Skip to content
Pragmatic Mom Barbed Wire Between Us Banner
Menu
  • Home
  • About
    • Contact
    • Policies
    • Media Kit
    • Privacy Policy
    • Copyright
    • KidLit Blogroll
  • My Book Lists
    • My List of Lists
    • Multicultural Books for Children: 60+ Book Lists
    • #OwnVoices
    • Summer Reading Lists for Middle School Kids
    • Asian American Children’s Books
    • African American Children’s Books
    • Arab American Children’s Books
    • Latinx American Children’s Books
    • Native American Children’s Books
    • LGBTQIA+ Children’s Books
    • Diverse Books for Kids
    • Best Books for Kids
  • Education
    • STEM/STEAM
    • Math
    • Social Studies
    • Art Projects for Kids
    • Applying to Art School
    • Applying to College
    • Book Club for Kids
    • 70+ Free Educational Games
  • Controversial
    • Sexual Misconduct in Children’s Book Publishing #MeToo #TimesUp
    • Rethinking & Examining Dr. Seuss’ Racism
    • Blood Feud over YA #BloodHeir
    • Tulsa Race Massacre: What They Don’t Teach You in History Books
    • The Chinese Exclusion Act – What They Don’t Teach in History Books
    • Segregation in California Schools: What They Don’t Teach in History Books
    • SCBWI Minnesota Racist Illustration and Gaslighting Response
  • My Books
    • BARBED WIRE BETWEEN US gets Kirkus Starred Review!
    • FORTUNE COOKIES FOR EVERYONE Geography Game featuring WWII Internment Sites!
    • Activity Guides to My Books
    • 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!
    • Cover Reveal: Barbed Wire Between Us by Mia Wenjen, illustrated by Violeta Encarnación
    • New Title … for my picture book A PLACE TO CALL HOME
    • My Book Announcements
    • The Traveling Taco gets a SONG!
    • The Traveling Taco Unboxing!
    • We Sing From the Heart makes Bank Street Best Children’s Book of the Year 2025!
    • The Traveling Taco on Reading Rockets’ Summer Reading Guide 2025!
    • The Traveling Taco featured in Booklist
    • Origami French Fries: Activity for THE TRAVELING TACO
    • Book Announcement: A Place to Call Home! {and a new title …}
    • FOOD FOR THE FUTURE makes Sunshine State Young Readers Award Orange Blossom List for Nonfiction!
    • Cover Reveal of my latest picture book … FORTUNE COOKIES FOR EVERYONE!
    • Picture Book Announcement! BARBED WIRE BETWEEN US, illustrated by Violeta Encarnación
    • We Sing From the Heart gets a few stickers!
    • Book Announcement! Postcards from Malcolm X: How Yuri Kochiyama Became a Civil Rights Activist
    • Kirkus Reviews My Newest Picture Book: THE TRAVELING TACO
    • We Sing From the Heart is a Notable Social Studies Trade Books for Young People Winner!
    • We Sing From the Heart gets a few stickers!
    • WE SING FROM THE HEART wins California Eureka! Nonfiction Children’s Book Award
    • WE SING FROM THE HEART is Orbis Pictus Recommended Book
    • WE SING FROM THE HEART is a Junior Library Guild Gold Selection
    • Dorktales Podcast: Simon Tam, Hidden Hero of History
    • Food for the Future Wins Nautilus Silver Book Award
    • Food for the Future makes Mass Book Award Long List!
    • FOOD FOR THE FUTURE Makes Green Earth Book Award Long List!
    • Food for the Future is a finalist for 2023 INDIES Book of the Year!
    • New! Food for the Future Activity and Discussion Guide!
    • FOOD FOR THE FUTURE is a Junior Library Guild Gold Selection!
    • ‘Food for the Future’ selected for Chicago Public Library’s Best of the Best books
    • Scholastic Purchased CHANGING THE GAME!
    • Starred Review for FOOD FOR THE FUTURE from School Library Journal!
    • Sumo Joe makes Bank Street Best Children’s Books of the Year list!
    • How To Coach Girls wins Silver Award!
    • Posts on My Books
  • My Book Events
    • My Book Events
Menu

