Thank you to Nichi Bei for reviewing Barbed Wire Between Us by Mia Wenjen, illustrated by Violeta Encarnación, and published by Red Comet Press. BARBED WIRE BETWEEN US Written by Mia Wenjen Illustrated by Violeta Encarnación New York: Red Comet Press, 2026 48 pp., $19.99, hardcover/paperback “Barbed Wire Between Us” is a profound and…
Barbed Wire Between Us, an original song by Daria Marmaluk-Hajioannou of Daria World Music for Kids has won a bronze award in the protest song category of the Global Music Awards: Daria, Barbed Wire Between Us: A Song About Kids in Detention Camps, protest Check out her YouTube channel or listen to her on Spotify. Here’s the Barbed…
Thank you so much to NEA for including Barbed Wire Between Us in the Read Across America calendar. We are featured in April 2027, under the theme, Build Belonging. Build Belonging Belonging grows when people are able to be who they are and find their place among others. Encourage students to read and explore…
It was a dream come true to participate in the 2026 Nikkei Book Festival in Los Angeles’ Little Tokyo for Asian Pacific American Heritage Month. It was my mother’s favorite museum, and I think she is smiling down on me. I joined Stan and Julie Sakai (Chibi Usagi), Maggie Tokuda-Hall and Yas Imamura (Love in…
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…
To fold an origami crane, you will need a square piece of paper. It does not have to be origami paper. Here are the instructions via a diagram from the U.S. Park Service, though personally, I find the diagrams to be confusing: This is an activity for Barbed Wire Between Us. …
In Japan, the crane (tsuru) is a symbol of peace, good fortune, and longevity. It is a bird of happiness and spreads good luck. It is believed that folding 1,000 paper cranes (senbazuru) will help to bring about hope, healing, and peace. These children’s books featuring origami cranes also send a message of hope and…