Mia Wenjen, Community Bookseller

I started reading Barefoot Books to my kids when they were small so they could see themselves reflected in a book. They are half Korean and a quarter Japanese and Chinese American. Barefoot Books beautifully reflected their culture at a time when these types of books were very hard to find.

I began blogging on children's books at PragmaticMom.com which lead to co-creating a nonprofit, Multicultural Children's Book Day (MCBD), around diverse children's books. Barefoot Books was an early sponsor for MCBD!

I started a new chapter in my career as a children's book author. My debut picture book is SUMO JOE illustrated by Nat Iwata and published by Lee and Low. I also wrote ASIAN PACIFIC AMERICAN HEROES for Scholastic. I independently published CHANGING THE GAME: ASIAN PACIFIC AMERICAN ATHLETES and I will have some exciting news to report soon regarding new book releases.

I am excited to spread my love of beautiful diverse children's books by becoming a community bookseller with Barefoot Books. It feels like yesterday when I attended Barefoot Books home parties and bought every single Asian themed book!