My author copies for Postcards From Malcolm X arrived! Here’s my unboxing video: Postcards from Malcolm X: How Yuri Kochiyama Became a Human Rights Activist by Mia Wenjen, illustrated by Keith Henry Brown A moving portrait of Yuri Kochiyama―an ordinary woman who became an extraordinary activist―and her bond with Malcolm X When Japanese American activist…
Author: Pragmatic Mom
Learning about the Hanapepe Salt Pond from Wade and Will
It was fortuitous to meet Wade Ishikawa and his friend Will at the Hanapepe Salt Pond. I was just hoping to get some photos, not realizing that the salt ponds are only operational during the summer. Not only did Wade go over the harvesting process, clarifying some fine points that my research for Food for…
Visiting the places in FORTUNE COOKIES FOR EVERYONE + GIVEAWAY!
When we took a family trip to the West Coast to visit art colleges for my oldest child, we stayed near Fisherman’s Wharf. There, at the Boudin Bakery, I saw an exhibit about inventions that come out of San Francisco. I noticed that the fortune cookie was one of them. I didn’t think about this…
Thank You to Discover Nikkei for Featuring Me
Thank you to Erin Akamine for featuring me on Discover Nikkei: Mia Wenjen is an accomplished children’s book author, a mother of three, an avid blogger known as Pragmatic Mom, and co-creator of Read Your World, a nonprofit dedicated to celebrating diversity in books. Yet perhaps her most successful and ongoing achievement is feeding her voracious appetite…
Lisa Varchol Perron and Monica Aker Storytime at Whitelam Books
This was such a lovely picture book storytime to honor mothers and mental health! Lisa Varchol Perron read from her newest picture book, Kite Day: The Ups and Downs of Mental Health, and Monica Acker read her picture book, Brave Like Mom. Both books honor a mother’s love through difficult times. Lisa is a psychotherapist…
Postcards from Malcolm X picture book trailer!
“I read all of your wonderful cards and letters and I think you are the most beautiful family in Harlem.” – Malcolm X to Yuri Kochiyama in one of the 11 postcards he sent her Postcards from Malcolm X picture book trailer! Postcards from Malcolm X: How Yuri Kochiyama Became a Human Rights Activist…
Visiting the Honolulu Museum of Art in Hawaii
I only had 35 minutes to run through this museum, but it was worth cramming it in. I only wish that I had more time to spend there. I will definitely be coming back the next time that I am on Oahu! p.s. Related posts: Maui: Alexander & Baldwin Sugar Museum Visting the…







