Sumo Joe is the debut picture book by Mia Wenjen and illustrator Nat Iwata.
My debut picture book, Sumo Joe, turns 6 today. I had entered the Lee and Low New Voices competition, and … I didn’t win! I did get an offer for editorial support from the Lee and Low team and seven months later, after at least four rounds of revisions that included a new backmatter section,…
I was thrilled to be able to sign books three times at NCTE and NCSS. I signed We Sing from the Heart: How the Slants® Took Their Fight for Free Speech to the Supreme Court at both NCTE and NCSS. It was a dream come true for teachers at NCSS to tell me that they…
It was such fun to hang out with authors Sandra Elaine Scott, Mia Wenjen, Kelly Carey, Nancy Tupper Ling, and musical performer Elijah T. Grasshopper. Elija T. Grasshopper performed songs with participation from Sandra Elaine Scott and Kelly Carey. Sandra Elaine Scott also read THE BLACK UNICORN, and I read about the gymnasts featured in…
My author visit coincided with the total solar eclipse in the New England area. I myself had viewed the partial solar eclipse in Newton before heading out to Stoughton. Despite competing against the eclipse, the cafeteria at Hansen Elementary School was packed. Even more amazing were the banners that the kids made for me. At…
The Boston Authors Club hosted its first event after the Covid shut down on April 25 at the Blue Bunny bookstore. Over 35 people turned out for a stellar panel discussion on Children’s Book Writing. One woman flew in all the way from Toronto!! I was thrilled to be on the panel along with Nancy…
I had such a wonderful time presenting Sumo Joe to 225 kindergarteners and first graders at Sowams and Nayatt Elementary Schools in Barrington, Rhode Island. The Barrington public school librarians created an Asian & Pacific Islander (APICBA) Community Book Award 2022 program to introduce all the students at the elementary schools to the five picture…
Jambo Books is an award-winning children’s books subscription box that delivers 2-3 books each month featuring a child of color as the star. I am so thrilled that Sumo Joe is included in their January 2022 box which is geared for children ages 3-4. Yamile Saied Mendez’s picture book, Where Are You From?, is…