Local children’s authors, celebrated during Asian American, Native Hawaiian, and Pacific Islander Month, are transforming the book industry by championing diversity
TAKOMA PARK, Md. — It’s Asian American, Native Hawaiian and Pacific Islander Month, and WUSA9 is highlighting local children’s authors and their impact on diversity in the book industry.
“I guess I was that typical Korean-American kid forced into pre-med, and I rebelled and became a lawyer,” said Ellen Oh.
However, Oh’s true calling might be as an author. Based in Rockville, she writes books with a unique perspective.
“‘Dragon Egg Princess’ is really a fantasy set in Asian-like settings,” she said.
Oh likes to write novels that feel like movies.
“I started writing in 2000 when my kid was born,” Oh said. “I was looking for books for Asian American kids — not that she could read.”
But she didn’t find many books. Not even enough to fill one shelf.
“I thought for sure times had changed. When I was growing up, there were not a lot of Asian-American characters in kids’ books,” Oh said.
She didn’t want her kids to have the same experience, so she set out to change it, one book at a time.
“I truly believe kids’ books are where we teach empathy and compassion,” she said.
Initially, finding publishers was challenging.
“I don’t know if it’s the same now, but when I was starting out, a lot of us heard, ‘We already have an Asian book,'” Oh said.
She persisted, and in 2014, she co-founded the nonprofit We Need Diverse Books, born from a hashtag on social media. Now, she worries diverse books are being banned or facing backlash.
“All the rhetoric you hear is kind of like getting rid of our voices again,” Oh said.
According to the Cooperative Children’s Book Center, 70% of books submitted in 2023 had at least one white creator; only 18% were Asian.
And now the lack of Asian authors may be inspiring a new generation.
“We decided to write a book to encourage people to be more open-minded and try spicy foods,” said Mei and Kaili Powers, a mother-daughter duo from Silver Spring. Their first book introduces readers to various Asian cuisines.
“We made thoughtful choices, like showing actual pictures of the food in a really mouth-watering and delicious way,” they said.
The two self-published, and now sell their book on Amazon and in local bookstores like Barnes and Noble, as well as People’s Book in Takoma Park.
“We’re excited because our book has gone international,” they said.
Their plan? Not to stop here.
“I want to write more books,” said Kaili Powers.
This is encouraging to Ellen Oh, who doesn’t want to see progress reversed.
“My hope is that there are so many diverse authors that it’s just normal,” Oh said. “It’s not like we go, ‘Oh, there are the diverse books, here are the diverse authors,’ but it’s just books.”
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