Staff Picks A Line Can Go Anywhere: The Brilliant, Resilient, Life of Artist Ruth Asawa by Caroline McAlister

These illustrated books can teach young readers about Japanese internment and its impact on those who were detained. 

A Line Can Go Anywhere: The Brilliant, Resilient Life of Artist Ruth Asawa by Caroline McAlister; Illustrated by Jamie Green

A Line Can Go Anywhere is a picture book about American artist Ruth Asawa who is best known for her enchanting sculptures. Ruth Asawa used curved lines to craft unique art pieces inspired by natural elements, like bean stalks, tumbleweeds, and the outline of North Carolina's Blue Ridge Mountain range. Ruth Asawa also incorporated man-made shapes in her pieces, patterning curved lines to resemble wire egg baskets she noticed in Mexico and the barbed wire fencing that was used around the Japanese relocation center where her family and other immigrants were detained during World War II.  

Today, Ruth Asawa's work can be viewed in museums around the world and in public art scupltures and fountains in New York and San Francisco. One of her first pieces, a fountain in San Francisco's Ghirardelli Square, is now an important California landmark

Color Our World Nonfiction Picture Book Recommendations

Forsyth County Public Library's Summer Reading Fun theme is Color Our World. These nonfiction picture books explain the unique dying process used to create the colors indigo and purple and the historical significance of both colors.  

My Indigo World:  A True Story of the Color Blue by Rosa Chang

A young girl in Korea falls in love with the color blue of the ocean and sky. Years later, as an adult living in the United States she receives a handful of indigo seeds that she plants on a small farm in Baltimore and learns to make beautiful dye from its leaves.  

My Indigo World explains the process of making indigo dye and the meaning of the color in different cultures. While the deep blue reminds the author of her home in Korea, she learns that the same unique shade of blue reminds other people of their ancestors who were forced to work in fields to harvest indigo plants in the United States.

Staff Picks Masked Hero: How We Lien-teh Invented the Mask that Ended an Epidemic by Dr. Shan Woo Liu and Kaili Liu Gormley

Masked Hero: How We Lien-teh Invented the Mask that Ended an Epidemic by Dr. Shan Woo Liu and Kaili Liu Gormley; Illustrated by Lisa Wee

In 2020, N95 masks protected people from spreading the COVID-19 virus to others. Did you know that the earliest version of the N95 mask was invented over one hundred years ago in China to help control the spread of a pneumonic plague?

During the recent pandemic, Dr. Shan Woo Liu, an emergency medicine physician, realised that the N95 mask she wore while helping patients in Massachusetts General Hospital was designed like the one invented by her grandfather, Dr. Wu Lien-teh. Dr. Shan Woo Liu wrote this book to share her grandfather’s story. 

Alicia Cavitt
Information Specialist

Local Author Spotlight: Ravi Prakash, Author of Safar: An Immigrant's Journey of Life & Leadership

Safar: An Immigrant's Journey of Life & Leadership by Ravi Prakash

In Safar: An Immigrant’s Journey of Life & Leadership, Ravi Prakash describes his personal journey coming to the United States from India as a college student and rising from hourly retail jobs to leadership positions in global corporations. Through the lens of personal stories, the inspiring memoir encourages readers to lead a meaningful life. 

Safar: An Immigrant's Journey of Life & Leadership is filled with practical wisdom that demonstrates the importance of perseverance, integrity, and gratitude. While readers at any stage in their careers will gain valuable insights from Safar, it seems ideal for people experiencing a transition. “Wherever you are, you have to take the next step. You don’t have to be perfect but don’t give up. Even if you aren’t sure, show up. Growth is the way we become better.” 

Inspiring Illustrated Biographies about India's Independence

These picture books from our children's collection tell inspiring stories of two people who made unique contributions to India's independence.  

