樱桃视频

It鈥檚 a typical morning in China and the park is filled with children engaged in all the usual activities. One rides a bicycle while another rests dreamily by the lotus pond. Some play badminton as others play cards. On one side of a tree, a child practices the traditional Chinese exercise tai chi while another child practices sword dancing on the other side. The easy-to-read sentences blossom through graceful illustrations that culminate on the last page, which folds out to reveal a sweeping bird鈥檚-eye view of the entire park and all the children. It鈥檚 a gentle reminder of the universal truth that children are the same wherever they live.

Perfect for: All preschoolers and beginning readers.

Find at your local library.

Bee-Bim Bop — the name means “mix-mix rice” — is a traditional Korean rice dish of many items. This rollicking romp of a book is about cooking with mom, and includes a fun recipe for parents and children to try together.

Perfect for: Kids who like to learn about other cultures.

Find at your local library.

This book makes a good read aloud for children just starting school. In his first week of school, a young boy watches other children master skills to the delight of the teachers. Young listeners will identify with the young boy as he tries to find something special he can do to show his new friends and to find a place in the group.

Perfect for: Thinking about — and starting discussions about — kids’ feelings about school.

Find at your local library.

When Yoko writes her name on the first day of school, she proudly writes in Japanese. But her classmates call her writing scribble. 鈥淪he won鈥檛 graduate from kindergarten!鈥� they tell each other gleefully. At first, Yoko is hurt and doesn鈥檛 want to go back to school. But in the end, her classmates realize they have a lot to learn, and that Yoko can help them. Readers will get a lesson on tolerance. Plus, the book has common words on the corner of each page in English and Japanese.

Perfect for: Kids learning how to make friends and get along with others in school.

Find at your local library.

Eye-popping, colorful illustrations will enthrall children as much as this fun re-mix of the story about the Hindu God Ganesha. Growing up, Ganesha was like any other kid, except that he had an elephant鈥檚 head and rode a magical mouse. Like most children, Ganesha loved sweets, especially laddoo, a traditional Indian dessert. One day he found a 鈥淪uper Jumbo Jawbreaker Laddoo!鈥� Ganesha didn鈥檛 listen when Mr. Mouse warned him not to bite into it. 鈥淚鈥檓 a god,鈥� he said. 鈥淚鈥檓 invincible.鈥� Then, 鈥淪nap!鈥� he broke a tusk. Ganesha was embarrassed. Mr. Mouse tried to reassure him that all children lose their teeth, but Ganesha was angry. He threw his tusk and accidentally hit the poet Vyasa. The wise poet told Ganesha that the tusk was special and asked him to use it to write down a poem he recited. That poem, called the Mahabharata, has 100,000 verses and is the longest epic ever written.

Perfect for: Introducing a new religion to kids.

Find at your local library.

Juna and her best friend, Hector go on adventures and collect the treasures they find in an empty kimchi jar. One day, Hector moves away without getting the chance to say goodbye, leaving Juna sad and lonely. With the support of her older brother, Juna finds comfort in her special jar, which she dives into at night to go on adventures in search of Hector. As Juna swims the depths of the ocean and swoops over the city, she gets the chance to mourn her missing friend and make new friends. Young readers will love the chance to help Juna in her search, as there is a secret tribute to Hector hidden on every page. A moving look at friendship and loss.

Perfect for: Any child who misses a friend.

Find at your local library.

On Basant, Malik wakes up early and excited. It’s the annual kite festival celebrating the coming of spring in Pakistan and neighboring countries. Really, it’s a battle of the kites. Their strings are coated with powdered glass designed to slice through opponents鈥� strings and send their kites tumbling to the ground. Sitting in his wheelchair on the roof of their house, Malik clutches his homemade kite, which he calls Falcon. As his sister raises Falcon toward the sky and jumps, Malik tugs the string and the kite leaps. He wants to win, to be king of Basant, but more than anything he wants to beat out the bully next door. The cruel boy throws stones at his sister and calls her names. At the end of the day, Falcon has captured both of the bully鈥檚 kites and many others in the contest. Malik is enjoying his victories when he hears yelling and sees the bully push a young girl to the ground and grab her kite. He grabs one of the bully鈥檚 kites and tosses it off the roof to the girl, who picks it up and dances down the street. The illustrations were done in mixed media collage giving texture and a three-dimensional feel to the action in the sky.

Perfect for: Sharing positive images of a child succeeding with a disability.

Find at your local library.

