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Dorina Lazo Gilmore-Young

Chasing God's glory down life's unexpected trails

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Chasing God’s Glory coming in Spring 2023 with Waterbrook Multnomah/Penguin Random House

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.”

pre-order now

Kailani’s Gift coming in Spring 2024 with with Waterbrook Multnomah/Penguin Random House

 

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.

Behind the book

Dorina’s children’s book, Cora Cooks Pancit, was birthed into the world in June 2014. The book was originally published by Shen’s Books, which later became an imprint of Lee & Low Books.

That year, Cora Cooks Pancit was chosen as the Picture Book of the Year by the Asian American Librarian’s Association and the Picture Book feature for One Book, One San Diego – among other awards.

The book was inspired by Dorina’s own experiences growing up in the kitchen with her mama, aunties, and grandma Cora. Dorina wanted to help preserve her grandma’s pancit recipe for her cousins and own children. The recipe is included at the back of the book. 

Dorina interviewed Rebecca Torosian, a Filipina farmer and entrepreneur who lives in Central California, to learn more history about the Filipino farmworkers. Rebecca shared her own story of her father cooking for the workers in the fields. Dorina’s father also worked picking strawberries and grapes in the fields of California. She includes some of this California history in the book.

Book Dorina for an Author Talk

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. 

Listen to Dorina share more about Cora Cooks Pancit and her family’s legacy of hospitality.

Dorina chats with Vivian Mabuni about growing up mixed race, her writing, and her favorite Asian foods.

Additional Resources

 

Check out the lesson plan Cora Cooks Pancit developed by Sherry Bridges, Masters Student, with edits by Jamie C. Naidoo, PhD as part of the Association for Library Service to Children’s Día Family Book Club Curriculum. The project was part of the Everyone Reads @ your library grant funded by the Dollar General Literacy Foundation.

Learn how to teach close reading using a recipe.

Check out Cora Cooks Pancit in the Building Classroom Community in Kindergarten unit and collection. 

Browse this Parent Guide to Cora Cooks Pancit developed by Campfire Crates and Filipino Storytime Seattle.

Read and download the teacher’s guide for the book here.

 

Read Across America visitations!

Dorina is offering readings of her children’s book, Cora Cooks Pancit, for Read Across America week starting March 2, 2023 or for other special events at schools. She charges $100 for a 30-minute Zoom visit reading the book and Q&A. She appears for readings in person in classrooms for $250 plus travel or $500 for large assemblies. Inquire to set up a visit!

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👋🏽TAG a FRIEND who might like to join us and follow @wellchurchstudents 
☕️ by @yavabakery ♥️
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Jan 23

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🎊Part of living in a mixed-race family is bringing together new and old traditions from our different cultures. Since Shawn and I married, we have been intentional to share our mix of cultures with our girls. 
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For lunch in Fresno, we supported our favorite local Chinese restaurant - Little Peking. We savored the heat of Spicy Eggplant, the tangy-sweetness of the Orange Chicken, the rich marinade Mongolian Tofu and Veggie Fried Rice for my Meilani. My Giada had her favorite potstickers 🥟 rolled by experienced hands. Zayla can hardly wait for the finisher: fortune cookies!
For family dinner tonight with my parents, I made Adobo chicken with bok choy & edamame. We gather and savor traditional foods to celebrate, to remember, and as a peaceful protest when violence still rages against Asian American brothers and sisters who are image bearers of God too. We eat, we laugh, we pray, we grieve. 
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Jan 21

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☕️ This marks year 12 of gathering with my “chai sisters” for our annual Word Party. This year, my dear amiga Yasmin hosted. Her mama is visiting and cooked up a traditional Salvadoran breakfast for us - complete with pupusa, tamales, fried platanos, chai and mimosas. 
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#hesed2023 #wordoftheyear
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