She Sang For India: How M.S. Subbulakshim Used Her Voice For Change by Suma Subramaniam; Illustrated by Shreya Gupta

Kunjamma loved to sing at home with her family, but when she was growing up in early 1900s India, girls were not allowed to attend concerts or perform in public. Kunja’s mother encouraged her to sing at school. A man in the audience loved her singing so much that he encouraged her to make a record when she was only ten.  As more people heard her sing, she received invitations to perform at concerts, including charity concerts for Mahatma Gandhi when he was fighting for India’s independence. She Sang for India is an inspiring biography and illuminating history lesson filled with colorful illustrations. 

 

Picture books about the Hawaiian Islands for Asian American and Pacific Islander Heritage Month

During Asian Pacific Islander Month, Forsyth County Public Library highlights Asian and Pacific Islander cultures. These picture books from our Easy collection feature inquisitive young girls living in the Hawaiian Islands. 

Aloha Everything by Kaylin Melia George and Mae Waite

A young girl learns about her island home and heritage in a picture book that depicts vibrant scenes of native Hawaiians alongside the island's breathtaking scenery. This beautifully illustrated book describes Hawaii's colorful plant life and animals of the land and sea.  

Staff Picks: Rental Person Who Does Nothing by Shoji Morimoto

I've always been fascinated by the unique culture of Japan. Here are two of my favorite recent reads from the Land of the Rising Sun.

Rental Person Who Does Nothing by Shoji Morimoto

When Shoji Morimoto’s boss criticized his job performance and accused him of doing nothing, Morimoto wondered if doing nothing could become his life’s work. In 2018 he started accepting requests to show up and do nothing. It’s a unique hobby that’s proved worthwhile as thousands of customers in and around Tokyo have requested Morimoto’s humble presence. 

Morimoto candidly describes the types of requests he receives. He’s been asked to share meals with strangers, wave to departing vacationers, visit people in the hospital, and accompany people on various outings.  

Morimoto rejects the idea that one's worth dereives from their productivity and says, “people have a value even if they do nothing.” 

This slim memoir is an interesting look at modern Japanese culture and the universal desire for human connection. I love the fact that Shoji Morimoto found people who would appreciate his presence in silence and that he was able to author an international bestseller while “doing nothing.” 

Inspiring Illustrated Biographies for Asian American and Pacific Islander Heritage Month

In 1978, May was designated as Asian American Pacific Islander Month to commemorate the first Japanese immigrant to arrive in the United States on May 7, 1843. May was also chosen as way to remember the Chinese immigrants who worked tirelessly to create the first transcontinental railroad in America from May of 1843 through May of 1869.  These illustrated biographies highlight the contributions of two scientists who came to the United States from China.

Mr. Pei's Perfect Shapes: The Story of Architect I.M. Pei by Julie Leung; Illustrated by Yifan Wu

Inspired by nature, Ioeh Ming Pei imagined buildings that would last as long at the rock formations at the Suzhou gardens he visited as a boy in China. Mr. Pei studied architecture to design skyscrapers and beautiful buildings. One of Mr. Pei's first projects was the two-story Gulf Oil corporate office building he built in Atlanta in 1949. He later designed larger and more impressive structures like the Louvre Pyramid in Paris, the John F. Kennedy Presidential Library and Museum in Boston, the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in Cleveland, and the Suzhou Museum in the place that inspired his visionary designs, Suzhou, China.   

Inspiring Picture Books About India

The Forest Man: The True Story of Jadav Payeng by Anne Matheson and Kay Widdowson

Only by growing plants, the Earth will survive.

                                                        Jadav Payeng   

Young Jadav and his family lived on a river island in India filled with many animals and exotic birds until heavy rainfalls caused by monsoons washed away the forests, leaving only sand. The birds and animals had no shade or trees to use for shelter. 

When he was fourteen years old, Jadav began planting trees like mango and banyan trees. He even brought insects and fertilizer to the island to help his forest grow. 

Today, people from all over the world can visit Jadav's beautiful forest and observe the animals that live there. 

Children will love the colorful illustrations of animals in Jadav's garden that include Indian elephants, wild water buffalo, chitals, and bengal tigers. This inspiring picture book shows how Jadav Payeng worked to restore a functioning ecosystem on his beloved island.  