Emi, a 7-颅year-颅old girl in Berkeley, California, is forced to relocate with her Japanese颅-American family to a World War II detention center. Laurie Madison, her Caucasian BFF, gives her a bracelet so she鈥檒l always remember their friendship. Emi loses the gift when she cleans her family鈥檚 humiliating new home, a dirty horse stable. Initially sad, she soon realizes shiny objects aren鈥檛 necessary to keep loved ones warm in our hearts. Perfect twin 颅themes of long颅-lasting friendship and social injustice are brought to life with watercolor images.

Perfect for: Kids separated from a good friend or loved one.

Find at your local library.

Dogku is a clever and sweet little story about a stray dog who finds a loving home. Such plots are a staple of children’s literature and entertainment, but what sets this book apart is the method of telling the tale — each page is written in haiku. … For example, Clements writes: “Morning brings children/Hugs, licks, barking, and laughing./Warmer than sunshine.” The oil on canvas illustrations by Tim Bowers are just as warm and cheerful as the text. There is a helpful author’s note at the end of the book, giving a simple and enthusiastic explanation of haiku for the child reader. … A novel way for young children to experiment with language.

Perfect for: Kids who like making friends.

Find at your local library.

Based on a true story, this touching tale pays tribute to a dog named Hachiko, who waited for nearly 10 years at a Tokyo train station for his master, who never returned. Also tells about the bronze statue in Shibuya Station in Japan and the festival that is held every April, honoring this incredible canine.

Perfect for: Kids who like adventure stories.

Find at your local library.

For Chinese New Year, Sam receives the traditional token of a red envelope with money. While out with his family, with the money burning a hole in his pocket, he sees a homeless man with no socks on his feet and no food to eat. Sam realizes that the right, lucky thing to do is to use his money to buy the man some socks.

Perfect for: Kids who like realism stories.

Find at your local library.

Children will love this moving tale in which hope triumphs over evil. In this picture book, a young boy tells the story of his parents’ internment in a camp for Japanese Americans in 1942. Despite the deplorable conditions in the camp, the prisoners use an improvised baseball game to keep their hope alive.

Perfect for: Kids who like historical fiction.

Find at your local library.

This Japanese story of a dog whose devotion inspired a nation is an ideal bridge from picture books to chapter books. Short illustrated chapters, author’s notes, and a glossary honor a faithful Akita that met the commuter train from Shibuya Station every afternoon for 10 years, patiently waiting for a master who never returned. Newman’s touching story can’t be read or heard without tears and a true understanding of the word ‘loyalty’.

Perfect for: Kids who like to learn about cultures.

Find at your local library.

Summer鈥檚 family is plagued with bad luck. When a family emergency sends her parents to Japan, Summer and her little brother, Jaz, are left with their grandparents, who come out of retirement to harvest wheat and help pay the bills. As her family鈥檚 luck goes from bad to worse, Summer must figure out how to make it better. Like Kadohata鈥檚 Kira-Kira, this story explores the inner lives of tweens in a stark and sometimes heartbreakingly real world; but this story鈥檚 slow pace requires a patient appreciation for her nuanced characters and evocative settings.

Perfect for: Patient readers who enjoy reading lyrical, character-driven stories.

Find at your local library.

For 3,500 years, China鈥檚 recorded civilizations have shaped the world with valuable inventions and philosophies. This book delves into family life, society, politics, economics, culture, and famous thinkers in ancient China. In addition to data-packed text, the book includes maps and diagrams with colorful photographs and a bibliography of source materials.

Perfect for: Sinophiles who are interested in the Middle Kingdom.

Find at your local library.

This story is a short, powerful example of historical fiction. Readers see the experiences of a wealthy white family and an immigrant Chinese family at the time of the 1906 San Francisco earthquake. A subplot describes discrimination that is experienced and overcome.

Perfect for: Kids who like historical fiction.

Find at your local library.

In 1930, Mohandas Gandhi marched from his hometown to the Indian Ocean with 70 followers to protest the salt tax the British Empire had imposed on its colony. It was a 24-day walk. Gandhi鈥檚 brave activism created a nonviolent movement that ultimately led to India鈥檚 freedom. Lyrical verse and inspiring pictures capture the determined rhythm of the marchers. The book also delves into Gandhi鈥檚 transformation from shy boy to international leader.

Perfect for: Shy children who want to see justice in the world.

Find at your local library.

Celebrated children’s author Jean Fritz turns her eye on her own childhood. Born in China of American parents, young Jean feels torn between her homesickness for the America of her grandmother’s letters and the devout love she feels for the Chinese people and their culture.

Perfect for: Kids who like historical fiction.

Find at your local library.

As the Vietnam War draws to a close, Ha and her family flee Saigon. Not only is Ha leaving the only home she鈥檚 ever known, she is also leaving her father, who went missing during the war. The family ends up in Alabama, where everything is unfamiliar and the kids at school tease Ha for her language and wardrobe blunders. This feisty character bravely makes her way, even as she aches for the warmth and vibrancy of the life she left behind.

