KidsLIVE!: An Author Talk with Linda Sue Park
This blog post was authored by Chelsea Arnold (West Farms Library), Aime Casillas (67th Street Library), and Jenny Chisnell (Harry Belafonte 115th Street Library)
Have you ever wondered what inspires your favorite author or wanted to hear their experiences writing books? NYPL KidsLIVE! are special programs that feature thought-provoking conversations between authors and librarians.
About the Program:
Linda Sue Park is a prolific writer, most recently the author of Prairie Lotus featured on NYPL’s Best Books for Kids 2020 List. Linda Sue joined us to talk about her book, upcoming projects, and to answer questions from NYPL librarians about her inspirations and what it’s like to be an author.
View the program below:
KidsLIVE! with Linda Sue Park from The New York Public Library on Vimeo.
KidsLIVE! with Linda Sue Park from The New York Public Library on Vimeo.
Prefer to read a transcript of the event? You can find it here. You can read the transcript of this event here.
Borrow Linda Sue Park’s Books from the Library!
Prairie Lotus by Linda Sue Park
Book / E-book / E-audiobook
In the Dakota Territory of the 1880s, half-Chinese Hanna and her white father face racism and resistance to change as they try to make a home for themselves.
A Long Walk to Water by Linda Sue Park
Book / E-book / E-audiobook
When the Sudanese civil war reaches his village in 1985, eleven-year-old Salva becomes separated from his family and must walk with other Dinka tribe members through southern Sudan, Ethiopia, and Kenya in search of safe haven.
Bee-Bim Bop! by Linda Sue Park, illustrated by Ho Baek Lee
Book
A Korean American child, eager for a favorite meal, helps with the shopping, food preparation, and table setting.
Looking for more books like Prairie Lotus? Check these out!
Black Heroes of the Wild West by James Otis Smith
BookBlack Heroes of the Wild West celebrates the extraordinary true tales of three black historical figures in the Old West: Mary "Stagecoach" Fields, a card-playing coach driver; Bass Reeves, the first black Deputy S. Marshall west of the Mississippi; and Bob Lemmons, a cowboy famous for his ability to tame mustangs.
Esperanza Rising by Pam Muñoz Ryan
Book / E-book / E-audiobook
Esperanza and her mother are forced to leave their life of wealth and privilege in Mexico to go work in the labor camps of Southern California, where they must adapt to the harsh circumstances facing Mexican farm workers on the eve of the Great Depression.
Read alikes for Bee-Bim Bop!:
Dim Sum for Everyone by Grace Lin
A child describes the various little dishes of dim sum that she and her family enjoy on a visit to a restaurant in Chinatown.
Too Many Tamales by Gary Soto, illustrated by Ed Martinez
Maria tries on her mother's wedding ring while helping make tamales for a Christmas family get-together. Panic ensues when hours later, she realizes the ring is missing.
The Red Pencil by Andrea Davus Pinkney, illustrated by Shane W. Evans
Book / E-Book / E-Audiobook
Amira is a young Sudanese girl forced to journey to a refugee camp after militants attack her village. Amira is so traumatized by the violence and loss she experiences that she stops speaking. How can the simple gift of a red pencil help her heal?
Inside Out & Back Again by Thanhha Lai
Book / E-book / E-audiobook
Hà lives in Saigon but must flee to America when the Vietnam War arrives. Told in free verse poems, this story shows a strong young woman and her struggles to keep her identity and fit into a new country.
Here are some at-home activities inspired by Linda Sue Park’s books
- In Bee-Bim Bop!a child helps her mother make a traditional Korean dish. To make a fun meal like the recipe in Bee-Bim Bop! check out this video and activity guide from NYPL’s Virtual After School program. Ask your family members if they have any special recipes to share with you and see if you can recreate them together. You can even try the recipe for bee-bim bop included in the back of the book.
- Get hands-on and sculpt with clay; check out this activity guide based on A Single Shard.
- Watch a short film about Korea to better understand the context of When My Name Was Keoko.
- Get prompts and resources for all age levels, subdivided from K-12, based around Linda Sue Park’s works.
- The students in Linda Sue Park's new book The One Thing You'd Save are given an assignment to talk about what they would save in case of a fire. Put yourself in their shoes and write a brief answer to the question if you could only save one thing if a fire broke out in your home what would you save and why?
Kids, check out these awesome online resources!
- Learn more about the refugee experience with this NYPL-curated list of relevant children’s reads: The Refugee Experience: Books for Children
- Find more books about baseball, after reading Linda Sue Park’s Keeping Score: Baseball Books for Kids
- Get more picture books and graphic novels about the Asian Pacific American experience here: 20 Asian Pacific American Picture Books and Children's Comics
Want to learn more about Linda Sue Park?
Visit Linda Sue Park's website to learn more about the author, including a full listing of her books and other resources.
KidsLIVE!
KidsLIVE events at The New York Public Library feature thought-provoking conversations, real debates, and exciting spectacular performances with your favorite authors, artists, filmmakers, musicians, fashionistas, and more.
KidsLIVE takes children and their families on an enriching cultural and educational journey—including musical performances, live theatre, opportunities to meet authors and illustrators, and much more. KidsLIVE programs feature presenters who reflect the rich diversity of New York City and help young audiences develop their creativity, talents, and love for learning.
KidsLIVE programs are sponsored by the Andreas C. Dracopoulos Family Endowment for Young Audiences.