What a crazy time we are in!  The summer is over but, unfortunately, the pandemic is not. I hope you have all been keeping safe and healthy during these challenging times. 

Did you know that this year, the year of 2020 is also the Chinese Year of GanZhi? According to Chinese superstition, every 60 years (after the 12-year zodiac cycle has completed 5 times and is starting its 6th cycle), it is the Year of GanZhi. 

Unfortunately, the Year of GanZhi is a cursed year. It's also known as the Year of Disasters; this year is supposed to be filled with disasters caused by man or nature (other Years of Ganzhi include the Great Chinese Famine and the 2nd Boer War). 

Whether that is true or not, it has made me especially eager to leave the year of 2020 behind! I'm looking forward to 2021...so much so that I've created a 2021 calendar in hopes it gets us there sooner! See below for details!
the 2021 Where the Mountain Meets the Moon Calendar! 
*10% off for newsletter subscribers with the coupon code GRACELIN


     As I said, I'm ready for 2021 already! To welcome in the new year, I've made  a Where the Mountain Meets the Moon Trilogy CALENDAR!
     This calendar is available for purchase through the Eric Carle Museum of Picturebook Art! And there is a 10% discount for newsletter subscribers, just use the coupon code GRACELIN. 

You can also pick up a book of mine to be personally autographed at the same time!

     People have been asking me to sell prints from these books and now here are are thirteen of them (it includes Jan 2022!) for less than a cost of a single print! I hope this is an affordable option for all those who loved the art in the books!  
 


Even though not shown on the back  cover, January 2022 is included. The calendar is 8.5 x 22 when open, 8.5 x 11 closed,  printed on 100 lb.  matte  paper with a matte 10 lb cardstock. cover, with an 1/8 hole for hanging. 

I have to admit, I'm super proud of how the calendar turned out!  Supplies are limited, so best get yours today!

Book News! 


My Storytelling Math Board board book series comes out with Charlesbridge Publishing this fall in October! This series aims to show toddlers (and adults) that math is all around us!  The aim of Storytelling Math is to show that math is more than numbers and that it is NOT intimidating...that it can be fun!

Helpful for those who are teaching young ones at home!
 
You can pre-order the books (and pick up a calendar at the same time!) HERE! 



With the announcement that they are finally going to release the Mulan Disney movie, 
 it seems a good time to remind people that my prequel novel to that movie is available now!

In my prequel novel, you will find out all the backstory to that intriguing new witch character and gain deeper understanding to all the small details in the movie! 

  

So proud and honored to announce that "Dim Sum For Everyone" was awarded the 2021 Phoenix Picture Book Award by the Children's Literature Association.
This award is given to "a book for children first published twenty years earlier that did not win a major award at the time of its publication but which, from the perspective of time, is deemed worthy of special attention." Hooray! If we can't go for real dim sum, at least we can read about it!




And now for some SNEAK PEAKS! Here's some artwork I'm working on for my upcoming book. Right now the book is titled "Once Upon a Story" co-written with Kate Messner! Stay tuned! 


Podcast News! 


     There are some awesome perks if you join! For example, all patrons get access to our secret "Random Questions" podcast feed!

     You'll hear behind the scenes random questions I ask authors! Want to know what food Jason Reynolds can't bring himself to eat? What does Jacqueline Woodson always buy at the grocery store? Become a patron and find out!
The Kids Ask Authors podcast would like to welcome you to their Patreon page! Please consider becoming a member to help support the podcast.

Kids Ask Authors is a weekly 5-10 minute podcast.
 Most episodes will end with a book review, poem, short story or a joke by kids! This podcast is a way to get kids who may not get to hear an author in real life a taste of the experience-and hopefully encourage them on their own creative journey!

If you become a patron, you'll keep our podcast running, help pay for transcripts (which help keeps our podcast equitable) and also help expand our Kid Book Reviewer Club (which had 200 applicants! We were only able to take 6! Your help will let us take more kids!).

(FYI, if you are a Book Friends Forever podcast fan,  becoming a patron of Kids Ask Authors helps that, too!)

         JOIN TODAY! 

Listen in to hear my childhood best friend and now current editor Alvina Ling (aka Melody from Year of the Dog!), and I talk about all things related to author and editor life, family, what's on our plates, and what we are most grateful for. At the present moment, all we can talk about is this pandemic! But, we welcome you to our conversation to commiserate!

We recently were joined by author Brendan Kiely to talk about STAMPED by Jason Reynolds and Ibram K. Kendi. Listen to Part One and Part Two of this discussion! 

Virtual Events  

Because of the current pandemic, I'll be offering virtual visits for the school year! 

Please contact Aimee at  gracelinvisits@gmail.com to schedule! 



    I've reworked three of my programs to work virtually with students.  Kids can learn how I blend fact with fiction with my "Behind The Year of the Dog " presentation,  the myths that inspired "Where the Mountain Meets the Moon" or what is true and not true in my books ("Are your books real?" presentation). Throughout the presentation, I do a drawing lesson, take polls and give pop quizzes and introduce the students to my chickens!

 You can find more details, guidelines, and fees on the Zoom school visits here!

Teach your kids how to vote  


 If you are like me, you might be gearing up to for  to supplement your child's education this fall due to pandemic gaps. Here's something to consider: Teach you kids how to vote. 



Our Little Free Library! 


Ta-dah! It's our brand new Little Free Library! If you look closely, you'll see slightly darker blue spots in the sky. That's glow-in-the-dark paint; at night the sky shows star constellations! I couldn't get it to show in any photos, but I love the idea so much I still wanted to share!
 

Chicken Updates!   



Some scenes from the chicken run! I've been drawing them everyday and they're working on their music. Gotta keep busy during this pandemic!

And that's it for now! I'll probably be popping back again in your inbox around the holidays, but until then I hope you all keep safe, healthy and happy (as much as possible under the circumstances).



Sincerely,

Grace Lin
author/illustrator