How Youth Literature Can Support the Teaching of Asian American Community History
The Center for Children’s Books is hosting a series of author events to mark the Implementation of the TEAACH Act in Illinois. The Teaching Equitable Asian American Community History Act ensures that every public elementary and high school student in Illinois learns about the contributions of Asian Americans to the economic, cultural, social, and political development of the United States.
The first speaker event in the series will be moderated by Professor Sarah Park Dahlen.
Adib Khorram is the author of Darius the Great Is Not Okay, which earned the William C. Morris Debut Award, the Asian/Pacific American Award for Young Adult Literature, and a Boston Globe-Horn Book Honor, as well as a multitude of other honors and accolades. His followup, Darius the Great Deserves Better, received three starred reviews, was an Indie Bestseller, and received a Stonewall Honor.
Minh Lê is the author of the picture books Lift (an Eisner Award nominee) and Drawn Together (winner of the 2019 Asian/Pacific American Award for Literature) illustrated by Caldecott Medalist Dan Santat, Let Me Finish! (named an NPR Best Book of 2016 ) illustrated by Isabel Roxas, and The Perfect Seat illustrated by Gus Gordon.
Rajani LaRocca was born in India, raised in Kentucky, and now lives in the Boston area, where she practices medicine and writes award-winning books for young readers, including the Newbery Honor winning middle grade novel in verse, Red, White, and Whole.
Andrea Wang is an acclaimed author of children’s books. Her book Watercress was awarded the Caldecott Medal, a Newbery Honor, the Asian/Pacific American Award for Literature, a New England Book Award, and a Boston Globe-Horn Book Honor. Her other books, The Many Meanings of Meilan, Magic Ramen, and The Nian Monster, have also received awards and starred reviews.
Questions? Contact Sara Schwebel.
This event is sponsored by the CCB; Humanities Research Institute; Asian American Cultural Center; Department of Education Policy, Organization and Leadership; Department of Asian American Studies