I'll be at the 2nd Nikkei Children's Book Festival at the Japanese American National Museum (May 9)

I’m thrilled to be a part of the 2nd Nikkei Children’s Book Festival at the Japanese American National Museum in Little Tokyo, Los Angeles, California!

$10 General Admission

Free for Youth (under 18) & JANM Members

Saturday, May 09, 2026

9:00 AM – 3:00 PM PDT

10:30 am Mia’s reading begins

10:45 am Discussion + Activity with Maggie, Yas, and Mia

11:00 am Q&A with Maggie, Yas, and Mia

11:15 am Reading block ends, walk to signing in Democracy Lab

11:30 am-12 pm Signing ends

Celebrate Asian American, Pacific Islander, Native Hawaiian Heritage Month, Children’s Book Week, and Kodomo no hi (Japanese Children’s Day) with our second annual Nikkei Children’s Book Festival. This year’s festival highlights heroes of all ages who have strengthened our community and made it special in big and small ways.

Explore the breadth and diversity of children’s literature across the Nikkei community with author and illustrator storytimes, signings, and meet-and-greets, arts and crafts for all ages, and a special pop-up bookstore from the JANM Store.

Featured guests include Maggie Tokuda-Hall and Yas Imamura (Love in the Library), Mia Wenjen (Barbed Wire Between Us), Jolene Gutiérrez, Chris Sasaki, and John Tonai (Unbreakable), Korey Watari and Mike Wu (Kimi the Ballerina), and more to be announced!

Check back soon for the full schedule of the day.

Use code: STORYTIME26 for a $5 discount on tickets.

Japanese American National Museum
Democracy Center at JANM
100 North Central Avenue
Los Angeles, CA 90012

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My books:

Amazon / Signed or Inscribed by Me

Barbed Wire Between Us by Mia Wenjen, illustrated by Violeta Encarnación

⭐ Starred review from Kirkus
⭐ Starred review from Publishers Weekly
⭐ Starred review from School Library Journal
Kirkus: The Most Anticipated Children’s Books of Spring 2026

Amazon / Signed or Inscribed by Me

Fortune Cookies for Everyone! (Smithsonian): The Surprising Story of the Tasty Treat We Love to Eat

California Eureka Non-Fiction Gold Award
Junior Library Guild Gold Selection
Notable Social Studies Trade Books for Young People Winner (from National Council for the Social Studies and Children’s Book Council)

The Traveling Taco: The Amazing and Surprising Journey of Many of Your Favorite Foods

California Eureka Non-Fiction Silver Award
Notable Social Studies Trade Books for Young People Winner (from National Council for the Social Studies and Children’s Book Council)
Reading Rockets’ Summer Reading Guide 2025

Amazon / Signed or Inscribed by Me

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
Recommended Reading for the Social Justice Literature Award 2025 (International Literacy Association)
Pennsylvania Mountain Laurel Book Award Nominee 2026-27
Junior Library Guild Gold Selection