Tag Archives: Songju Ma Daemicke

Cover Reveal: GRACE LEE BOGGS: GARDENS OF HOPE Plus Giveaway

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When we look around the world, we see lots of sadness and pain. But when we look around the world of picture books, we see…
HOPE!!!

Yesterday we celebrated the book birthday for A FLICKER OF HOPE, written by Cynthia Harmony. And today, we are revealing the beautiful cover of GRACE LEE BOGGS: GARDENS OF HOPE, written by Songju Ma Daemicke and illustrated by Lin.

What do I see in this vibrant cover? Child agency! Diversity! Intergenerational interaction! Healthy plants growing! The hope and promise of the future!

Here’s a little bit about the book from the Amazon sales page:
Grace Lee Boggs brought gardens to inner cities and planted seeds of hope and activism in the minds of young people.

When Grace Lee Boggs was eight years old, her teacher gave her a copy of The Secret Garden. As a Chinese-American who had experienced prejudice, Grace wanted to grow a garden of her own that would help people heal from the injustice in society. Grace dedicated her life to fighting for civil, environmental, labor, and women’s rights. In 1992, she and her husband founded Detroit Summer, a multicultural and intergenerational youth program that inspired kids to become leaders in their community. Together with these “solutionaries,” Grace finally created the garden she dreamed about, one that continues to inspire people to make the world a better place for everyone.

I’m so happy that Songju stopped by to chat with us and share why she wrote this story::

SONGJU: In the summer of 2020, I first read the name Grace Lee Boggs from the author’s notes of a children’s book, Leave It to Abigail!: The Revolutionary Life of Abigail Adams,  by Barb Rosenstock. Grace Lee Boggs was the only Chinese American mentioned. I looked her up on the internet and was immediately drawn to her. Grace, a thinker, philosopher, and a tireless social activist, went beyond class and racial boundaries, devoting her life to fight for equality. She planted many seeds for change throughout her life. These seeds continue to sprout today, growing the world into a more just place. It’s my honor to tell her story and hopefully inspire young people to continue Grace’s legacy and her fight for a better world.

Here’s a little bit about Songju:
SONGJU MA DAEMICKE, a former software engineer with Motorola, is an award-winning Chinese-American children’s book author. Her book, Tu Youyou’s Discovery – Finding a Cure for Malaria, is a finalist for the 2023 SB&F Prize for Excellence in Science Books; Cao Chong Weighs an Elephant was a Best STEM book, among many other honors. Her first board book, Our World: China received a starred review from the School Library Journal. When she is not writing, she loves attending to her garden, hiking, and shooting her next special photograph. 
You can find out more about Songju here: www.songjumadaemicke.com
Twitter: @SongjuDaemicke
Instagram: @SongjuDaemicke
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/songju.daemicke

And here’s a little bit about the Illustrator:
Lin graduated from Hengyang Normal University with a degree in Environmental Art Design. She is an illustrator and painter working on children’s books, magazines, and other publications. She lives and works in Pingxiang City, China.

Dear friends, we can help important books like this one become a success. How will you help GRACE LEE BOGGS: GARDENS OF HOPE become a success?

You can add Grace Lee Boggs: Gardens of Hope to your Goodreads Want-To-Read list:  https://bit.ly/49wEnz4
You can Pre-order:
Bookshop:   https://bit.ly/3SNq5mm
Amazon:      https://bit.ly/3TcR7EZ
Barnes & Noble:  https://bit.ly/49s4S8M

Please make sure you leave a comment and share the post widely to be entered in the Giveaway:  One winner will receive a copy of Grace Lee Boggs: Gardens of Hope. U.S. address required for book mailing.

I hope you all have a wonderful rest of the week…we are counting down the days till #50PreciousWords!!! Are you ready???

Cover Reveal: OUR WORLD: CHINA

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I’ve always loved board books. As a kindergarten teacher and then later as a parent, I learned to appreciate those sturdy laminated cardboard pages that could hold up to the rough handling of our youngest lovers of stories. And recently, publishers are waking up to the realization that introducing wee ones to people of various cultures and abilities early on is one way to help children embrace differences and practice kindness, That’s why when Songju Ma Daemicke, one of the members my Picture Book Gold group, told me she had a board book launching from Barefoot Books later this year, I was excited to host her COVER REVEAL for OUR WORLD CHINA.
GET READY! GET SET! GO!

Written by Songju Ma Daemicke – Illustrated by Jam Dong – Launching from Barefoot Books 10/3/23

Illustrator Jam Dong has done an amazing job with the cover! The colors are bold and vibrant and the art is so kid-friendly! With a few simple objects and designs, we are invited into a home in China! How fabulous!

Here’s a little bit about the book from the Amazon sales page:
Nǐ hǎo! Let’s spend a day in China! Fly kites in the square, buy sweet lychee at the market and go paddle boating at the lake. Author Songju Ma Daemicke and illustrator Jam Dong draw on their personal experiences growing up in China to create this appealing board book as part of the Our World Series for very young readers.

And here’s a little bit about the author:
SONGJU MA DAEMICKE, a former software engineer with Motorola, grew up in Jilin, China. Her latest book, Tu Youyou’s Discovery – Finding a Cure for Malaria, is a 2023 SB&F Prize for Excellence in Science Books finalist. Cao Chong Weighs an Elephant was a Best STEM book, the winner of 2018 CALA Best Juvenile Literature, an Outstanding Science Trade book, a Notable-Social-Studies book, and a Mathical Honor Book. Songju loves taking her family to visit her siblings in China, practicing Tai Chi, flying kites, and eating all kinds of delicious dumplings.
Website: www.songjumadaemicke.com
Twitter: @SongjuDaemicke
Instagram: @SongjuDaemicke
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/songju.daemicke

And here’s a little bit about the illustrator:
Jam Dong is an illustrator and picture book author, who has been recognized by many influential awards around the world. Her works have been selected by the Bologna Children’s Book Fair in 2020, 2021 and 2022. She was born and raised in Shanghai, China, and is currently based in Boston, USA.

The book won’t be in bookstores till October 3rd…but it’s definitely available for PRE-ORDER on:
Amazon
Bookshop.org
Or by calling your local independent bookstore and ordering it.
You can also ask your local library to purchase copies for their collection.
Please add Our World: China to your Goodreads Want-To-Read list:  https://bit.ly/3zGH2Wn
Signed copies available at Barnes & Noble through mail order:  http://bit.ly/3ZUz06S

I hope you all have a wonderful week! Please stop by on Perfect Picture Book Friday to get a peek at our featured book, ENOUGH IS by Jessica Whipple. And on Saturday when Lori Degman and Jocelyn Watkinson Will Write for Cookies.