Lunar New Year Celebration at Sharon Forks Library

 

Last month over 1,500 patrons attended Forsyth County’s 3rd annual Lunar New Year Celebration at Sharon Forks Library in partnership with OneForsyth. Lunar New Year is celebrated by many parts of Asia to welcome the arrival of Spring. The library's celebration highlighted various aspects of Asian culture and included thirteen performances of dancing, singing, instruments, stand-up comedy, youth coding presentations, martial arts, and more. 

Picture Books about Families Sharing Traditions

Some books are mirrors, reflecting characters that readers can relate to, while others are windows, offering a view of someone else's world. These picture books artistically illustrate the ways that immigrant families from different parts of the world observe traditions from their homelands. 

A Different Pond by Bao Phi, illustrated by Thi Bui

A boy and his father go fishing in the early morning hours and then make a meal of the fresh carp they catch.

A Different Pond is a Caldecott Honor Book inspired by author Bao Phi’s childhood in Minneapolis. Phi’s simple story realistically portrays a Vietnamese family making a new home in the United States while thoughtful illustrations by Thi Bui convey some of the complexities of life for immigrants and refugees.

Picture Books for Young Artists

 

Some books are mirrors, reflecting characters that readers can relate to, while others are windows, offering a view of someone else's world. Aspiring young artists may see themselves in these richly illustrated picture books.

Drawn Together by Minh Lê; illustrated by Dan Santat

Caldecott Medalist Dan Santat’s dynamic artwork transports readers to a dragon-filled fantasy world in Drawn Together by Vietnamese-American author Minh Lê. This imaginative book uses vivid imagery to reveal a tender story of a boy and his grandfather who overcome generational and language barriers and bond over their mutual love of art. 

Asian American Heritage Month Staff Picks The Sense of Wonder by Matthew Salesses

 The Sense of Wonder by Matthew Salesses

I've recently become a fan of author Matthew Salesses, whose witty, unpredictable stories offer a unique perspective on issues of identity and race in America.  

Salesses’ latest novel, The Sense of Wonder, focuses on two Asian NBA stars, Won Lee, dubbed “The Wonder,” and his idol, Powerball!. A trouble-making sports reporter and a television producer who creates popular Korean soap operas add extra drama to mix.      

Sense of Wonder skewers celebrity culture, modern relationships, and professional rivalry. You don’t have to be a basketball fan to enjoy this wry satirical tale.   

Staff Picks Before the Coffee Gets Cold by Toshikazu Kawaguchi

Before the Coffee Gets Cold by Toshikazu Kawaguchi

This slim, thought-provoking book set in a Japanese coffee house is a refreshing read for fans of simple, well-crafted stories. At Funiculi Funicla Café in Tokyo, a freshly brewed cup of coffee delivered to a specific chair allows customers to travel back in time. There are several rules to this unique form of time travel.

1. You can’t leave the chair while time traveling.

2. You can only interact with people who have been in the shop before.

3. You need to return to the present before the coffee gets cold.  

4. Nothing you do in the past will impact the present. 

While some characters dismiss the urban legend or balk at the rules, a few are intrigued enough to try to revisit the past. Before the Coffee Gets Cold presents a tantalizing scenario that begs the question, What would you do if you could travel back in time?  

Alicia Cavitt
Information Specialist
Sharon Forks Library
#WeKnowBooks

March 2021 Reading Challenge: The Hen Who Dreamed She Could Fly by Sun-Mi Hwang

 

• The Hen Who Dreamed She Could Fly by Sun-Mi Hwang

The Hen Who Dreamed She Could Fly is an international bestseller by beloved South Korean author, Sun-Mi Hwang. This slim, illustrated book is a refreshing read for fans of thoughtful stories about farm life, clever chicken protagonists, and E.B. White’s classic friendship novel, Charlotte’s Web.  

Plucky self-named Sprout is an egg-laying hen who wants to raise a chick. She’s frustrated that the farmer takes her eggs away each morning but going on a hunger strike to get her point across only makes matters worse and she’s culled from the coup because of low production. When all hope seems lost, an unlikely ally intervenes to change the course of Sprout’s life. 

