WE SING FROM THE HEART is a Pennsylvania Mountain Laurel Book Award Nominee 2026-27

I am so happy to announce that We Sing From the Heart is a Pennsylvania Mountain Laurel Book Award Nominee 2026-27.

The purpose of the Mountain Laurel Book Award Program is to promote reading of quality books by young people in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, to encourage teacher/librarian collaboration in young adult and children’s literature, and to honor authors whose works have been recognized by the students of Pennsylvania. This used to be called the Pennsylvania Young Reader’s Choice Award.

We Sing from the Heart: How the Slants® Took Their Fight for Free Speech to the Supreme Court by Mia Wenjen, illustrated by Victor Bizar Gomez, and published by Red Comet Press

A compelling account of Simon Tam’s fight for free speech that ended with a landmark Supreme Court decision

Music is a way to transcend cultures and divides. Simon Tam used his band’s name, The Slants®, to make a powerful statement that racist insults could no longer be hurtful to Asian Americans. But then the U.S. Trade and Patent Office tries to stop him. In his eight-year battle to win trademark protection, Simon would go all the way to the Supreme Court in a landmark case to rout out structural racism in our government systems.

Mia Wenjen takes us back to Simon’s early days and the formation of the band, to the long battle to claim the name they chose to use. We learn of his motivations and the years-long struggle that leads ultimately to the Supreme Court of the United States. Told using lyrics from the band’s hit song about their trademark fight, this compelling story will keep readers riveted until the dramatic ending.

We Sing from the Heart gives background and context to the significance of Simon’s quest, not just for him and his band, but for free speech rights for us all. [picture book biography, ages 8 and up]

p.s. Related posts:

Activities for We Sing From the Heart

We Sing From the Heart Wins Social Justice Literature Award

Julia Ward Howe Award Presentation for We Sing From the Heart

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!

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