Shen's Blogtag:www.shens.com,2008-07-02:/blog//122010-05-24T23:39:01ZMovable Type Pro 4.2-enVisions: Dorina and Kristi at the APALA Award Banquettag:www.shens.com,2010:/cora_cooks_pancit//46.4682010-07-08T22:45:19Z2010-07-08T22:51:08ZAs part of the American Library Association's conference, the Asian/Pacific American Librarian's Association held their annual banquet and award dinner on June 27. This year, Dorina Lazo Gilmore and Kristi Valiant were honored for their book, Cora Cooks Pancit. Here...Renee TingCora Cooks Pancit. Here they are, meeting for the first time at the dinner!
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June 26, 2010: Susan Lendroth Signing at Sierra Madre Bookstag:www.shens.com,2010:/maneki_neko//48.4652010-06-26T20:57:02Z2010-05-19T21:02:53ZIt's the first signing for the release of Maneki Neko: The Tale of the Beckoning Cat! Author Susan Lendroth will be at Sierra Madre Books in Sierra Madre, CA (in the greater Los Angeles area) on June 26, 2010. She'll...Renee TingManeki Neko: The Tale of the Beckoning Cat! Author Susan Lendroth will be at Sierra Madre Books in Sierra Madre, CA (in the greater Los Angeles area) on June 26, 2010. She'll be there from 11:00am until 12:30pm. See you there! Author Susan Lendroth Signing Saturday, June 26, 2010 11 am - 12:30 pm Sierra Madre Books 52 West Sierra Madre Boulevard Sierra Madre, CA 91024-2434 (626) 836-3200
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What's Going On with Renee?tag:www.shens.com,2010:/blog//12.4672010-05-24T23:26:14Z2010-05-24T23:39:01ZSome of you might have noticed my absence from the blog and other social media since February. Especially the Multicultural Minutes-- I haven't been working on those in many months. I do apologize for dropping off the face of the...Renee Ting What happened to me? I got pregnant!
Getting pregnant has been a wonderful and exciting milestone, but it was accompanied by more than three solid months of feeling absolutely terrible. Apparently, I'm one of the minority who get awful "morning" sickness not only all the time, but for an extended period after the first trimester. I was barely able to turn my computer on some days, not to mention recording and editing any sort of videos.
I am beginning to feel much better, thank goodness. Work-wise, I'm focusing on getting orders filled and making sure our spring book, Maneki Neko, is as perfect as possible and at the printers. I hope to resume the Multicultural Minute videos soon, but we'll have to see how my health goes. The next time you see me, I'll be sporting a big belly, which I might just have to hide below the camera frame!
Thanks for your patience and understanding. More multicultural goodness will be forthcoming soon!
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A Glimpse Insidetag:www.shens.com,2010:/maneki_neko//48.4662010-05-19T21:16:04Z2010-05-19T21:19:34ZProofs have been approved, and Maneki Neko is off to print. Want a peek at what's in store? Here are two interior spreads from the book. For those who have pre-ordered, I'm hoping you'll have your books by the end...Renee Ting ]]>
ForeWord Magazine 2009 Book of the Year Finalisttag:www.shens.com,2010:/chinese_history_stories//47.4642010-05-10T21:31:23Z2010-05-10T21:35:15ZCongratulations to Chinese History Stories Volume 1: Stories from the Zhou Dynasty! It has been selected as a finalist for the ForeWord Magazine Book of the Year Award in the juvenile non-fiction category. Here is the full list of finalists:...Renee Ting
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CCBC Choices 2010tag:www.shens.com,2010:/cora_cooks_pancit//46.4632010-05-10T21:24:34Z2010-05-10T21:28:25ZMore good news for Cora Cooks Pancit: The Cooperative Children's Book Center of the University of Wisconsin-Madison has chosen Cora for its list of top children's book picks for 2010!The 2010 edition of CCBC Choices features annotated entries for 235...Renee TingMore good news for Cora Cooks Pancit: The Cooperative Children's Book Center of the University of Wisconsin-Madison has chosen Cora for its list of top children's book picks for 2010!
The 2010 edition of CCBC Choices features
annotated entries for 235 books for children and young adults
published
in
2009 and recommended by the CCBC staff. CCBC Choices 2010
includes author/title and subject indexes. CCBC Choices 2010
also includes an essay about the 2009 publishing year.
