Amazing: Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders Who Inspire Us All

by Maia Shibutani (Author) Aaliya Jaleel (Illustrator)

Reading Level: 2nd − 3rd Grade

From Olympic ice dancing medalists Alex and Maia Shibutani, this beautifully illustrated picture book highlights the achievements of many Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders who have made invaluable contributions to the world.

Inclusivity sets this beautifully illustrated picture book apart in its exploration of thirty-six inspirational Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders, such as disabled hero Daniel Inouye, immigrant astronaut Kalpana Chawla, and biracial entertainer Dwayne "The Rock" Johnson.

Olympic medalist siblings Maia and Alex Shibutani felt compelled to create a book showing the undeniably positive impacts that Pacific Islanders and Asian Americans have made in this country and around the world. Thanks to quick and accessible biographies written with journalist Dane Liu, readers will learn about important figures who have shaped life-altering policy, made indelible marks on pop culture, and achieved their greatest dreams--paving the way for future generations to make lasting change.

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A thoughtful and comprehensive survey of the ways in which Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders have shaped, and will continue to shape, the United States. Throughout, the prose is clear, concise, and well crafted, incorporating details that will enthrall young readers.

Review quotes

 
Maia Shibutani
Maia and Alex Shibutani (aka the ShibSibs) are two-time Olympic bronze medalists, three-time world medalists, and two-time US National Champions. The siblings made history when they became the first figure skaters of Asian descent to win medals at the Olympics in Ice Dance. They were inducted into the U.S. Figure Skating Hall of Fame in 2023. Off the ice, the ShibSibs are creatives, producers, speakers, and international ambassadors. Their other books for children include the Kudo Kids series and Amazing: Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders Who Inspire Us All.

Find Maia and Alex on social media @MaiaShibutani, @AlexShibutani, and @ShibSibs.

Dane Liu was born in China and moved to the US as a tween. She received her BA from the University of Toronto and her MS in journalism from Columbia University. Her debut children's book, Friends Are Friends, Forever, is a JLG Gold Standard Selection, an Indie Next Pick, and a Best Book of the Year (BCCB). She has been awarded by the Pulitzer Center on Crisis Reporting and is an Oregon Literary Career Fellow. Follow her on Twitter and Instagram: @DaneLiuWrites.

Aaliya Jaleel is a Sri-Lankan American based in Dallas, Texas, who loves illustrating bold, bright color palettes and memorable characters. She is also a designer for animation. Visit her at AaliyaMJ.com and on Twitter and Instagram: @Aaliyamj.
Classification
Fiction
ISBN-13
9780593525432
Lexile Measure
1020
Guided Reading Level
-
Publisher
Viking Books for Young Readers
Publication date
April 18, 2023
Series
-
BISAC categories
JNF007050 - Juvenile Nonfiction | Biography & Autobiography | Cultural Heritage
JNF018020 - Juvenile Nonfiction | People & Places | United States - Asian American
JNF069000 - Juvenile Nonfiction | Diversity & Multicultural
Library of Congress categories
Biographies
Asian Americans
Pacific Islander Americans

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