Public Service Announcement #3
books I loved this year + creativity metric + PSA: intentional gatherings + peculiar & strange at film fest
Favorite Books I Read in 2023
Behold some favorite titles I read last year (regardless of when published but most are super recent). Publishers send me picture books (lucky!—so they stock a little free library I started at my building). I also check out 40+ each month from my local branch (shout out to LAPL!).
I believe picture books are for all ages, make great gifts, that there’s a children’s book for everyone, and they can become forever beacons. Other kinds of books are included here too in case any speaks to YOU or someone in your life, small or grown.
Here’s to getting, reading, checking out from the library, or gifting some!
All the Beating Hearts by Julie Fogliano and Cátia Chien; Place Hand Here by Katie Yamasaki; Like So written by Ruth Forman, illustrated by Raissa Figueroa; The Rainbow Parade by Emily Nelson; Be a Good Ancestor by Leona Prince and Gabrielle Prince, illustrated by Carla Joseph; A Bed of Stars by Jessica Love.
A Day in the Sun by Diana Ejaita; This is the Planet Where I Live by K.L. Going and Debra Fraser; This is Not My Home by Eugenia Yoh and Vivienne Chang; Shapes, Lines, and Light: My Granfather’s American Journey by Katie Yamasaki; An American Story by Kwame Alexander, art by Dare Coulter; Homeland: My Father Dreams of Palestine by Hannah Moushabeck, illustrated by Reem Madooh.
Dictionary for a Better World by Irene Latham and Charles Waters, illustrated by Merhdokht Amini; Just one Little Light written by Kat Yeh, illustrated by Isabelle Aresenault; Making Happy written by Sheetal Sheth, illustrated by Khoa Le; Something, Someday by Amanda Gorman and Christian Robinson; The Wishing Machine story by Jonathan Hillman, illustrations by Nadia Alam; Sal Boat by Thyra Heder.
When You Can Swim by Jack Wong; Like Lava in My Veins written by Derrick Barnes, illustrated by Shawn Martinbrough and Adriano Lucas; Awake, Asleep by Kyle Lukoff, illustrated by Nadia Alam; You Can! by Alexandra Struck, illustrated by Steve Antony; Say My Name by Joanna Ho, illustrated by Khoa Le; Soon, Your Hands, by Jonathan Stutzman, art by Elizabeth Lilly.
I Can Open it for You by Shinsuke Yoshitake; Ode to a Bad Day words by Chelsea Lin Wallace, illustrated by Hyewon Yum; I Made These Ants Some Underpants written by Derick Wilder, illustrated by K-Fai Steele; Mr. S by Monica Arnaldo; Go-Go Guys by Rowboat Watkins; Oh No, The Aunts are Here by Adam Rex and Lian Cho.
There was a Party for Langston by Jason Reynolds, art by Jerome Pumphrey and Jarrett Pumphrey; Very Good Hats by Emma Straub, illustrated by Blanca Gómez; Rainbow Shopping by Qing Zhuang; Friends Beyond Measure by Lalena Fisher; Nell Plants a Tree by Anne Wynter and Daniel Miyares.
Two Tribes by Emily Bowen Cohen; You are Here: Connecting Flights edited by Ellen Oh; The Fire, the Water, and Maudie McGinn by Sally J. Pla; Troublemaker by John Cho; Golden Girl by Reem Faruqi; My Name is Hamburger by Jacqueline Jules.
Cursed Bunny by Bora Chung, translated by Anton Hur; Ghost Roast by Shawnelle & Shawneé Gibbs and Emily Cannon; It Won't Always Be Like This by Malaka Gharib; The Poet X by Elizabeth Acevedo; Salt Houses by Hala Alyan; The Swimmers by Julie Otsuka.
Star Child: A Biographical Constellation of Octavia Estelle Butler by Ibi Zoboi; The Joy of Saying No by Natalie Lue; Creative Quest by Questlove; Ordinary Hazards by Nikki Grimes; The World Keeps Ending, and the World Goes On by Franny Choi; Anti-Racist Art Activities for Kids by Anti-Racist Teachers Paula Liz and others.
Which of these titles is one you’d like to check out or pass along?
Creativity Metric For You
I created something to use at the end or start of a year—or anytime. I hope you’ll download and find it illuminating about what’s behind, what’s up next, and who you are at heart.
On this topic, I offer a quote from Tiffany Clarke Harrison ‘s newsletter (I’ve got her book, Blue Hour, out from the library) that speaks to me right now—and might to you.
“Things take as long as they take.
A simple, true, and infuriating lesson and writing fact I keep reminding myself (a person for whom patience is a major struggle-bus sometimes)…
This isn’t an excuse to be passive. It’s a reason to take a beat and remember what’s for you isn’t going to miss you. Ever.”
PSA: create or join communities of solidarity and story
These last couple of months, I am finding small, intentional groups buoying spaces for sharing solidarity around values, hopeful action, and creative juice.
From top left, clockwise: writing support group in LA I began that beams in to write via WhatsApp on Wednesday mornings and had our first in-person updates/encouragement session this month; Grief Circle for Gaza, a new friend’s idea, a time to express feelings, grieve, and share Palestinian poetry; “A Space to Share Stories,” my offering to our children’s lit community to provide comforting feedback and critique from supportive peers during this intense, ongoing time of witnessing; an event in Long Beach, part of Kites in Solidarity honoring the children of Gaza who set a beautiful world record for most kites flown at once in 2011.
Is there someone you might want to approach? A group or gathering you might begin in your community, virtually or at a neighborhood park? A potluck, protest, writing or art-making meetup around a cause, even if you don’t know folks well? An individual with whom you might share skills, resources, or support to commune and see what blooms?
Other announcement: Peculiar and Strange at film festival
It was an absolute delight to attend Yucca Valley Film Festival recently where Peculiar and Strange, a short animated film I wrote and produced and Hanna Kim directed, was screened! Getting to watch kids view it, laugh at bits, and tell me their thoughts afterward was gratifying and gratitude-inducing!
PECULIAR AND STRANGE is the playful but profound story of two girls who discover the power of finding a friend as peculiar as you. As they embrace their strange, they let it truly and magically transform them—changing into unexpected forms while becoming more and more themselves.
BEST CHILDREN'S FILM - Animated Expressions Expo 2023; NOMINEE - Cindependent Film Festival 2023; SEMI-FINALIST - Berlin Shorts Award 2023; SEMI-FINALIST - Oakland Film Festival 2023; SEMI-FINALIST - Tokyo Shorts 2023; SEMI-FINALIST - Hong Kong Indie Film Festival 2023; SEMI-FINALIST - Arthouse Festival of Beverly Hills 2023; SEMI-FINALIST - Austin International Art Festival 2023.
Thank you for spending this time with me and reading! I hope it served you as moments well spent. And please do tell a friend, leave a comment, or stay tuned for the next PSA from Danielle Davis.
Bookmarking these wonderful recommendations! (And thank you for including Ghost Roast). The Peculiar and Strange trailer is adorable. Congratulations on all the festival success (so far)!!
Congrats on Peculiar and Strange. Kids and adults need to see this. Also loved the quote from Tiffany!!!