Reading is Writing

Newsletter #25

A Summer Reading Practice

As much as I love books—decidedly obsessed with them but not quite addicted to them—I ironically don’t read as regularly as I would like. I especially found that to be true at the end of this past school year, so I chose to make it my goal over the summer to read every day.

I’m happy to say that I have so far accomplished this goal and my TBR has gone down! But rapidly increased after acquiring many more books while visiting more than ten different independent book stores. What can I say? I can’t help it.

Sometimes I buy books when there’s a book launch or story time, so I am there to support the creators and celebrate this big accomplishment with them. Other times I feel like it’s fitting to buy a certain book at a certain location, such as buying BARRIO RISING at a store near Chicano Park in San Diego.

So as much as I make dents in the stacks of books around my home, I recognize the target is forever moving. And that’s because we are blessed with an abundance of books to devour. Since reading is writing, I feel fortunate that reading is my job.

I hope to continue to read every day moving forward, even during the school year. What are your favorite types of books to read?

2024 Penguin Workshop, and imprint of Penguin Random House LLC

Book Report: HOME IN A LUNCHBOX

Written and illustrated by Cherry Mo

What a gorgeous, glorious story Cherry crafts with her colorful artwork and paneled comic-like scenes that depict with such care and sensitivity the experience Jun has after moving from Hong Kong to the United States. From the end pages, we already get a sense of place with the busy nighttime city scene which contrasts a quiet suburb with tract housing. Then we see the magical wonders that are filled in the steam wafting from her mother’s home-cooked meals, which is recreated throughout the book as both a comfort of her family’s love and the source of new friendships that blossom. In this nearly wordless book, I am impressed with how much we feel in every illustration. I love the way Cherry uses cool colors to depict the places where Jun feels lonely and isolated and warm, bright colors and symbols to exemplify her identity and joy. As time passes, we see how the different parts of her school day create hardship, confusion, frustration, curiosity, and happiness. As a teacher who has frequently welcomed newcomers into my classroom, I recognize this common range of emotions that a child experiences throughout the day. Because it is a story told through images, what a comfort this book would be to share with a child moving to a new country. The kid-friendly back matter includes Cantonese vocabulary and information about the foods showcased in the book, which reminds us that home may not be very far away after all.

Themes: immigration, friendship, identity, perseverance

Discussion Ideas:

1. How does Jun find comfort in her new surroundings?

2. What can you do to welcome someone who is new to your community?

Mentor Text For:

• reading the pictures

• making inferences

• determining character feelings

• retelling a story

• analyzing art: symbolism, colors

Buy the book!

Disclosure: I am an affiliate of Bookshop.org and will earn a commission if you click through and make a purchase.

I chose this spread because it so aptly depicts Jun’s experiences as she struggles with a new school environment, the cacophony of listening to a foreign language all day long, and her coping mechanisms to get through the day. If you look carefully, there’s another child who shows empathy toward Jun, and her presence becomes a big part of Jun’s journey.

Weekly Progress Report

This is a section for “stuff I did” that relates to my writing career. I believe in celebrating all wins, big and small alike.

• finished reading and taking the last class session of Reimagining Your Nonfiction Picture Book: A Step-by-Step Revision Guide by Kirsten W. Larson

• revised a new manuscript by adding a story arc and side bar ideas

• drafted a biography focused on scenes

• created a list of tasks to be done for the biography project

• wrote a cover letter for an upcoming manuscript critique with an editor

• re-read about 15 versions of a manuscript to prepare for revision

• re-wrote a pitch for a concept book

• researched books from a particular imprint to look for comp titles

• read Writing in Color: Fourteen Writers on the Lessons We’ve Learned

Sending you courage and grace in all you choose to do,

Susan