Shen's Blog

Feb. 15 - Apr. 7, 2012: Sun Gallery Exhibit featuring Jessica Lanan

2012-02-15T23:44:14Z

Every year, the Sun Gallery in Hayward, California holds a children's book art exhibit. This year, artist Jessica Lanan's illustrations from Good Fortune in a Wrapping Cloth will be on display. And they have featured her artwork on their promotional postcard! Lovely!

Sun Gallery 23rd Annual Children's Book Illustrators Exhibit
February 15 to April 7, 2012
1015 E Street
Hayward, CA 94541

Feb. 4, 2012: Joan Schoettler at Willow Bridge Books

2012-02-04T21:00:35Z

Author Joan Schoettler will be signing her book, Good Fortune in a Wrapping Cloth, this Saturday at Willow Bridge Books. Willow Bridge Books is an independent bookstore located in Oakhurst, California. Nestled between the scenic landscapes of the San Joaquin Valley and Yosemite National Park, the bookstore serves the communities in Madera and Mariposa counties.

February 4, 2012, 1:00pm
Willow Bridge Books
40044 Hwy 49
Oakhurst, CA 93644
559-692-2665

School Library Journal

2012-01-13T23:51:39Z

The November, 2011 issue of School Library Journal contains a very nice review of Good Fortune in a Wrapping Cloth, by Joan Schoettler and illustrated by Jessica Lanan:

"Ji-su, a girl in 18th-century Korea, is devastated when her mother is selected to sew for the king. It is an honor for the family, but it means a life apart, and Eomma has no choice in the matter. Ji-su is determined to learn to sew bojagi-- wrapping cloths-- as skillfully as her mother so that she will also work at the palace. Descriptive language and stunning watercolor paintings show the seasons passing as Ji-su works toward her goal. With a masterful eye for color and skillful use of perspective, Lanan brings the text to life and adds depth to Ji-su's emotions. When Ji-su presents her bojagi to the sewing master, the low perspective makes the men seem to tower over her, and readers feel her trepidation and the importance of the moment. Densely packed with Korean customs and vocabulary, the writing is nuanced and evocative: "Eomma and Ji-su held each other like threads in a seam." There is a glossary, but without some familiarity with Korean culture, it is difficult to infer the meaning of some words. Although the complexity of this book may limit its appeal for general audiences, Good Fortune is a treasure for libraries serving Korean populations."

A treasure!

Oct. 1-2, 2011: Dorina Lazo Gilmore at the Filipino American Book Festival

2011-10-01T18:20:30Z

This sounds like an amazing event! The Filipino American International Book Festival will be held in San Francisco on October 1 and 2, 2011. Author Dorina Lazo Gilmore will be on hand both days reading Cora Cooks Pancit in the Children's Area at 1:30 both days. She will sign immediately after each reading at the Philippine Expressions Bookshop booth.

"FILBOOKFEST celebrates the richness and fusion of Philippine and Filipino American culture through literature, visual arts and music.
FILBOOKFEST is the largest gathering of authors of Filipino heritage from around the world. FILBOOKFEST invites all book lovers in the San Francisco Bay Area to spend a weekend of fun literary events, performances and good food."

Filipino American International Book Festival
October 1-2, 2011
Fulton Street, Civic Center, San Francisco
Free Admission
Dorina Lazo Gilmore reading at 1:30pm both days

Sept. 17, 2011: Joan Schoettler at Asian Art Museum of San Francisco

2011-09-17T18:35:24Z

The Asian Art Museum of San Francisco is hosting the Korean Foundation Korean Culture Day on September 17, 2011 from 11:00 am to 4:00 pm. As part of the festivities, which are free with museum admission, author Joan Schoettler will be on hand signing copies of Good Fortune in a Wrapping Cloth at 2:00 pm.

Here is what the Asian Art Museum says about the event:

Chuseok is the Korean holiday of the autumn harvest during the full moon, when people visit their hometowns and feast with family and friends. This family fun day for all ages offers docent tours, storytelling, food tastings, music, and art. Korean musicians Kang Eun-il & Haegum Plus will perform their "new music" for the first time in the Bay Area. Artists Shin Meekyung and Lee Kang Hyo will demonstrate new and traditional forms of ceramic art.

