Posts
Author and fisheries biologist Ron Hirschi invites you aboard the research vessel S.S. Scoutabout with Kai and Lehua as they learn about sharks and ocean conservation. Enjoy!
Sunday, July 12, 2026
Sunday, May 31, 2026
Honu Galore in Patrick Ching's Painting in Paradise
Talking story with artist, author, and conservationist Patrick Ching on his show, Painting in Paradise!
Follow as he heads to Kona for the 44th Annual International Sea Turtle Society Symposium, meets with George Balazs, and, wait for it...teaches us how to draw baby honu!
#honu #hawaiianwildlife #conservation
Sunday, May 10, 2026
Treading Water in the Crud: Proud to be in Mac Barnett's 94.7 Percent
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| Author reading to keiki in Hana, Maui |
Reading Mac Barnett’s declaration that “94.7 percent of kid’s books are crud”—coming fresh after reading to toddlers and dancing with bubbles (the sudsy kind, not the chimp)—deeply hurt. Sure, it was taken out of context and made in argument for better books; I want better books, too. And yes, in his lofty position as the Library of Congress National Ambassador for Young People’s Literature, I am certain I am in that 94.7—let’s just round it up to 95—percent that he refers to.
But that isn’t my point, because it isn’t about me. It’s about all those kids I write and illustrate for. Kids I urge to have confidence in their own voices, in the stories that only they can tell. Kids that deserve to be heard.
For barefoot, pidgin-speaking me, books were a distraction from the turmoil at home. They were life rafts. And when you’re treading water, you don’t care if your raft is polished koa or rickety bamboo—you just care that it keeps your head above water.
From Mac Barnett’s safe, dry, perch, it’s easy to look down and see an ocean of mediocrity. But from where I sit on the floor with kids, I see something else. I see a keiki’s face light up because a character sounds like them, lives like them, or survives like them.
Barnett’s self-indulgent, “pat yourself on the back” line is unfortunate because it distracts from a worthwhile call for better literature. However, I will gladly take my place in that 95 percent. It’s not about the ambassador’s standards; it’s about the 100 percent of kids who deserve to feel that their stories, their language, and their voices have value.
If you truly respect children, then respect their ability to find their own stories—not just those curated by gatekeepers. Trust the children to find their own rafts.
For a more eloquent perspective, visit author/educator Susan Koehler’s blogpost, "Kids, Crud Books, and the Blunder of Mac Barnett."
Monday, March 30, 2026
READy, Set, Go! Read To Me International 2026 Campaign
Growing up as a shy, pidgin-speaking kid in a blue-collar family—at a time when pidgin was often discouraged— I was fortunate to have a mother who stressed the importance of books. Despite our meager circumstances, reading aloud was our shared joy; it expanded my world and gave me confidence in my own voice. Today, nothing delights me more than kicking off my slippahs and reading to kids in Wai'anae, Kalihi and Makaha; kids that remind me of myself.
Join me in raising funds for Read To Me International Foundation, a nonprofit that supports literacy and the joy of reading aloud to our keiki. I've worked with them since 2005, when Lynne Waihe'e invited me to speak on a panel of local authors and creators of children's literature in Hawaii. They host monthly virtual reading nights and events across the state.
Read To Me shares my passion for showing families how reading aloud can transform children’s lives. So please, give, if you can, and help me support RTM International. READy, Set, Go! Campaign
#readacrossamerica #readaloud Read To Me International #literacy
Tuesday, March 3, 2026
FREE LITERACY FAIR!
I'll be signing books with other local authors at the OHANA 100 LITERACY FAIR!
The Literacy Fair with ʻOhana 100, the Daniel Kahikina Akaka Family Foundation is coming to Ala Moana Center on March 7 from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.! 
This FREE, family-friendly event brings together 30+ organizations focused on literacy, education, health, financial wellness, and the environment — connecting families with meaningful community resources in a fun, engaging setting.
Enjoy interactive, hands-on activities, meet local authors including Sarah DeLuca, Annette Kam, Elizabeth Mattson, Thao Le, Tammy Toma, and Tammy Yee, and receive complimentary books while supplies last.
Mall Level 2, Mauka Wing
Friday, February 27, 2026
Saturday, March 7, 2026: Book Signing
Join me at the Ohana 100 Daniel Kahikina Akaka Family Foundation Literacy Fair 2026!
Hands-on activities
Community resources
Local author meet and greet and book signing
WHEN: SATURDAY, MARCH 7, 10-2
WHERE: Ala Moana Center, Mall Level 2, Mauka Wing
FREE!
Tuesday, December 30, 2025
Pele and Hi’iaka
I’ve been following the ongoing eruption of Kilauea Volcano on the Big Island and was inspired to create a portrait of Pele:
Hi’iaka, patron goddess of hula, chants, sorcery and medicine, cradled in the arms of Pele on her journey from Tahiti to Hawai’i. https://fineartamerica.com/featured/pele-and-hiiaka-tammy-yee.html #pele #kilauea #halemaumau #hawaii #volcanoeruption
Sunday, November 9, 2025
It's Storytime Sunday!
What happens when a mermaid and her sidekick anglerfish build a castle beneath the sea?
Here's HTY's (Hawaii Theatre for Youth) endearing reading of "The Castle That Kai Built," written and illustrated by Tammy Yee, published by Island Heritage.
Thursday, October 30, 2025
A Night of Stories and Support!
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.
Song: Falling
Artist: Scott Jacobs
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.
Song: Falling
Artist: Scott Jacobs
Monday, October 27, 2025
EveryLibrary Event: From Immigrant to Senator: The Inspiring Story of Mazie Hirono
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.
Wednesday, April 9, 2025
National Library Week, April 6-12, 2025
Drawn to the Library? You’re not alone.
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.
#NationalLibraryWeek #library
Every Library Live Discussion: Mazie Hirono Children's Book Biography
NATIONAL LIBRARY WEEK 2025
WEDNESDAY, APRIL 9, 2025, at 3PM
EveryLibrary Live presents:
Join Leslie Ann Hayashi and me as we live stream the inspiring story of Mazie Hirono, from immigrant to Senator.
FaceBook Live: https://www.facebook.com/events/647827684880094
YouTube Live: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Sn_1HAi25js
Tuesday, November 26, 2024
Puget Sound Coloring Sheets for Trust for Public Land
Puget Sound coloring sheets I created with fisheries biologist Ron Hirschi, for the Trust for Public Land, WA. #SciArt #conservation #kidlitart #pugetsound #education
— Tammy Yee (@tammyyee.bsky.social) November 24, 2024 at 9:52 AM
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Tuesday, September 17, 2024
Mazie's Amazing Journey: From Immigrant to US Senator
"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
ISBN 13: 978-1639055579
Children’s Asian & Asian American; biographies
Ages: 5-10
Type: Hardcover, 32 pages
Dimensions: 8.5(w) x 11(h) inches
Price: US $24.95
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