Author: Anastasia Suen

Overground Railroad: The Green Book and the Roots of Black Travel in America (Young Reader’s Edition)
by Candacy Taylor (Author)
@ Amazon | Bookshop | IndieBound

Booktalk: This young reader’s edition chronicles the history of the Green Book, which was published from 1936 to 1966 and was the “Black travel guide to America.” For years, it was dangerous for African Americans to travel in the United States. Because of segregation, Black travelers couldn’t eat, sleep, or even get gas at most white-owned businesses.

The Green Book listed hotels, restaurants, department stores, gas stations, recreational destinations, and other businesses that were safe for Black travelers. It was a resourceful and innovative solution to a horrific problem. It took courage to be listed in the Green Book, and the stories from those who took a stand against racial segregation are recorded and celebrated.

Snippet:

It’s Nonfiction Monday!

Copyright © 2022 Anastasia Suen All Rights Reserved.

Your Legacy: A Bold Reclaiming of Our Enslaved History
by Schele Williams (Author) and Tonay Engel (Illustrator)
@ Amazon | Bookshop | IndieBound

Booktalk: An introduction to African American history for children.

Snippet: Your story begins in Africa. Did you know Africans were the first people on the earth? Africa is a continent that is home to many countries and many thriving nations.

It’s Nonfiction Monday!

Copyright © 2022 Anastasia Suen All Rights Reserved.

Holidays & Celebrations: A Shine-A-Light Book
by Carron Brown (Author) and Ipek Konak (Illustrator)

Booktalk: Hold a light behind the see-through pages to take a glimpse behind the scenes of some of the world’s most wonderful festivals, holidays, and celebrations.

Snippet:

The Year of the Tiger begins on February 1, 2022. The Lunar New Year celebration lasts for 15 days.

It’s Nonfiction Monday!

Copyright © 2022 Anastasia Suen All Rights Reserved.

Man on the Moon
by Anastasia Suen (Author) and Benrei Huang (Illustrator)
@ Amazon | Bookshop | IndieBound | WorldCat

Booktalk: It was 1969 and no one had ever set foot on the moon. Some said it couldn’t be done. But astronauts Mike Collins, Buzz Aldrin, and Neil Armstrong were going to try . . . The true story of the first moon landing, when a man set foot on an unexplored world and showed us that the boundaries of our world were limitless.

Snippet:
Moon,
do you remember
your first visitors?

This week’s mini-comic asks young readers a question, Where would you fly a rocketship? and answers questions about why I wrote this book about the Apollo 11 mission.

It’s Nonfiction Monday!

Copyright © 2022 Anastasia Suen All Rights Reserved.

Wired
by Anastasia Suen (Author) and Paul Carrick (Illustrator)
@ Amazon | Bookshop |Hoopla e-book | Hoopla audiobook | IndieBound |Overdrive | WorldCat

Booktalk: From the power plant to your house, electricity is on the move.

Snippet:

This week’s author visit mini-comic asks young readers a question, Can you see the power? It also answers questions about how and why I wrote this book about electricity.

It’s Nonfiction Monday!

Copyright © 2022 Anastasia Suen All Rights Reserved.

Pigskins to Paintbrushes: The Story of Football-Playing Artist Ernie Barnes
by Don Tate (Author / Illustrator)
@ Amazon | Bookshop | IndieBound

Booktalk: Young Ernie Barnes wasn’t like other boys his age. Bullied for being shy, overweight, and uninterested in sports like boys were “supposed” to be, he instead took refuge in his sketchbook, in vibrant colors, bold brushstrokes, and flowing lines. But growing up in a poor, Black neighborhood during the 1930s, opportunities to learn about art were rare, and art museums were off-limits because of segregation laws. Discouraged and tired of being teased, Ernie joined the school football team. Although reluctant at first, he would soon become a star.

But art remained in Ernie’s heart and followed him through high school, college, and into the NFL. Ernie saw art all around him: in the dynamic energy of the game, the precision of plays, and the nimble movement of his teammates. He poured his passion into his game and his craft, and became famous as both a professional athlete and as an artist whose paintings reflected his love of the sport and celebrated Black bodies as graceful and beautiful.

Snippet:

It’s Nonfiction Monday!

The author, Don Tate, is one of my former students.
Copyright © 2022 Anastasia Suen All Rights Reserved.

Fred & Marjorie: A Doctor, a Dog, and the Discovery of Insulin
by Deborah Kerbel (Author) and Angela Poon (Illustrator)
@ Amazon | Bookshop | IndieBound

Booktalk: In 1921, Frederick Banting was a young doctor with an idea: could the mysterious secretions of the pancreas be used to treat diabetes? We now call this substance insulin, and its life-saving discovery was an impactful milestone in medical science.

Banting and his assistant, Charles Best, worked together in a small lab to test the theory with street dogs. Banting formed a special bond with one of his test dogs and gave her a name: Marjorie. After Marjorie responded well to insulin treatments, the treatments went on to be used for humans with diabetes–and the results were deemed practically miraculous.

Snippet:

It’s Nonfiction Monday!

Copyright © 2022 Anastasia Suen All Rights Reserved.

The Little Book of Joy: 365 Ways to Celebrate Every Day
by Joanne Ruelos Diaz (Author) and AnneliesDraws (Artist)
@ Amazon | Bookshop | IndieBound

Booktalk: Discover a different way to find happiness every day of the year with this pocket-size book that celebrates the little things that bring great joy. Be inspired by famous people on their birthdays; learn how to spot and find flowers throughout each season; create your own gratitude jar; learn how to make pastries; make a gift for someone you love; discover the pleasure of letter writing; and find joy in a rainy day. Packed with art activities, famous birthdays, inventions, international holidays, facts, and trivia about the world around us, each page offers a mindful prompt to encourage gratitude for things we have, every day.

Snippet:

It’s Nonfiction Monday!

Copyright © 2022 Anastasia Suen All Rights Reserved.

How Old Am I?: 1-100 Faces From Around The World
by Julie Pugeat (Author) and JR (Photographer)
@ Amazon | Bookshop | IndieBound

Booktalk: A first-ever children’s visual reference book on age — and a unique celebration of the diversity of humankind around the globe.

For young children, the concept of age is abstract when they don’t have a relatable context… until now! This book showcases the faces and life stories of 100 people from around the world in numerical order, from a one-year-old to a centenarian, giving children a reference point for each age.

Activity: Use as a “look book” in a center for the 100th day of school.

Snippet:

It’s Nonfiction Monday!

Copyright © 2021 Anastasia Suen All Rights Reserved.

Always Be Kind (Learning Sight Words)
by Tora Stephenchel (Author)
@ Amazon | Bookshop | IndieBound

Booktalk: A beginning reader about being kind that helps children learn the sight words always, be, and kind while sharing an important message.

Snippet:

It’s Nonfiction Monday!

Copyright © 2021 Anastasia Suen All Rights Reserved.