BOOK OF THE MONTH — MAY 2016 (ASIAN PACIFIC AMERICAN HERITAGE MONTH)

Welcome back, readers!

Today we continue our “Book of the Month” series. I hope you have been enjoying our selection of books! Don’t forget that next month will be the kick-off of our 2016 Remarkable Reading Recommendations — several lists of wonderful books for readers of all ages. Subscribe to our blog so you won’t miss these great stories!



Now it’s time for our May book:

One of the reasons I love this series is the opportunity it provides to celebrate and share multicultural literature. With millions of new books being published each year, there are so many stories available for us to relive. Stories about determination in the face of adversity, about courage and compassion, and about never losing your faith. Our May book offers all of these and much, much more.

This month, I chose Sixteen Years in Sixteen Seconds: The Sammy Lee Story, written by Paula Yoo, illustrated by Dom Lee. This story of Olympic courage may be lesser known, but it does not deserve to be. Sammy Lee, a young Korean American growing up in 1930’s California, had big shoes to fill. His father wanted him to realize a typical American dream and become a doctor. While Sammy did want to please his father, he also wanted to realize his dream of becoming an Olympic diver. In a time when public swimming pools were segregated, Lee was only allowed by law to practice one day a week. But his determination paid off in 1948 when Dr. Sammy Lee became the first Asian American to win an Olympic gold medal. This endearing and moving account of Sammy’s life is beautifully illustrated by Dom Lee. His breathtaking images really bring the story to life.

After sharing this book with your family, have a conversation about their dreams. What is something they have always wanted to do? The sky is the limit with this. If your daughter dreams of becoming a pro wrestler or your son wants to be a prima ballerina, nothing should stand in their way. After all, Sammy broke records, so why can’t your children? Help your family create a realistic plan to helping them achieve their dreams. Research local classes and get started. It’s never too late to make your dreams come true!

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