharing my favorites! Watch all of them here.

Dig this? Check out my review of Our Little Kitchen

November 1, 2025
in Creative Resources, Educational Resources
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Picture Book Recommendation- Gathering the Sun

Ey, heres an OG picture book I used to read to my son. Gathering the sun written by Alma Flor Ada and illustrated by Simón Silva. Check out the video and share with anyone who’d be interested. You can request this book at your local library or cop it from here.

What is this? I have been working as a picture book illustrator/ writer since 2013 officially and I’ve been reading picture books since I became a young dad in 2004. In that time I’ve read nearly 700 picture books. Some trash, some ok, but with these videos I’m sharing my favorites! Watch all of them here.

Dig this? Check out “A New Kind of Wild” by Zara Gonzalez Hoang

August 20, 2025
in Creative Resources, Educational Resources
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Amanda Seales invites Nodotdul organizers on

This was a great show from Amanda Seales (Journalist, Comedian, former emcee). What critics of her don’t get is that she is not falling for the bullshit and if half of them really supported icons like Fannie Lou Hamer, Baldwin, Malcolm, etc they would be listening instead of trying to get click bate.

Anyways, I loive how she not only does her own research and analysis for us but she invites others own with knowledge to game us up as well. Case in point, today she had on two Korean American organizers on from Nodutdol an organization whos purpose is:

“We are diasporic Koreans and comrades based in occupied Indigenous lands known as the United States and Canada. We organize for a world free of imperialism, and for Korea’s re/unification and national liberation.“

Nodutdol organizers Jamie and Heath talk about the history of US imperialism in Korea, how South Korea is still occupied by the US, how North Korea is propagandized, and how this relates to Gaza, Guam, India, Puerto Rico and so much untold history. I learned a lot as someone with a parent born in Korea! Starting at the 2:12:00 mark, listen to this interview and get you some game.

Dig this? Check out this short story about Haenyeo or this illustration of a Jeju diver .

August 13, 2025
in Educational Resources, General
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Red Nation Podcast- Manifest Destiny image

Red Nation is a new podcast I started listening to last year. This episode offers a great perspective from the host (a Native American professor/author) on manifest destiny and how it relates to colonialism globally and at home. The words and the images are not by accident and I feel this episode gives some great historical points from the past that relate to Native folks in the US of course but also to people in the global south.

Dig this? Check out this video about the legacy of Native children stolen (colonization) or this illustration I did in solidarity with Standing Rock.

August 13, 2025
in Educational Resources
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