Perfect for: Kids who like to learn about other cultures.

Find at your local library.

Malala Yousafzai was shot in the head by the Taliban, on a bus in Pakistan, when she was 15 years old, because she advocated for girls鈥� education. She survived. This inspirational autobiography describes how Malala鈥檚 home in the beautiful Swat Valley was taken over by extremists, portrays her courageous, tight-knit and supportive family, and depicts how a single committed individual can create positive change in the world. Malala became the youngest recipient of the Nobel Peace Prize. Her charismatic personality infuses the book with compassion, humility, wit, and wisdom. Her bravery is clear but unassuming.

Perfect for: Kids with I-want-to-save-the-world idealism, those interested in Middle Eastern turmoil, those interested in modern history, and anyone who enjoys family adventures.

Find at your local library.

These eloquent remembrances of the Great Cultural Revolution from a 10-year-old girl鈥檚 viewpoint are engrossing. Born in the midst of Mao Tse-tung鈥檚 anti-bourgeoisie purge, the narrator witnesses rampaging Red Guards, fanatic indoctrination at workplaces, slogan-covered walls, and persecuted families terrorized by public humiliation and imprisonment. Chun Yu鈥檚 father is exiled to the countryside for 鈥渞e-education鈥� and her mother is targeted as a 鈥渃ounter-revolutionary.鈥� The text includes both poetry and prose with black-and-white photos and an explanatory epilogue.

Perfect for: Chinese-Americans and readers interested in Chinese culture and history.

Find at your local library.

This is a book to teach your child about the horrors of war and illness, but most importantly about hope. Based on a true story set in World War II Japan, Sadako attempts to carry out the legend that the crafting of 1,000 paper cranes would heal her disease. Young readers learn indelible lessons that will stay with them for life. Sadako and the Thousand Paper Cranes is a stunning portrait of life, death and the power of courage.

Perfect for: Kids who like classic stories.

Find at your local library.

This graphic novel tells the story of the Green Turtle, the pioneering Asian American superhero first introduced in the 1940s. Gene Luen Yang brings him back to life with this origin story that Batman and Superman fans will love. Hank Chu, the 19-year-old son of Chinese immigrant grocers, is exposed to toxic radiation and eventually lives up to his fate of becoming a World War II superhero by defending China, America’s ally, against the Japanese army.

Perfect for: Comic book fans who love a good origin story.

Find at your local library.

Minli lives with her family in the valley of the Fruitless Mountain. In the evenings, her father tells folktales, including one about the Old Man on the Moon, who holds everyone鈥檚 destiny. Inspired by her father鈥檚 tales, Minli decides to go on a journey to find the Old Man on the Moon to ask him to change her family鈥檚 fortune. Along the way, Minli encounters magical creatures and makes new friends who accompany her on her adventure. Themes from Chinese folklore fuel this beautifully illustrated story.

Perfect for: Children who dream of mystical lands and epic journeys.

Find at your local library.

The hook: In this adventure series, we meet five foster brothers who were raised in a temple by warrior monks. When their temple is destroyed by one of their former brothers, the grandmaster orders them to uncover the secrets of their past. Now, each brother must use his skills and training to discover his own destiny and the truth behind their betrayal. Young martial arts fans will love the kung-fu-filled action in this fast-paced series, which nicely balances fighting with slapstick humor. When the boys split up, each book in the series follows a different brother鈥檚 adventures. A great series that is sure to lure kids away from video games.

Perfect for: Tweens who think they’d rather be gaming than read.

Find our favorites at your local library: , , and .

The subcontinent鈥檚 鈥淕olden Age鈥� (320-550 A.D.) featured military expansion, benevolent rulers, public prosperity, and scientific, literary, artistic, and philosophical achievements. Packed with intriguing facts, this comprehensive volume offers portrayals of the dynasty鈥檚 highly respected monarchs (Chandragupta I, Samadragupta, Chandragupta II) and scholars (poet/playwright Kalidasa and mathematician/astronomer Aryabhata). It also exams Buddhist and Hindu influence on society and the role of women. It鈥檚 filled with beautifully illustrated with full-color reproductions of Gupta architecture, sculpture, and cave-temple paintings.

Perfect for: Indophiles and those interested in South Asian history and culture.

Find at your local library.

