Today would have been Dad’s 75th birthday. He instilled in me a love of stories and the importance of supporting others, so there’s no better way to honor him than to share my favorite middle grade books featuring immigrant stories. (1/6)

A thread, best read with pastelitos!

Dad was an ESL student and my inspiration for working with ELLs. That’s why I love the Stella Diaz series as well as Lety Out Loud. (2/6)

Stella: https://www.indiebound.org/book/9781250763082
Lety: https://www.indiebound.org/book/9781338159356

One of the things Dad and I used to talk about a ton was food (surprise!). He would’ve absolutely adored Measuring Up and Pie in the Sky. I love that they demonstrate how cooking can bring us together. (3/6)

Measuring: https://www.indiebound.org/book/9780062973863
Pie: https://www.indiebound.org/book/9781250314109

My dad had a big heart and a strong sense of justice. Books like Efrén Divided and The Sky at Our Feet would have meant so much to him. (4/6)

Efrén: https://www.indiebound.org/book/9780062881687
Sky: https://www.indiebound.org/book/9780062421944

I got my massive introversion from Dad but even he and I learned the importance of community and found family. Books like Front Desk and Other Words for Home show this beautifully. (5/6)

Front: https://www.indiebound.org/book/9781338157826
Other: https://www.indiebound.org/book/9780062747808

While not necessarily an immigrant story, I read Finding Junie Kim and loved how Ellen Oh wrote her family’s story and honored their history. That’s what I try to do with my books and it’s even more important to me now that my dad is gone. (6/6)

Junie: https://www.indiebound.org/book/9780062987983