CCBC Choices is created annually by the librarians of
the Cooperative Children's Book Center and published by the Friends
of the CCBC, Inc.
To request a copy be sent by U.S.mail:
Wisconsin
residents: send $3.00 (to cover postage and handling) OR a
self-addressed manila envelope with $2.75 postage to: CCBC Choices 600
N. Park Street, Room 4290 Madison, WI 53706
Outside
Wisconsin: Send $10 to: CCBC Choices Friends of the CCBC, Inc. P.O.
Box 5189 Madison, WI 53705 ]]>
2010 Asian/Pacific American Award for Literaturetag:www.shens.com,2010:/cora_cooks_pancit//46.4622010-05-10T21:10:41Z2010-05-10T21:20:21ZEvery year, the Asian/Pacific American Librarians Association (APALA) gives awards to the best literature released the previous year. The awards "promote Asian/Pacific American culture and heritage, based on literary and artistic merit." We are pleased to announce that Cora Cook...Renee TingEvery year, the Asian/Pacific American Librarians Association (APALA) gives awards to the best literature released the previous year. The awards "promote Asian/Pacific American culture and heritage, based on
literary and artistic merit."
We are pleased to announce that Cora Cook Pancit, by Dorina Lazo Gilmore and illustrated by Kristi Valiant, has won the 2010 Award for Literature! Past winners in the picture book category have included Ed Young and Linda Sue Park, so we are very honored to be in such good company.
In addition, the honorable mention picture book this year was Tan to Tamarind, which was written by our very own Malathi Michelle Iyengar, author of Romina's Rangoli.
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Author Authenticity and the Right to Writetag:www.shens.com,2010:/blog//12.4612010-02-12T18:47:32Z2010-02-12T18:48:58ZIn this week's Multicultural Minute video, author Beverly Patt mentions that the authenticity of an author's voice was a "very controversial subject at the time [of writing her book]." At the time! That's funny, since it's one of the most...Renee Ting
this week's Multicultural Minute video, author Beverly Patt mentions that the authenticity of an author's voice was a "very controversial subject at the time [of writing her book]." At the time! That's funny, since it's one of the most controversial subjects of ALL time. And it's one of the issues that fascinates me most. Who should have the right to tell a story? Can people outside of a group write authentically about members of the group?
I asked these and similar questions to authors I met at the Kindling Words conference and noticed that a number of authors had decided, after struggling with this question, to write their book from a Caucasian character's point of view. Even if the story and theme were about the other group, they created a character who filtered the story through their own Caucasian experience.
There were a few reasons for this, but the biggest was that the authors were afraid of receiving criticism for co-opting a story from a group they did not belong to. And while it's true that some outspoken individuals believe that no one can represent a group they don't have firsthand knowledge of, they underestimate the power of imaginative empathy and the mighty strength of good research.
And they also seem to forget a most important point: no one is asking the author to represent an entire group of people. We are asking them to present one person's story. Almost because there is so little available about some people, we expect every story to be THE representative story and not just A story.
Unfortunately, this fear of criticism, coupled with a disproportionately large percentage of white published authors, results in a publishing landscape where too many people of color are relegated to secondary-character roles.
So. As you may know, I do not agree that any one group of people has more of a right to tell a story than another. I do not believe in looking at the author's name before judging the quality of a book (and even if I did, what would that tell me, in this day and age?). I urge authors to write on whatever subjects most move you, and from the point of view that most moves you. Don't be cowed by the small-minded and exclusionary among us. When they twitter and post diatribes on the blogs, don't worry. We of the broad mind and love of the good story will be here to cover your back.
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The Multicultural Minute #22: Beverly Patttag:www.shens.com,2010:/blog//12.4602010-02-11T22:10:27Z2010-02-11T22:22:54ZThis week's special guest is author Beverly Patt. She has book coming out in April called Best Friends Forever: A World War II Scrapbook. I ask her how she handled being an "outsider" and writing about the Japanese experience.For more...Renee TingBest Friends Forever: A World War II Scrapbook. I ask her how she handled being an "outsider" and writing about the Japanese experience.
For more information about Beverly Patt, visit her website.
