Each year at the start of the Advent season, I find myself thinking about Mary, the mother of Jesus. This teenage girl was to be a womb for God, the mother of His one and only son. That day when the angel Gabriel came to her, I imagine light refracting in all directions in her humble home in Nazareth. I have three daughters hovering in the [...] Keep Reading
Culture
10 picture books by AAPI authors you should add to your bookshelf
May is Asian American Pacific Islander Heritage Month (AAPI) in the United States. In May, we celebrate the histories of Americans hailing from across the Asian continent and from the Pacific islands of Melanesia, Micronesia and Polynesia. The legislation to annually designate May as Asian Pacific American Heritage Month was instigated by two [...] Keep Reading
A trip to the garbage dump: when God enlarged my heart for mercy
The back of my brown legs stuck to the squishy seat. The air was heavy, ominous perhaps. I was with a collective of Christian college students from across the United States, studying in Central America. We had no idea what we would encounter on this field trip of sorts. Before we could see anything, a putrid smell wafted through the windows [...] Keep Reading
10 unique, multicultural goodies for your Easter baskets
When I was a little girl, my mama was very intentional to find unique gifts and treats to include in my brother and my Easter baskets. She was a teacher so she always incorporated educational and creative gifts we could use, in addition to the usual chocolate bunnies and jelly beans. When I had kids of my own, I also tried to look for unique [...] Keep Reading
God handcrafts unique gifts for each of us
My favorite Christmas memory as a child happened the year my dad lost his job. That was the year Cabbage Patch dolls were all the rage. In case you are not a child of the ‘80s, they were one-of-a-kind cloth dolls with plastic heads that came with birth certificates and adoption papers. All the girls wanted them for Christmas. They were also [...] Keep Reading
Representation Matters: Stories Shape Who We Become
This month I’m collaborating with fellow children’s book authors and featuring a series called “Why Representation Matters in Children’s Literature.” Each week, I’ll be sharing a guest essay by one of my favorite children’s book authors on this topic culminating with a book giveaway. Today I’m excited to welcome my new friend Tina to the blog. Her [...] Keep Reading
