April is National Poetry Month! These inspiring middle-grade books are written in verse, meaning that, unlike traditional novels, these stories are written in the form of poetry. This month, try something different and pick up one of these excellent reads!

March is Women's History Month! This month (and every month), empower your child and celebrate the contributions of women throughout history with these children's books for young readers of all ages.

Songs have a way of capturing every emotion and even bringing back memories. Here are some K-pop songs inspired by the themes of the Pippa Park series that we think Pippa would listen to!

Black History Month is celebrated every February to honor the history and achievements of generations of African Americans. Uplift and appreciate Black voices by spending this month (and beyond!) with children's books by Black authors. We've picked out some of our favorites to get you started.

Korean American Day is celebrated every year on January 13. It commemorates the arrival of the first Korean immigrants to the United States in 1903 and celebrates the many contributions of Korean Americans. Today, we’d like to recognize Korean American authors (including our very own Erin Yun) by highlighting their new and upcoming middle-grade releases. These reads will surely delight middle-grade readers—not just today, but all year round!
 

Whether you’re staying home or traveling this spring break, banish boredom from your vacation with these 5 fun activities! 

Looking for something new to share with your child during Women’s History Month? Check out these unique female role models who were groundbreakers in art, sports, and politics. 

February 7th is Charles Dickens’ birthday! This year he'd be 210 years old. His classic book Great Expectations is the inspiration behind Pippa Park Raises Her Game by Erin Yun.

I haven’t read many books this winter. Maybe it’s because I’ve been busy writing or spending time with family. Maybe it’s because winter is hibernation season for me. Whatever the reason, as soon as I started reading Kacen Callender’s King and the Dragonflies, all my excuses flew out the window. I finished the book in one sitting.

Are you obsessed with Netflix comedy specials? Do you salivate at the mere thought of Korean barbecue? Are you, or have you ever been, a middle schooler? If you answered yes to any of these questions, do me a favor and grab a copy of Jessica Kim’s Stand Up, Yumi Chung!—a delightfully warm, deliciously funny middle-grade novel that is sure to get you smiling.  

Here is my take on a classic Korean stew from my childhood—kimchi-jjigae!

Enjoy a book club with your friends outside for a socially distant summer activity!

The Summer 2020 Reading Theme is  ”Imagine Your Story”, which celebrates mythology, fairy tales, and folktales and encourages young readers to create their own stories.

In my debut novel, Pippa Park Raises Her Game, I spent a lot of time thinking about the relationship between Pippa Park and her brother-in-law, Jung-Hwa. Since Pippa often squabbles with her older sister, Mina, I wanted her to have a sweet, strong bond with Jung-Hwa. Going into the first draft, I knew Pippa adored Jung-Hwa as a father figure, but the more I wrote about him, the more I adored him as well.

Last night, Linda Sue Park was one of many wonderful speakers at the KidLit Rally 4 Black Lives, which was created by Kwame Alexander, Jacqueline Woodson, and Jason Reynolds. Having recently read Park’s latest book, Prairie Lotus (delivered to my apartment by the lovely Books Are Magic) it was so powerful to see her speak about the way Asians, especially East-Asians, can use the “power of white adjacency” to speak up to white people about racism against black people. Read on for my review of Prairie Lotus, and then, if you missed the rally, you can watch the entire event here: https://www.facebook.com/watch/?v=248795633092755.