Books by Beverly Patt: Haven Best Friends Forever: A World War II Scrapbook ]]>
The Multicultural Minute #21: Christine Taylor-Butlertag:www.shens.com,2010:/blog//12.4592010-02-04T19:26:35Z2010-02-04T19:43:56ZLast weekend, I attended the Kindling Words conference, which was an amazing weekend spent with distinguished children's book authors, illustrators, and editors. Not only did I learn a lot about the publishing trade, but I got to meet a whole...Renee Ting
"The largest west coast Loving Day celebration kicks off the 3rd Annual Mixed Roots Film & Literary Festival on June 12, 2010. The Festival celebrates storytelling of the Mixed racial and cultural experience and brings together innovative artists, film and book lovers, and families for two days of writing and film workshops, readings, film screenings, a special family event and live performance by talented comedians, musicians and actors. All events are free and open to the public.
"WE ARE CURRENTLY ACCEPTING FILM, LITERARY, LIVE PERFORMANCE, AND WORKSHOP SUBMISSIONS. For submission requirements and more information, visit: www.mxroots.org"
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Today I Willtag:www.shens.com,2010:/falling_flowers//36.4342010-01-29T22:03:20Z2010-02-01T23:37:23ZI was thrilled to receive a sweet note from Eileen Spinelli. I've been friends with her for a few years now, and sent her a copy of The Falling Flowers when it first came out. She and husband Jerry used...Jennifer ReedToday I Will, published by Alfred A. Knopf. It's a book about a year of quotes, notes and promises to myself... Anyway- looks like a great book- have it on order. :) And, it's always awesome to be part of something so special! ]]>
The Multicultural Minute #20: 826LA Workshoptag:www.shens.com,2010:/blog//12.4332010-01-28T17:00:17Z2010-01-28T17:31:24ZIn which Renee leads a workshop for tutors at 826LA on using multicultural books to inspire kids to write.Books shown in the video:Afghan Dreams: Young Voices From Afghanistan by Tony O'Brien and Michael P. SullivanHow My Family Lives in America...Renee Ting
The books that appear in these annotated book lists were evaluated and selected by a Book Review Committee appointed by National Council for the Social Studies (NCSS) and assembled in cooperation with the Children's Book Council (CBC). NCSS and CBC have cooperated on this annual bibliography since 1972.
Books selected for this bibliography are written primarily for children in grades K-8. The selection committee looks for books that emphasize human relations, represent a diversity of groups and are sensitive to a broad range of cultural experiences, present an original theme or a fresh slant on a traditional topic, are easily readable and of high literary quality, and have a pleasing format and, when appropriate, illustrations that enrich the text. Each book is read by several reviewers, and books are included on the list by committee assent.
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The Multicultural Minute #19: Debbi Michiko Florencetag:www.shens.com,2010:/blog//12.4312010-01-20T21:35:55Z2010-01-20T21:48:20ZDebbi Michiko Florence talks about what she loved most writing her two non-fiction titles, China and Japan.More about Debbi Michiko Florence's books:ChinaChildren can dig in with hands, feet and mind to 4,000 years of this country's history, traditions and culture....Renee Ting
More about Debbi Michiko Florence's books:
China Children can dig in with hands, feet and mind to 4,000 years of this country's history, traditions and culture. Through photos, illustrations, diagrams, interviews and activities children will gain a deeper understanding of China and its people.
Japan A hands-on, interactive guide to the culture, history, people, and traditions of Japan. Children will:
learn how to write and speak some Japanese words
explore fascinating places like Mount Fuji and Tokyo
learn how to fold origami and how to use chopsticks
discover what schools in Japan are like
More than 40 activities, modern photographs, diagrams, and humorous art bring this fascinating country to life.
And for those wondering which bubble tea shop I like best: Fantasia Tea Cafe. ]]>
More good news for Cora Cooks Pancit: The Cooperative Children's Book Center of the University of Wisconsin-Madison has chosen Cora for its list of top children's book picks for 2010!
Every year, the Asian/Pacific American Librarians Association (APALA) gives awards to the best literature released the previous year. The awards "promote Asian/Pacific American culture and heritage, based on
literary and artistic merit." 
Wow! What an honor! Both volumes of Chinese History Stories have been chosen for the Notable Social Studies Trade Books list for 2010. About the honor: