I visited the Grove Farm Sugar Plantation and took the tour. This was the home of George Norton Wilcox. This tour is an interesting case of how the victors write the history books. In this case, our tour group was just a handful of people. Our tour guide could recite an astounding number of numerical…
Category: Social Studies
History, social science and geography for kids.
The 4th Annual Greater Roxbury Book Fair and Lisa Cline-Ransome’s Keynote
I had such a wonderful time at the 4th Annual Greater Roxbury Book Fair. This young man told me that his class just read Barbed Wire Between Us and that it was his favorite book! I love him so much! Also, this was amazing news to me because my book had only been out for…
Teacher’s Guide for BARBED WIRE BETWEEN US
Here is the Teacher’s Guide for Barbed Wire Between Us: Barbed Wire Between Us by Mia Wenjen, illustrated by Violeta Encarnación This is a free and downloadable guide: Barbed Wire Between Us Teacher’s Guide Related Barbed Wire Between Us Videos Interview with illustrator Violeta Encarnacio: Original song music video for Barbed Wire…
Visiting the Hawaii Governor’s Mansion and State House
My dear friend, Lori Abe, arranged for us to take a private tour of the Hawaii Governor’s Mansion. The mansion is about to close for renovations, so it was the perfect timing. Lori is the Deputy Chief of Staff for Governor Josh Greene. As we walked towards the State House, she called to…
THE TRAVELING TACO is a Notable Social Studies Award Winner
Thank you to the National Council for the Social Studies and the Children’s Book Council for selecting The Traveling Taco as a Notable Social Studies Trade Book for Young People! The Traveling Taco: The Amazing and Surprising Journey of Many of Your Favorite Foods by Mia Wenjen, illustrated by Kimberlie Clinthorne-Wong, and published by Red…
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,…
FORTUNE COOKIES FOR EVERYONE! is a Notable Social Studies Award Winner
Thank you to the National Council for the Social Studies and the Children’s Book Council for selecting Fortune Cookies for Everyone! as a Notable Social Studies Trade Book for Young People! Fortune Cookies for Everyone! (Smithsonian): The Surprising Story of the Tasty Treat We Love to Eat by Mia Wenjen, illustrated by Colleen Kong-Savage,…