And here is the day's schedule:

Explore and Join In
Education Studios and North Court 12:00 noon-4:00 pm	Watch two artists from Korea demonstrating new and old forms of Korean art! Shin Meekyoung uses ceramic forms and imagery as the inspiration for her soap sculptures, and ceramist Lee Kang Hyo follows ancient way of pottery making using a simple kick-wheel and red and white clay. Make an artwork to take home inspired by artists.
South Court 2:00-3:00 pm	Meet the author of the new book "Good Fortune in a Wrapping Cloth". Joan Schoettler signs and discusses how she was inspired to write her book after viewing Korean wrapping cloths (bojagi) at the Asian Art Museum. The book is available for purchase at the museum store.
Korean Galleries and Resource Room	Pick up a copy of the Family Gallery Activity Guide for the Poetry In Clay exhibition, and learn to look at the artworks in a different way.
Learn and Discover
Samsung Hall 12:30 and 3:00 pm	Discover "New music" of Korea! Musical group Haegum Plus performs. Musical director Kang uses haegum, a two-stringed vertical fiddle-like instrument, along with guitar and keyboard, and fuses Korean music with jazz and western classical music.
Korean Galleries* 11:00 am and 1:30 pm	Asian Art Museum's storytellers tell myths and folktales from Korea. Special 15 min. tour at 11 am for families with kids ages 3-6.
Korean Galleries* 11:30 am and 2:00 pm	Join the museum's docents for a tour of new exhibition the Poetry in Clay with your family.
Korean Galleries* 2:30 pm (Korean only) and 4:00 pm (English only)	Join the special tour of Poetry In Clay exhibition with Associate Curator of Korean Art, Hyonjeong Kim Han, and listen to her behind-the-scene stories.
Resource Room	Meet students from Oakland Korean School in Oakland and see their Youth Inspiration Artwork Display; play with IPads to checkout latest K-pop and other great videos from the Asian Art Museum.
South Court	Just for teachers! Learn about the museum's school programs and resources. Browse the museum's teacher education resources and pick up a poster.
Make and Do
North Court 11:00 am-4:00 pm	Make an artwork to take home! Get inspired by art in the galleries and enjoy fun art activities with your friends and family.
South Court 1:00 pm-3:00 pm	Taste sweet rice called yaksik (or yakbap)! It is a sweet dish made by steaming glutinous rice with chestnuts and pine nuts, seasoned with honey, sesame oil, and soy sauce, generally eaten on traditional holidays as well as weddings and other festivities.
And More
Museum Café and Outside	Korean tacos and more! San Francisco's Gourmet food trucks join the museum for the day's festivities. Also the museum's Café Asia offers affordable Asian-fusion dishes for the whole family.

End of Summer Cora Cooks Pancit App Giveaway-- 3 Ways to Win!

2011-08-27T21:18:59Z

The end of summer is upon us (I have always considered Labor Day to be MY official end-of-summer, despite what the calendar says), and with it the bittersweet end to our long and lazy days. Of course, fall brings with it new excitements: new school year, crisp cool days, football season. Not to mention new starts for me too. We will be moving into our new house in a few weeks, and baby J will turn a year old at the beginning of October. How time flies!

Anyway, let's give away some free apps to mourn the end of one season and celebrate the start of another! And let's not be stingy-- how about 15 free apps? Fifteen lucky winners will get their choice of the iOS or Android version of the Cora Cooks Pancit app.

There are THREE WAYS TO WIN. Here they are:

-Website sign-up. Fill out the form here. On Friday, September 2, FIVE winners will be chosen from those signed up.

-Facebook. "Like" us on Facebook here. When we hit 500 Likes, we will pick FIVE winners from everyone who likes us. There's no set date for this drawing. We'll do it whenever we hit 500 Likes.

-Twitter. We will pick ONE WINNER A DAY from August 29 - September 2 from those who follow @ReneeatShens and tweet the following:

Win a free CORA COOKS PANCIT ebook app. 3 Ways to win! http://bit.ly/nWrcZV #coracookspancit

Tweet this message once each day to be entered for that day's drawing.

Good luck!

Ta Da! Introducing the Cora Cooks Pancit App!

2011-08-27T21:14:04Z

Do you absolutely love Cora Cooks Pancit? Or have you not read it yet? Either way, now's your chance to get this wonderful book on your mobile devices and tablets. Introducing the Cora Cooks Pancit app for both iOS and Android!

The app features the entire book, including its beautiful illustrations, glossary, and pancit recipe. In addition, it has a "read to me" option that features author Dorina Lazo Gilmore herself reading the book. All this for only $3.99, a fraction of the hardcover price. Get yours now:

Click here for iTunes Store
Click here for Android Marketplace

Visions: Joan Schoettler at the S.F. Museum of Craft and Folk Art

2011-07-20T23:09:51Z

Visions: Linda Gerdner Signing at the Iowa City Book Festival

2011-07-20T23:07:11Z

July 16, 2011: Linda Gerdner at the Iowa City Book Festival

2011-07-17T01:02:51Z

If you're in Iowa City, you'll have to check out the Iowa City Book Festival! Linda Gerdner, author of Grandfather's Story Cloth, will be there on Saturday, July 16 reading and signing her book in the children's tent.

Linda Gerdner Reading & Signing
Iowa City Book Festival
Children's Tent, Gibson Square
Saturday, July 16, 2011
12:20pm

July 9, 2011: Joan Schoettler at the San Francisco Museum of Craft and Folk Art

2011-07-10T00:52:41Z

Visit the San Francisco Museum of Craft and Folk Art this Saturday for an afternoon of Bojagi art making along with author Joan Schoettler, who will bring alive the landscape and culture of Korea reading from her children's book, Good Fortune in a Wrapping Cloth. Surrounded by inspiration from the Museum's current Bojagi exhibition: create your own wrapping cloth using fabric and paper to stitch, staple, glue, and fasten into one-of-a-kind artworks!

