Human salvation lies in the hands of the creatively maladjusted
~ Martin Luther King, Jr., 1963
You can say anything you want, yessir, but it's the words that sing, they soar and descend...I bow to them...I love them, I cling to them, I run them down, I bite into them, I melt them down...I love words so much...The unexpected ones...The ones I wait for greedily or stalk until, suddenly they drop...
~Pablo Neruda
I hope some animal never bores a hole in my head and lays its eggs in my brain, because later you might think you're having a good idea but it's just eggs hatching
I had a fantastic evening supporting Read to Me International's "Feed Me a Story" Fundraising Dinner! What a great way to raise funds for this incredible organization, including a successful fundraising auction!
The event brought back memories of my mom reading to me and was a reminder of the joy and importance of families reading aloud to their children. Sharing a story together creates bonds, sparks imagination, and builds essential early literacy skills. Let's all commit to making story time a priority! 🧡
And, I reunited with friends, young and old, from the publishing community here in Hawaii. Special shout-outs to: •Dimpna Figuracion from Bess Press •Board member Jo Anne Vieira (formerly from Island Heritage)
It's inspiring to see dedicated people working to put books into children's hands.
Author Leslie Ann Hayashi and I celebrated National Library Week 2025 with a conversation with EveryLibrary's John Chrastka about our book, "Mazie's Amazing Journey: From Immigrant to US Senator." Our goal in writing and illustrating a biography about Mazie Hirono was to show children that they have the power to impact their world.
Millions of people visit their libraries every week—and for good reason. During National Library Week, April 6–12, 2025, take time to discover (or rediscover) what draws people in.
Visit your library and bring friends or family along. Encourage a friend to get a library card—it’s a simple act that opens up a world of opportunity. Browse the shelves, join a book club, or attend a storytime. Sketch out your next creative project in a makerspace, hear from an inspiring author, or find expert help with research, job hunting, or tracing your family roots. Libraries connect us to ideas, information, and each other—and they’re built for everyone. This National Library Week, libraries need your support more than ever. Book challenges and censorship efforts are still on the rise, and federal funding is under threat. These challenges don’t just impact libraries—they impact all of us.
This year, we’re asking you to show up at your library—and show up for your library.
Contact your members of Congress by phone or email and ask them to protect federal library funding. Sign up to receive advocacy alerts. Become a Supporter of the American Library Association. Stand with your community to defend the freedom to read and celebrate what makes libraries essential.
Puget Sound coloring sheets I created with fisheries biologist Ron Hirschi, for the Trust for Public Land, WA. #SciArt #conservation #kidlitart #pugetsound #education
"Mazie's Amazing Journey: From Immigrant to US Senator" A children's book biography of Senator Mazie Hirono
By Leslie Ann Hayashi, illustrated by Tammy Yee, American Bar Association 2024
Come journey with 8-year-old Mazie Hirono as she leaves her home country of
Japan to make a new life in Hawaii. As an immigrant, she faces the challenges
of learning a new language, making friends and finding her calling as a lawyer-
politician. From immigrant to United States Senator, Mazie finds the strength
and courage to become a champion for justice.
BOOK DETAILS
Publisher: American Bar Association (October 8, 2024)
Title: Mazie’s Amazing Journey: From Immigrant to US Senator
"S is for Sumo: Celebrating Hawaii, the Aloha State" is available in paperback!
Dancing dolphins, surfing sumotori, an 'ukulele-strumming 'uku and more! From a'ama to zori, children learn the alphabet by finding objects hidden on every page. "S is for Sumo" celebrates local culture by introducing both newcomers and longtime residents to island favorites such as laulau, Spam musubi and malasadas. For the people of Hawaii, aloha is more than just a word–it is a way of life.
I had a fantastic time reading to the keiki at the 2024 Hawaii Book and Music Festival at UH Manoa! Mahalo to all the volunteers for making this a successful event.
4725 Bougainville Dr Building 631, Honolulu, HI 96818
Saturday, August 3, from 11am to 1 pm
Stop by and say hello as you finish your summer reading with mermaid and sharks! Makes a great gift for keiki living in Hawaii, newcomers, and visitors.
A video of my Procreate illustration for my upcoming book, "Mazie's Amazing Journey: From Immigrant to US Senator," written by Leslie Ann Hayashi and illustrated by Tammy Yee (ABA Publications).
"MAZIE'S AMAZING JOURNEY" is a children's picture book biography about US Senator Mazie Hirono (Hawaii): Come journey with 8-year-old Mazie as she leaves her home country of Japan to make a new life in Hawaii. As an immigrant, she faces the challenges of learning a new language, making friends and finding her calling as a lawyer-politician. From immigrant to United States Senator, Mazie finds the strength and courage to become a champion for justice.
A scientist, a pediatrician, and a humanitarian who sold her own home to build the 1st pediatric hospital in the Philippines, and a heroine who will inspire kids to make a difference.
Finally, the trailer. #fedelmundo#filipinohistory#biography#childrensbooks#aapi
Join me at the Pacific Tsunami Museum in Hilo on April 6 for a free event to commemorate Tsunami Awareness Month!
There will be a reading of “The Tsunami Quilt-Grandfather's Story,” written by Anthony Fredericks and illustrated by Tammy Yee, followed by a book signing.
Lori and I had a great time talking story with Sandwich Islands' gracious host, Kamaka Brown! Here's the video, where we talked about growing up in Hawaii, our inspiration as authors and illustrators, and our new book together, "Brave Mrs. Sato."
Join Lori Matsukawa and me on "Aloha Friday with the Sandwich Islands Social Network" Facebook video podcast with Kamaka Brown for some Hawaii Kine talk story and to share our book, "Brave Mrs. Sato."
WHEN: Friday, March 22nd, 9:00 AM (HST), 12:00 PM (PDT) Live
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