Thank you so much to everyone for covering We Sing From the Heart! I so appreciate your support!
Karlin Gray: True Story~We Sing From the Heart: How the Slants(r) Took Their Fight for Free Speech to the Supreme Court
Crafty Moms Share: Multicultural Books focusing on Asia and Asian American Cultures
Erin Dealey: It’s the most WONDERFUL time of the year: a VERY SPECIAL ICYM Book List & recap of 36 fabulous #kidlit books of 2024!
Melissa Taylor of Imagination Soup on Facebook:
MaryAnne of Mama Smiles blog and Great Family Reads for her review:
Jena Benton: Simply 7 with Mia Wenjen: WE SING FROM THE HEART
Teaching Books: We Sing from the Heart: How the Slants® Took Their Fight for Free Speech to the Supreme Court
Dorktales Podcast: The Podcast on Simon Tam made their top 5 of the year!
Simon Tam – Hidden Hero of History story by Molly Murphy inspired by the children’s book “We Sing from the Heart” on Simon Tam by Mia Wenjen, published by Red Comet Press
Frances Evans on Instagram:
The Educators’ Spin On It: Exploring Courage, Resilience, and Knowledge: Book Reviews for Read Your Word 2025
The Logonauts: Read Your World Day!
Alison Travis: Read Your World: Rock Music Activism and Asian Reappropriation
All Done Monkey: Asian American Pacific Islander Heritage Month Books
Tanya Konerman: Spotlight Review for Read Your World 2025
Caroline Starr Rose: Quick Lit: Picture Books I’ve Been Reading Lately
Erin Dealey: Nine PBs to give us hope, spread kindness, make us laugh, and remind us to never give up.
Unleashing Readers: It’s Monday! What Are You Reading?
Kellee: I LOVED reading and sharing your book–it is beautiful work!
Erin Dealey: Nine PBs to give us hope, spread kindness, make us laugh, and remind us to never give up.
Glass of Wine, Glass of Milk: We Sing from the Heart Book Review
School Library Journal: We Sing From the Heart: How The Slants® Took Their Fight for Free Speech to the Supreme Court
Youth Services Book Review: We Sing From the Heart by Mia Wenjen, illustrated by Victor Bizar Gómez
StoryMamas on Instagram:
We Sing From The Heart: How the Slants Took Their Fight For Free Speech To The Supreme Court by Mia Wenjen and Victor Bizar Gómez
Who said picture books aren’t for everyone? @miawenjen & @bizar_gomez’s book is most impactful for 3rd and up readers, discussing how we can use our voice and fight for what we believe in. In this nonfiction picture book, Simon Tam, lead singer of the Slants, works hard to see his band’s name trademarked. Mia goes through his brief love of music and focuses on the frustrating journey Simon had to take to get what he (and many others) believed his band deserved. The Slants, used often as a derogatory term, he wanted to see it used in a more positive setting. With hard work, determination, and dedication, he was able to get what he wanted!
I’d recommend 3rd grade and over, as a lot of rich language about our court systems and understanding that will help them grasp the full concept of all that Simon Tam had to fight for. ( Lots of the terms are defined in small print on the page to help readers!) I learned so much from reading this story and can’t wait to share it with others.
Thank you, Mia, for sharing Simon’s impactful story with us. All opinions are our own.
Publisher Spotlight: Reviewer Spotlight: Mia Wenjen
p.s. Related posts:
We Sing From the Heart wins Julia Ward Howe prize for children’s literature!
WE SING FROM THE HEART is Carter G. Woodson Book Award Honoree!
We Sing From the Heart makes Bank Street Best Children’s Book of the Year 2025!
We Sing From the Heart gets a few stickers!
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The Traveling Taco:
- Reading Rockets’ Summer Reading Guide 2025
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- Junior Library Guild Gold Selection
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We Sing from the Heart: How the Slants® Took Their Fight for Free Speech to the Supreme Court
- ALSC Notable Children’s Book
- 2025 Carter G. Woodson Book Award Middle Level Honoree
- Orbis Pictus Recommended Book for Outstanding Nonfiction for Children
- 2024 Julia Ward Howe Prize for Children’s Literature Winner
- California Eureka Non-Fiction Award Honor Book
- Notable Social Studies Trade Books for Young People Winner (from National Council for the Social Studies and Children’s Book Council)
- Bank Street Best Children’s Books of the Year 2025
- Junior Library Guild Gold Selection
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Food for the Future: Sustainable Farms Around the World
- ⭐ Starred review from School Library Journal!
- Junior Library Guild Gold selection
- Massachusetts Book Award Long List
- dPICTUS 100 Outstanding Picture Books of 2023
- Chicago Library’s Best of the Best
- 2023 INDIES Book of the Year Awards Finalist
- Green Earth Book Award Long List
- Nautilus Silver Winner, Nonfiction Children’s Picture Book
- Sunshine State Young Readers Award Orange Blossom List for Nonfiction
- Imagination Soup’s 35 Best Nonfiction Books of 2023 for Kids
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Bank Street College’s The Best Children’s Books of the Year
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