$5 for materials and admission. All ages welcome, 5+.

Children's book reading + Bojagi art making with Joan Schoettler
San Francisco Museum of Craft and Folk Art
Saturday, July 9, 2011
2:00pm - 4:00pm
51 Yerba Buena Lane
San Francisco, CA 94103

June 15, 2011: Book Launch with Author Joan Schoettler

2011-06-15T15:00:29Z

Joan Schoettler, author of Good Fortune in a Wrapping Cloth, will be sending off her new picture book on June 15, 2011 at Petunia's Place Bookstore in Fresno, California. There will be a presentation, reception, and book signing from 5:30pm until 7:00. Books will be available for purchase.

Petunia's Place Bookstore is the oldest and only children's bookstore in Fresno, known for its wide selection of books for children and young adults as well as books on parenting and books for educators.

Joan Schoettler presentation, reception, & signing
June 15, 2011, 5:30pm - 7:00pm
Petunia's Place Bookstore
at the Opus I Shopping Center
6027 North Palm Ave.
Fresno, CA 93704
559-438-1561

A Peek Inside Good Fortune

2011-05-13T22:24:54Z

While we're waiting for copies of Good Fortune in a Wrapping Cloth to arrive, here's a peek inside to whet your appetite. The artwork is simply gorgeous, don't you think? Artist Jessica Lanan really made Joan Schoettler's text come alive.

March 19, 2011: Kathryn Otoshi at the Sun Gallery in Hayward, CA

2011-03-20T01:21:21Z

Every year, the Sun Gallery in Hayward, California hosts a showcase of artwork from children's books. This year, art from Maneki Neko: The Tale of the Beckoning Cat will be featured in the show, and illustrator Kathryn Otoshi will be at the Artist Reception on March 19, 2001 from 1:00-4:00.

From the Sun Gallery:
Our 22nd Annual Childrens Book Illustrators Exhibit opens February 9, and features nine artists this year as well as the work of art students from Chabot College. There will be an artist and book signing reception on Saturday, March 19th from 1:00pm - 4:00pm, where you will have the opportunity to meet many of the illustrators and have them sign books you might want to purchase. So, bring your kids along to this fun and informative event and see how the magic of illustration and language creates engaging children's literature.

This year's artists are: Gabriele Bungardt-Mup the Pup, Joe Cepeda-From North to South, Felicia Hoshino-My Dog Teny, Steve Johnson & Lou Fancher-For the Love of Music, Elisa Kleven-Welcome Home, Mouse, Lea Lyon-Keep your Ear on the Ball, Mark Meyers-Counting Cows, Yuyi Morales- Floating on Mama's Song, Kathryn Otoshi Maneki Neko: The Tale of the Beckoning Cat

Artist Reception & Book Signing Party: Saturday, March 19, 2011, from 1-4 PM.

Teachers: Classroom tours of the gallery with a studio art project are available. Call or email the gallery to schedule your guided tour: 510-581-4050/ sungallery@comcast.net

March 10, 2011: Linda Gerdner at Re-SEAing Conference in San Francisco

2011-03-11T02:10:26Z

Linda Gerdner, author of Grandfather's Story Cloth, will be speaking at the 2011 Re-SEAing Conference in San Francisco. The conference, devoted to Southeast Asian Studies, will be held at San Francisco State University. This year's theme is "Memories & Visions: Yesterday, Today, and Tomorrow." It is fitting, therefore, that Linda Gerdner will be speaking about Alzheimer's Disease: Stimulating Remote Memories Though Grandfather's Story Cloth.

More information about the conference:

The third tri-annual interdisciplinary Southeast Asians in the diaspora conference will take place at San Francisco State University. The San Francisco Bay Area is home to sizable populations of Burmese, Cambodian, Filipino, Hmong, Indonesian, Lao, Malaysian, Singaporean, Thai, and Vietnamese Americans. This conference will foreground the large Southeast Asian American communities of the Bay Area, Silicon Valley, and the Pacific Northwest, as well as continue to build momentum and grow just as the Southeast Asian American demographics increase in size and visibility here in the U.S. and in particular, on the West Coast.

The main objectives of this conference are:
· to encourage the interdisciplinary and comparative study of Southeast Asian American peoples and their communities;
· to promote national and international cooperation in the field;
· to establish partnerships between academia and the community.

This two-day conference explores memories (e.g., memories of homeland; memories of war; memories of childhood and growing up American; historical memories; embodied memories; intergenerational memories; technologies of memories; and imagined/created memories) and visions (actual sightings and sites of Southeast Asian Americans and their communities, both real and imaginary). Because this conference takes place after the constitutionally mandated 2010 census, the focus will be on locating/situating Southeast Asian American Studies for the 21st century.