The Library has an AMAZING collection of books featuring stories and information written by and about people from varied backgrounds, races, ethnicities, life experiences, and viewpoints. We love to share selections that demonstrate the range of our collection all year and we encourage you to explore these books with us!
Everyone perceives their heritage in a different way. Some point to a tangible place or object, while others highlight a collection of stories or a set of customs, and still others emphasize something else. As we celebrate Asian American and Pacific Islander Heritage Month this May, check out the reads and resources below to better understand how a shared history can shape and enrich our lives.
READ: A Thousand Beginnings and Endings by Ellen Oh
Sixteen bestselling and acclaimed authors reimagine the myths and legends of East and South Asia in short stories that beguile readers from start to finish. Star-crossed lovers, meddling immortals, feigned identities, battles of wits, and dire warnings: these are the stuff of fairy tale and folklore that have drawn us in for centuries. From science fiction and fantasy to contemporary and paranormal, there is something for everyone, including background about the stories' origins!
Questions to think about while you read:
- Does your family have any stories that have been passed down from one generation to the next?
- Would you agree or disagree that there is value in knowing those from other cultures? Why?
- What are some puzzling or exciting elements of the stories you've read or heard?
LISTEN: A Conversation with Harmony Becker
Walk through this graphic novelist's artistic process with Goleta Valley Library! Harmony Becker wrote and illustrated Himawari House, which centers around a group home where three foreign exchange students adjust to living in Japan. She also illustrated They Called Us Enemy, in which George Takei relays his experiences as a Japanese American in one of the U.S. internment camps during World War II.
Questions to think about while you listen:
- What would you consider the best thing your culture has given to the world?
- What culture(s) do you admire besides your own? Why?
- What do you think is the most important thing your culture has adopted?
EXPLORE: Your Family Tree
Learn more about your heritage with the library's research databases, like HeritageQuest or Ancestry Library Edition. All you need to gain access is your library card and pin number!
JOIN: Attend a program in person!
View all teen programs and events offered this month.
Registration is required; if space allows, walk-ins will be admitted. Use the link in the program information to register.