Author: Pragmatic Mom

I am a mom with three kids and a husband living in Newton, MA. I graduated from Harvard University with a degree in HIstory and Science. I went to The Anderson School of Management at UCLA for my M.B.A.My background is entrepreneurial. I started several companies and currently serve on three boards including for my elementary school and preschool. I was a SAHM for nearly 8 years, and went back to work part-time just recently. Now I work almost full time as a WAHM for a consumer electronics start-up in Boston.My blog is my outlet to read children's literature which is my great secret pleasure, and to document any interesting and/or useful information that I acquire as I parent. My kids are quite active and pursue many interests collectively including soccer, gymnastics, rhythm gymnastics, karate (Chung Kook Doh), ice skating, Chinese, Spanish, flute, piano, T-ball, book clubs, and art. In my free time, I have been doing kickboxing, vinyasa yoga, zoomba, and I am trying to learn Spanish as well.Learning about SEO and how to blog has been a really fun enterprise albeit very time consuming. I started a bloggers group that meets weekly called www.coffeeshopbloggers.com. The S.O.S. on SEO. We share our collective frustrations and knowledge from blogging.Now you understand the Type A parent I am...hence the tagline my blogger friends came up for me for my blog:Type A Parenting for the Modern World
FREE Geography Game for The Traveling Taco

I made a FREE Geography Game for The Traveling Taco

Posted on October 8, 2025September 14, 2025 by Pragmatic Mom

I created a free online geography game using The Traveling Taco:   p.s. Related posts: The Traveling Taco gets a SONG! Origami French Fries: Activity for THE TRAVELING TACO The Traveling Taco on Reading Rockets’ Summer Reading Guide 2025! The Traveling Taco featured in Booklist   To examine any book more closely at Amazon, please…

Read more
5 Picture Books about Libraries Around the World

5 Picture Books about Libraries Around the World & Signed Book GIVEAWAY!

Posted on October 6, 2025September 14, 2025 by Pragmatic Mom

Please welcome my guest author today, Joan Schoettler, with her list of 5 Picture Books about Libraries Around the World. We are giving away a signed copy of Books Travel the World. To enter, please leave a comment.   6 Picture Books about Libraries Around the World The Book Boat’s In by Cynthia Cotton, illustrated…

Read more
Why Winter Is Actually the Best Time to Visit the Bahamas

Why Winter Is Actually the Best Time to Visit the Bahamas

Posted on October 4, 2025November 4, 2025 by Pragmatic Mom

  When most people think about visiting the Bahamas, they imagine summer beach days and tropical heat. But here’s a secret that savvy travelers have known for years: winter is actually the absolute best time to experience these stunning islands. Perfect Weather Without the Swelter While much of North America shivers through freezing temperatures and…

Read more

I’m leading a Round Table at NCTE 2025 in Denver!

Posted on October 3, 2025October 8, 2025 by Pragmatic Mom

If you are going to NCTE 2025 in Denver, Colorado, I’d love to meet up with you! I’ll be leading a roundtable and attending an awards luncheon.   Roundtable: The Nerdy Book Club: Dreaming of a More Empathetic World—One Book and Reader at Time Venue: Colorado Convention Center Room: Mile High Ballroom 1A/1B Date/Time: November…

Read more
Resources for October

Resources for October

Posted on October 1, 2025November 1, 2025 by Pragmatic Mom

There are a lot of holidays in October to celebrate! I’ve listed my resources below each celebration.   Banned Books Week Banned Books Week is October 5-11, 2025 22 Banned Asian American Children’s Books #fREADomToRead Top 10 Must-Read Banned Books for Kids Top 10: Challenged or Banned Books 12 Banned Books in New England #fREADomToRead…

Read more
Julia Ward Howe Award Presentation for We Sing From the Heart

Julia Ward Howe Award Presentation for We Sing From the Heart

Posted on September 29, 2025September 28, 2025 by Pragmatic Mom

Lisa Rogers gave the nicest introduction to the Julia Ward Howe Award for We Sing From the Heart. My award acceptance speech is also here:    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!…

Read more
Asian furniture designers, Asian designers, Asian artisans, interior design, modern Asian furniture

Budget-Friendly Kitchen Makeovers That Feel Like Full Renovations

Posted on September 27, 2025October 27, 2025 by Pragmatic Mom

The kitchen is often called the heart of the home, but giving it a complete renovation can drain your savings faster than any other project. Full kitchen remodels typically cost tens of thousands of dollars, putting them out of reach for many homeowners who simply want a fresh, updated look. The good news is that…

Read more

Posts pagination

  • Previous
  • 1
  • 2
  • 3
  • 4
  • 5
  • 6
  • …
  • 464
  • Next

Looking for something? Search here.

I’m Mia Wenjen!

Mia Wenjen by Jerry Russo
Mia Wenjen
(photo by Jerry Russo)

Hi, I’m Mia Wenjen. Nice to meet you!

I blog about diverse children’s books, co-founded Read Your World on Jan 29, 2026, and write children’s books.

