Kailani’s Gift

Releasing April 2024

A picture book celebration of family, Filipino heritage, and dance that showcases the value of patience, perseverance, and blessing others with your gifts and talents.

As Kailani watches her siblings practice a traditional Filipino dance for their grandparents’ anniversary party, she longs to join them. But keeping up with the rhythm and hopping in time with the beats of the tinikling is much harder than Kailani imagined!

With Daddy’s help, Kailani practices the motions of the dance step by step. But will she be able to learn the tinikling in time to surprise her Lolo and Lola?

With a master of fine arts in children’s literature and a passion for multiculturalism, Dorina Lazo Gilmore-Young is a writer, speaker, former news reporter, and foodie. Her children’s book Cora Cooks Pancit received the Picture Book of the Year Award from the Asian Pacific American Librarians Association. Dorina is a self-proclaimed “glory chaser” who meets God as she runs trails through mountains or near the ocean. Dorina and her husband, Shawn, are raising three daughters in central California.

Lynnor Bontigao hails from one of the more than 7,600 islands of the Philippines. She loves to illustrate stories that share her own experiences as well as stories where family relationships, culture, and food are intertwined. She lives in New Jersey with her husband, two kids, and tiny dog.

Chasing God’s Glory

A unique and delightful children’s book about how God’s glory can be found all around us every day, from the award-winning author of Cora Cooks Pancit.

“Mama, what exactly is glory?”

When Zayla asks her mom to describe God’s glory, Mama knows it’s time for an adventure! Together, Mama and Zayla discover how sunrises and dancing, daffodils and green peppers, kind words and loving hugs—and more!—are all reminders of God’s glory.

Award-winning author Dorina Lazo Gilmore-Young’s rich multicultural story and Alyssa De Asis’s vibrant artwork make Chasing God’s Glory a unique invitation to notice and celebrate the radiance of God’s light and love as you and your family become “glory chasers.”

Get a sneak peek of the first few pages here.

Cora Cooks Pancit

Cora loves being in the kitchen, but she always gets stuck doing the kid jobs like licking the spoon. One day, however, when her older sisters and brother head out, Cora finally gets the chance to be Mama’s assistant chef. And of all the delicious Filipino dishes that dance through Cora’s head, she and Mama decide to make pancit, her favorite noodle dish.

With Mama’s help, Cora does the grown-up jobs like shredding the chicken and soaking the noodles (perhaps Mama won’t notice if she takes a nibble of chicken or sloshes a little water on the floor). Cora even gets to stir the noodles in the pot—carefully– while Mama supervises. When dinner is finally served, her siblings find out that Cora did all their grown-up tasks, and Cora waits anxiously to see what everyone thinks of her cooking.

Dorina’s text delightfully captures the warmth between mother and daughter as they share a piece of their Filipino heritage. With bright and charming illustrations by Kristi Valiant, Cora’s family comes alive as Cora herself becomes the family’s newest little chef.

Book Dorina for an Author Talk or Class Visit

Dorina has been speaking in the schools for more than a decade now. She loves teaching kids about cultures of the world and reading her book aloud. She also has done cooking workshops with individual classes and groups, teaching them how to make pancit. She also taught Children’s Literature as a course at California State University, Fresno, inspiring teachers to use Critical Literacy in the classroom. Dorina has developed online readings and workshops for schools and bookstores.

If you would like to hire Dorina to come speak to your class, homeschool group or private party, inquire here.