Friday Focus: Grace Lin

Grace Lin is an author as well as illustrator who has written and/ or illustrated nearly thirty books for children. Her debut picture book, The Ugly Vegetables, was a fan favorite when I worked in a K - 8 library. The first book in her Fairy Tale series, Where the Mountain Meets the Moon, won a Newbery Honor and her book, The Year of the Dog, book one of the Pacy series, won an Honorable Mention from the Asian/Pacific American Award for Children's Literature. Most recently, she has published a Mulan origin story for Disney, called Mulan: before the sword. She also hosts three podcasts and a YouTube channel!

First stop at Grace Lin's website. It's really cute and packed with information, photos and links. I pulled some of them out for you to explore below.

Grace Lin's YouTube channel has five videos to choose from! You can listen to her read from a couple of her books and/ or learn to draw! Click on the link and start having fun.

Grace Lin has three children's literature related podcasts, but one that is driven by questions kids have for authors! Click on this link to view what authors have answered questions so far and take a listen. Maybe you have a question to submit.

Mini - Book Talks

Image: Charlesbridge Publishers

Remember, you are never too old for picture books! Grace Lin made her picture book debut in 1999 with The Ugly Vegetables. A young girl compares her mother's garden to her neighbors and is dismayed because their garden is filled with ugly vines and plants with few flowers, while her neighbor's garden is filled with colorful sweet-smelling flowers. She changes her opinion once the garden is harvested and her mom makes a delicious-smelling soup.

The Fairy Tale Series

Image: LBYR

Where the Mountain Meets the Moon is the story of Minli, who lives in a hut with her parents on Fruitless Mountain. They are very poor, but rich in stories. Each night, her father tells her stories about Jade Dragon and Old Man Moon, who is very wise. Minli decides to set off in search of Old Man Moon to help her family and village. This story-within-a-story weaves traditional Chinese folk tales with Minli's adventure. Each chapter opens with a stunning full-color illustration. LIn's art style is intricate and elegant. Where the Mountain Meets the Moon was published in 2009 and was named a 2010 Newbery Honor.

Image: LBYR

In Starry River of the Sky, a companion novel to Where the Mountain Meets the Moon, we meet a young runaway named Rendi. He lives in the Village of Clear Sky and is the only person in his village who has noticed that the moon is missing. When a mysterious woman arrives at the remote village, she entrances its inhabitants with stories and Rendi is inspired to embark on his own quest to find the moon. As in Where the Mountain Meets the Moon, traditional folktales are interspersed throughout and inform the narrative accompanied by Lin's gorgeous full-color illustrations.

Image: LBYR

When the Sea Turned to Silver was published in 2014 and was named a National Book Award Finalist. The emperor's soldiers have kidnapped Pinmel's grandmother, the village storyteller. He wants the Luminous Stone that Lights the Night and believes the answer lies in the storyteller. Pinmel goes in search of the stone with Yishan, a boy with his own secrets.

The Pacy Series

Image: LBYR

The Year of the Dog, Lin's debut novel, published in 2006. This story is autobiographical fiction. Grace LIn was a reader who never saw herself, as a Taiwan- American girl in the literature she read. This #ownvoices novel came out before there were hashtags, let alone a hashtag called ownvoices.

The Year of the Dog is supposed to be a lucky one. Grace/ Pacy sets about trying to make a best friend and find her place in her mostly white community.

Image: LBYR

The Year of the Rat brings unwanted change to Grace's life. Her best friend moves away and Grace/ Pacy, finds it difficult to make new ones. When Dun-Wei moves in, with little English, Grace is unwelcoming.

Image: LBYR

Grace/ Pacy's quest to find herself continues in Dumpling Days. She is headed to Taiwan to spend the summer and celebrate her grandmother's 60th birthday. Even though she looks like everyone else in Taiwan, she doesn't speak the language and feels left out. Her excitement over attending a painting class is diminished because painting with a bamboo brush on rice paper is really hard! She loves the food though and gradually finds her way and learns a lot about her culture.

Recently Released

Image: Disney

Mulan: Before the Sword released in February. I have not yet read it. It was originally to be released ahead of the release of the new live-action movie this past March. Now, Mulan, the movie's release date has been pushed to July. I am waiting for my copy of the book to be delivered. Here's what the publisher says: When her sister is bitten by a poisonous spider, Mulan travels with a healer to find a flower from which the antidote can be made to save her sister's life. A review says that traditional Chinese folk tales are interspersed in Mulan's tale.