The samurai 鈥渨arrior class鈥� 鈥� prominent in Japan from the medieval Heian Period to the 1860s 鈥� was made up of skilled soldiers, spies, assassins, and guards. These warriors also received aesthetic training in poetry, flower-arranging, and the traditional tea ceremony. This appealing presentation describes samurai culture and history and the influence of Shinto, Buddhism, Confucianism, and Christianity on their beliefs. It includes sidebars on intriguing subtopics (famous samurai women and World War II kamikaze pilots for example). It鈥檚 all complemented by color reproductions, a timeline, glossary, and a reference list of book and websites.

Perfect for: Japanophiles. Boys are especially interested in these feudal, formidable 鈥渒nights鈥� of East Asia, but girls will like learning that there were samurai women.

Find at your local library.

This is a tragic, honest autobiography of a teenage girl鈥檚 experiences during the Cultural Revolution in China. Brainwashing and the cult-worshipping of Mao Tse-tung caused neighbors and friends to betray each other in the chaotic upheaval. The narrator鈥檚 family is relentlessly persecuted because her grandfather was a landowner, which made all his descendants guilty of the 鈥淔our Olds鈥� 鈥� old ideas, old culture, old customs, old habits. This is an expertly written, suspenseful page-turner with a wise assessment of the era鈥檚 fanaticism. It is memorable, psychologically complex, and thought provoking.

Perfect for: Anyone intrigued by political upheaval, the dangers of propaganda, this time in Chinese history, or an engrossing family story of survival.

Find at your local library.

This is an exciting chronology of the violent combat in Southeast Asia, from French colonial rule and the rise of Communism to the Tet Offensive and the Fall of Saigon. Antiwar riots in the U.S. are addressed, plus intriguing details are included on 鈥渢unnel rats,鈥� Agent Orange, and the participation of women on the battlefield. Shocking statistics are presented: for instance, the U.S. Air Force dropped 6.2 tons of bombs on the small nation, almost three times the total bombs they dropped during World War II. Personal anecdotes from GIs and Viet Cong give a deeper look at the period, as do profiles of leaders (Ho Chi Minh, President Richard Nixon, Gen. William Westmoreland). Plus the book includes photographs, maps, a glossary and a bibliography. It is an accessible, articulate introduction to the 鈥渕ost unpopular war in U.S. history.鈥�

Perfect for: Kids curious about more modern U.S. history, those curious about the Vietnam War, and grandchildren (and great-grandchildren) of veterans.

Find at your local library.

Four narrators provide riveting accounts of the morning of Dec. 7, 1941, when more than 350 Japanese warplanes attacked the U.S. Pacific Fleet. An American seventh grade boy; a seaman on the USS Oklahoma, which was sunk by torpedoes; a Japanese submarine crewman, who was the first prisoner of war; and the commander of the Japanese fleet each offer their unique perspectives on the chaos of the event. Spectacular illustrations along with maps, diagrams, and informational sidebars add to the book鈥檚 appeal.

Perfect for: World War II buffs.

Find at your local library.

Seven-year-old Jeanne Wakatsuki and her family were removed from their California home in 1942 and imprisoned in the Manzanar internment camp, a humiliating 鈥渄esert ghetto.鈥� More than 110,000 other Japanese-Americans suffered the same fate after Pearl Harbor because of national fears they would aid the new enemy. This poignant memoir offers delightful child鈥檚 eye details and insights on life in the camp. Even with barbed wire and armed guards, there were still sock hops, sports teams, and cheerleaders. However, the story recounts the family鈥檚 difficulty in rebuilding their lives after the war, the narrator鈥檚 awkward experiences attending an all-white school, and the disintegration of Japanese traditions in the family.

Perfect for: World War II aficionados, those interested in the Japanese-American experience during the war, those seeking a different perspective and angle on the time period.

Find at your local library.

In this young adult novel, Jinsen is bullied because of his dragon T-shirts, shaved head, and his religious聽lifestyle. Justin becomes his聽partner in a class project and starts to see Jinsen differently. Standing up for Jinsen complicates Justin’s聽life and his position in the social hierarchy of high school.

Perfect for: Kids who like realistic stories with a message.

Find at your local library.

This biography of Mohandas K. Gandhi examines his dedication to liberating India鈥檚 350 million people from British colonial rule. It looks at his nonviolent (satyagraha) philosophy, his non-materialism, his concern for the poor, his education in England, his formative experiences in South Africa, and his numerous arrests, demonstrations, and hunger strikes. How he influenced later activists such as Nelson Mandela and Martin Luther King Jr. is also discussed. The book does not ignore criticisms the revered Mahatma received; for example, Gandhi鈥檚 wife remained illiterate all her life, and his sons claimed they were under-educated.

Perfect for: Anyone interested in social activist leadership, nonviolence as a philosophy and activism tool, and those interested in India鈥檚 history.

Find at your local library.