The Hen Who Dreamed She Could Fly is a beautiful story about friendship, loyalty, parenting, and perseverance that will be appreciated by adult, teen, and preteen readers who enjoy classic and artfully constructed stories and anyone who loves animals. The 2013 English translation of The Hen Who Dreamed She Could Fly is illustrated with thoughtful pen and ink drawings created by Japanese artist and illustrator, Nomoco.

If you’re taking part in FCPL’s 2021 Reading Challenge and don’t typically read literary or allegorical fiction, check out The Hen Who Dreamed She Could Fly to complete the March category, Read a Book in a Different Format or Genre Than You Usually Read.    

Alicia Cavitt
Information Specialist
#WeKnowBooks

Staff Picks: The Wind-Up Bird Chronicle by Haruki Murakami (Adult Fiction)

The Wind-Up Bird Chronicle by Haruki Murakami

After resigning his position at a law firm, Toru Okada fills his days with the mundane duties of managing a home he shares with his wife Kumiko in a Tokyo suburb. Toru's life takes a strange turn when he is tasked with locating the couple's lost cat.  Exploring his quiet neighborhood with watchful eyes Toru discovers a lonely teen, an abandoned house with a dark history and an inexplicably dry well that draws his fascination. Toru's quest for the cat also brings him into contact with a bizarre cast of characters who may hold insights into a mystery much closer to Toru's heart than the loss of a pet.  

It’s difficult to describe the plot of a Murakami novel because the elements seem so juxtaposed. The Wind-Up Bird Chronicle is an evocative story about modern life and loss, the mysteries of the psyche, the beginning and ending of relationships and quite a bit more.  

A mesmerizing backstory involving Japan’s conflicts with Soviet forces in World War II introduces readers to a minor but unforgettable character as nightmarish as his name suggests, Boris the Manskinner. While the novel veers well into magical realism territory and Murakami has a flair for creating vivid impossibilities, Boris' scenes take place in the all-too-real world of 20th Century wartime interrogation techniques.

Reading the novel is an immersive experience that raises many questions while directly answering few of them. It's a novel worthy of multiple reads. One comes away from the story with a sense of having spent time in modern Japan and having gained a bit of insight into the worldview of a uniquely artful writer.

Alicia Cavitt
Information Specialist

Staff Picks - Adult Fiction

I really enjoyed these books and audiobooks by South Asian authors that I discovered on one of FCPL's Recommended Reads Book Lists.

The Hungry Tide by Amitav Ghosh

Amitav Ghosh's The Hungry Tide is lyrically haunting and instantly transports you to the Sundarbans, a vast archipelago in the Bay of Bengal.

The Golden Son by Shilpi Somaya Gowda

Shilpi Somaya Gowda's The Golden Son is powerfully emotional. I didn't want the story to end. This features an excellent audiobook narrator.

Before We Visit the Goddess by Chitra Banerjee Divakaruni

I loved the interconnectedness of the characters in Chitra Banerjee Divakaruni's Before We Visit the Goddess.

The Story Hour by Thrity Umrigar

Thrity Umrigar's character, Lakshmi, in The Story Hour is instantly loveable and you'll cheer for her throughout the book.

A Change of Heart by Sonali Dev

Sonali Dev's A Change of Heart is soulful and riveting.




I hope you enjoy them as much as I did.

Meredith Causey
Information Services Supervisor
Sharon Forks Library

Book Sleuths Book Club

The Devotion of Suspect X by Keigo Higashino

I thoroughly enjoyed this translation of a best-selling Japanese novel. It's a murder mystery; however, the reader is made aware of the culprit by the end of chapter one.  The book's suspense derives from a battle of wits between the physics genius who is trying to help the police solve the mystery and the math genius who is trying to protect the woman he loves.  The suspense continues to mount as the math genius tries to outwit the physics and prevent him from unraveling the whole affair.

Amy Weiler
Cataloging Assistant

FCPL's Book Sleuths book club will discuss this intriguing story on Tuesday, June 24th at 2 at the Post Road Library.  Newcomers are welcome at all our our book clubs.  Please join us if you enjoy the book.