Free Blog Updates in your Inbox (RSS feed)

Monthly Newsletter with Subscriber Only Giveaways in your Inbox

My Shop for My Signed Books + Art

Mia Wenjen watercolor figure painting

Activity Guides for My Books

Activity Guides to Mia Wenjen's Books

Follow Me on Instagram

Instagram Icon

Follow Me on Pinterest

Pinterest Icon

Follow Me on YouTube

YouTube Icon

Follow Me on Facebook

Facebook Icon

Follow Me on BlueSky

Bluesky Icon

Follow Me on X/Twitter

Twitter X Icon

Follow Me on LinkedIn

LinkedIn Icon

Search Amazon

Find Children's Books

Shop Read Your World: Discounted Book Bundles and Toys

Fortune Cookies for Everyone (click to purchase)

FORTUNE COOKIES FOR EVERYONE! by Mia Wenjen, illustrated by Colleen Kong-Savage, Published by Red Comet Press

Fortune Cookies for Everyone book trailer

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=w9k6aOlMgCc

The Traveling Taco (click to purchase)

Cover Reveal for THE TRAVELING TACO by Mia Wenjen

The Traveling Taco Song created by Daria – World Music for Children

https://youtu.be/KWTuCwbWLXs

We Sing From the Heart (click to purchase)

We Sing From the Heart picture book cover reveal of The Slants Simon Tam

Dorktales Storytime Podcast: Simon Tam featured in We Sing From the Heart

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hlDdwUZpcNI

FOOD FOR THE FUTURE (click to purchase)

Food for the Future: Sustainable Farms Around the World by Mia Wenjen, illustrated by Robert Sae-Heng

Food for the Future Song created by Daria – World Music for Children

https://youtu.be/uTw6y3EjeOA

SUMO JOE (click to purchase)

Sumo Joe cover reveal

CHANGING THE GAME (click to purchase)

Changing the Game: Asian Pacific American Female Athletes by Mia Wenjen

Boxer Baby Battles Bedtime! (click to purchase)

Cover Reveal: Boxer Baby Battles Bedtime!

I’ll Be at the Newton Children’s Book Festival 2025

Newton Children's Book Festival 2025

I’ll be at hosting a Roundtable at NCTE 2025 Denver

NCTE 2025 Denver Mia Wenjen hosting Roundtable

I’ll be at NCSS DC 2025

NCSS 2025 Denver Mia Wenjen attending

Heim Nest Kid Mattress Exclusive Deal

Heim Nest Kid Mattress
educational toys
educational toys from dhgate stores

Archives

Categories

The Elusive Full Ride Scholarship (click to purchase)

The Elusive Full Ride Scholarship: An Insider’s Guide

How to Get Kids Reading

  • Multicultural Books for Children: 60+ Book Lists
  • Getting Kids to Love Reading
  • Summer Reading Lists for Kids By Grade
  • Summer Reading Lists for Middle School Kids

Purchase Read Your World Merch

LGBTQIA+ Books Save Lives Merch.

Buy it here!

HOW TO COACH GIRLS book trailer by Mia Wenjen & Alison Foley

https://youtu.be/j74M0bBxrGg

HOW TO COACH GIRLS (click to purchase)

How To Coach Girls by Mia Wenjen and Alison Foley

ebook Version has 3 bonus chapters (click to purchase)

How To Coach Girls ebook

My Websites

  • How To Coach Girls
  • I Love Newton
  • Mia Wenjen (My New Author Website)

The Traveling Taco Book Trailer

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zf4tp9lffG0

We Sing From the Heart book trailer

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UJNcJd8dEPU

Recent Posts

  • Art in Bloom at MFA & Art Projects for Kids November 7, 2025
  • Salmon Run by Annie Chen at ALA November 5, 2025
  • Dorktales Podcast about Fortune Cookies for Everyone! November 3, 2025
  • Native American Children’s Authors Virtual Panel October 31, 2025
  • BARBED WIRE BETWEEN US gets Kirkus Starred Review! October 29, 2025
© 2025 Pragmatic Mom | Powered by Superbs Personal Blog theme
This website uses cookies to improve your experience. We'll assume you're ok with this, but you can opt-out if you wish.Accept Read More
Privacy & Cookies Policy

Privacy Overview

This website uses cookies to improve your experience while you navigate through the website. Out of these cookies, the cookies that are categorized as necessary are stored on your browser as they are as essential for the working of basic functionalities of the website. We also use third-party cookies that help us analyze and understand how you use this website. These cookies will be stored in your browser only with your consent. You also have the option to opt-out of these cookies. But opting out of some of these cookies may have an effect on your browsing experience.
Necessary
Always Enabled
Necessary cookies are absolutely essential for the website to function properly. This category only includes cookies that ensures basic functionalities and security features of the website. These cookies do not store any personal information.
SAVE & ACCEPT