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I am half Japanese American (3rd generation), half Chinese American (2nd generation), and married to a Korean American (1st generation). I have three kids, a husband, and a Golden Retriever. We are located in Boston, Massachusetts.
I am co-creator of Multicultural Children’s Book Day. It’s January 25, 2019. This is our 6th year.
I am co-organizing KidLitCon 2019 in Providence, Rhode Island. This is our 11th year.
I am judging first round of Cybils Awards Picture Books and Board Books.
I co-authored HOW TO COACH GIRLS with Alison Foley.
My debut picture book, SUMO JOE, is out May 2019 through Lee and Low. Nat Iwata is the illustrator.
I started a company more than thirty years ago out of a dorm room with two friends. Now, Aquent has 27 domestic and 10 international offices supplying creative, digital, and marketing talent globally.
I have an A.B. from Harvard College and an M.B.A. from UCLA’s Anderson Graduate School of Management.
My books:
BEST #OWNVOICES CHILDREN’S BOOKS: My Favorite Diversity Books for Kids Ages 1-12 is a book that I created to highlight books written by authors who share the same marginalized identity as the characters in their books.
You have really put a lot of time in your blog and it is really a good one. Thanks for sending me a link. jrwhiterabbit absolutely moms is where you posted the notice. Thanks again.
Thank you so much!
Hello! I just read with interest your 2013 blog post about the ten best books set in Appalachia. I would like to add to your list DAHLIA IN BLOOM, a middle grade historical fiction novel aimed at readers ages 7-12. Set in 1933 in the Blue Ridge Mountains, this book chronicles the story of Dahlia, a young girl whose family leaves their isolated ancestral home to become tenant farmers during the Great Depression. DAHLIA IN BLOOM received a starred review from Kirkus Reviews and was a featured indie in the June 1 issue of Kirkus Magazine. It is available in both print and digital format from Amazon, as well as from Ingram Distribution and select independent book stores.
Hello,
Are you available to Skype on WRAD, Wed., Feb. 5 at 9:15 CST? I have first grade. My skype is dthomaslms. We are located in Overland Park, KS. My phone is 9136200894. Thank you for your consideration.
Hi, Great site!! I am trying to access Home Team as you recommend. Cannot find it. I live in Jamaica and want to engage remotely with my grandson in Canada.Would appreciate your thoughts.
I’m not sure what Home Team is.
Hello,
I found this site when searching for “japanese immigration children’s books” online. After reading through the list you put together on one of your posts, I too am a tired of a majority of books about the Japanese American experience either being about Pre-WWII or the internment. I am a recent ex-pat returned to America after 7 years in Japan and am writing here to gauge your time and if I can write a longer email to you in request for advice on my grad project I am working on in collaboration with my 8-year old daughter(born in Japan and immigrated with me on my return) that is centered around her immigrant experience and separation from her ma who was stuck in Japan for year plus. Please email me back at your convenience. Cheers.
Hi Jeffrey,
Sure! Happy to help out! Here is a few book suggestions:
Dear Juno (Korean American but about being separated from family in Japan, in this case, grandmother)
Japanese American books: https://www.pragmaticmom.com/2011/05/top-10-japanese-american-childrens-books-ages-2-16/
Being separated is a theme for some of adoption books of Asian babies: https://www.pragmaticmom.com/2015/11/adoption-books-for-kids/
Hope this helps! Feel free to email me if this is not what you need.
Hi Jeffrey,
Also, Japanese bilingual books for kids: https://www.pragmaticmom.com/2011/09/bilingual-japanese-book-recommendation-request-soldier-sons-kids/
in case you want your daughter to maintain her fluent Japanese.
Hi Jeffrey,
One more … Books for Young Activists
No Steps Behind: Beate Sirota Gordon’s Battle for Women’s Rights in Japan by Jeff Gottesfeld, illustrated by Shiella Witanto
About an Expat girl who moved to Japan and ended up helping to write Women’s Rights into the new Japanese Constitution.
Hello,
I was wondering if there was any possible way we could promote our clients’ products and services to your readers via sponsored posts with links back to their sites.
If this is something you do, then please get in touch to discuss how we can work together.
Kind regards,
Michael Randolph
Content Marketing Specialist | Adsy
i have one thing to say that made tui’s books the best———– SNUDOO!!! but will you add peoples dragons if you can?
