Synergy: Bigotry

Bigotry is the unreasonable attachment to or intolerance of a belief or opinion. Specifically, bigotry is prejudice against a person based on their membership in a particular group such as a race or religion.

Read the recently published nonfiction book, then learn more at the website:

DAYS OF INFAMY: HOW A CENTURY OF BIGOTRY LED TO JAPANESE AMERICAN INTERNMENT by Lawrence Goldstone is part of the True Stories in Focus series. This title examines iniquities of the American justice system and the history of racism. Although the emphasis is on the deportation and detention of Japanese Americans during World War II, this work of nonfiction also explores other key events in Japanese American history. ARC courtesy of Scholastic Focus.

The NATIONAL JAPANESE AMERICAN MEMORIAL FOUNDATION website provides resources related to Japanese American history. The LEARN section explores the history of forced removal and incarceration, the American soldiers, discrimination, and the American Civil Liberties Act of 1988. The PROGRAMS area provides educational resources.

To visit the website, go to https://www.njamemorial.org/

Book Review: Write to Me

WRITE TO ME by Cynthia Grady tells the true story of letters written by Japanese American Children during World War II.

As children leave San Diego for internment camps, librarian Miss Breed gives the children books and postcards. She asks her young patrons to write her about their experiences. The short picture book concludes with an author’s note, timelines, historical information, and further reading. The front and end-pages include historical photos.

Librarians will find this new addition to the well-known story of Miss Breed to fill an important niche in their collection. This picture book would be useful as a read-aloud as well as part of a display including other informational books connected with Japanese American Internment Camps.

Published by Charlesbridge on January 9, 2018. ARC courtesy of the publisher.