Asian Heritage Month: Kids Spotlight

Each week during Asian Heritage Month we’ll be serving up recommendations of Asian-Canadian writing from both rising and established literary stars – a great way to add talents new and old to your bookshelf.The book: Kai’s Tea Eggs (Arsenal Pulp Press)The author: Karina ZhouWhy you should read it: Author/illustrator Karina Zhou’s Kai’s Tea Eggs is an adorable debut picture book about a little Chinese girl learning to embrace and celebrate her culture. CM Magazine, a review of books for schools and libraries, says “The story will appeal to readers of all backgrounds as everyone, regardless of their background, can identify with feeling different, standing out, and wanting to fit in.”The book: Sangeet and the Missing Beat (Rebel Mountain Press)The author: Kiranjot KaurWhy you should read it: Kiranjot Kaur both wrote and illustrated this upbeat and fun story that intersects storytelling, culture, and music. Kids love drumming along to this percussive story about a young girl and her Tabla – says Kirkus Reviews, “Cue applause for this picture book about a Sikh girl who loves music.”The book: The Mystery of the Frozen Brains (Marty Chan Mystery #1) (Thistledown Press)The author: Marty ChanWhy you should read it: Writer, broadcaster, and playwright Marty Chan adapted his radio show The Dim Sum Diaries into this fun kid series about a Chinese boy living in rural Alberta who thinks he is an alien. His friendship with another boy, Remi, as they overcome growing-up obstacles like bullying, adds heart to Frozen Brains and the subsequent capering books in this award-winning series. The book: Chicken Soup & Goji Berries 中药鸡汤 (Cloudscape Comics)The authors: Naomi Cui and Janice LiuWhy you should read it: Jeannie, Ethan, and Cindy Yang have lived in Canada pretty much all of their lives, and when their Nainai travels from China to move in, it’s a bit of an adjustment! But the three kids learn about their culture and language from their grandmother. With the help of the sweet illustrations, all readers will understand when the language switches from English to Chinese, providing a new opportunity to learn, just as the Yang kids are learning.The book: The Tales of Dwipa (Breakwater Books)The author: Prajwala Dixit, with illustrations by Duncan MajorWhy you should read it: These short stories for kids are adapted from the Panchatantra, ancient stories featuring animals as they deal with decidedly human issues. Despite being written thousands of years ago, Dixit brings the stories modern relevance and an inroad for parents and children to discuss marginalization in a friendly, accessible way.

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That’s a wrap on Asian Heritage Month! Catch up on our feature spotlights here.