Hey Mia,
Trying to get in touch with you
Please let me know if you are able to do a book review and/or author interview.
A sick baby dragon feels terrible when his fiery sneeze causes problems for a neighboring village. Can they forgive and find it in their hearts to help the giant dragon?
Follow one brave little girl who enters his cave and confronts the dragon. After learning about his plight, she advocates for him with the townspeople.
It will take problem-solving at its best to prevent further destruction and heal the ailing dragon.
Baby Dragon’s Big Sneeze is a perfect springboard for discussions around:
Found Family
Building Trust
Love and Kindness
Helping Others / Sharing
Reserving Judgement
Accountability / Making Amends
Author Sheryl Bass has master’s degrees in social work and journalism. In an interview, she could discuss:
SEL or social emotional learning and why it is important to teach it to children
Pros and cons of self-publishing versus traditional publishing
The benefits of rhyme for young readers
The consequences of the recent trend of book banning
How children might be behind in pro-social behaviors due to the pandemic and how to bring them up to speed
Please see the press release below for a synopsis of the book and for more information about the author, the illustrator and the publishing company. Please contact me at the phone number or email address below to schedule an interview with Bass (who also happens to be me). A PDF review copy of the book or a mailed hard copy of the book is available upon request.
Best,
Image
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:
Contact: Sheryl Bass, Publicist
Mekky Media Relations
720-771-7430
Sheryl@mekkymedia.com
Baby Dragon’s Big Sneeze
by Sheryl Bass and Illustrated by Remesh Ram
When a young dragon accidentally burns down a village with a fiery sneeze, the townspeople are angry. The dragon fears for his safety—until a brave little girl enters his cave and learns that the poor dragon is sick.
Will the townspeople understand and accept that the dragon did not burn their village on purpose? Will they trust this giant beast to get close enough to treat his cold?
With brilliant, eye-catching illustrations, Baby Dragon’s Big Sneeze teaches children aged 3-7 pro-social values such as sharing, compassion and helping those in need.
(Be-Kind Publishing; October 19, 2022; ISBN Hardcover:979-8-9870406-1-4; ISBN Paperback: 979-8-9870406-0-7)
ABOUT BE-KIND PUBLISHING
The name Be-Kind Publishing was inspired by the saying, “It’s nice to be important but it’s more important to be nice.” As we grow up, a societal emphasis is sometimes placed on wealth and power, but kindness truly can make the world a better place.
Be-Kind Publishing is an independent micro-publisher of children’s books. Founded in 2022, our goal is to produce colorful, thought-provoking stories for children and their families to read and discuss.
At Be-Kind Publishing, we strive to develop products that offer social emotional learning (SEL) or pro-social, aspirational messages. We offer our books in multiple formats: digital e-books, paperbacks, and hardcover. Our goal is to create stories that parents and teachers will be proud to include on a child’s bookshelf, a bookstore and in a school or public library.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Sheryl Bass holds a master’s degree in Social Work and has studied child development. She uses these insights to inform her picture book writing. Bass is a member of The Society of Children’s Book Writers and Illustrators (SCBWI) and Children’s Book Insider (CBI). She has had personal essays published in two books, Lost Souls: Found! Inspiring Stories About Chihuahuas (Kyla Duffy and Lowrey Mumford) and Second-Chance Dogs: True Stories of the Dogs We Rescue and the Dogs Who Rescue Us (ed. Callie Smith Grant). Bass also holds a master’s degree in Journalism and is currently working in public relations. Her goal in creating Be-Kind Publishing is to produce lighthearted rhyming stories with gentle themes of teamwork and friendship. Bass resides just outside of Chicago, IL with her husband and two terriers.
ABOUT REMESH RAM
Remesh Ram has been working in the Animation industry for the past 16 years. He is the Managing Director and Co-Founder of Prayan Animation, which launched in 2012. Not just an Animator, Ram is a full Pre-Production to Post-Production professional, with an extensive knowledge base in all areas of the industry, particularly in new technology and advancements.
Baby Dragon’s Big Sneeze by Sheryl Bass, Illustrated By Remesh Ram
Be-Kind Publishing
Publication Date: Oct. 19, 2022
Paperback ISBN Number: 979-8-9870406-0-7, Price: $12.99
Hardcover ISBN Number: 979-8-9870406-1-4, Price: $18.99
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