We Sing from the Heart
Available Now!
Publisher : Red Comet Press
Publication date : October 15, 2024
Language : English
Print length : 48 pages
ISBN-10 : 1636550878
ISBN-13 : 978-1636550879
2024 Julia Ward Howe Prize for Children’s Literature Winner
We Wing from the Heart:
How The Slants® Took Their Fight for Free Speech to the Supreme Court.
by Mia Wenjen,
illustrated by Victor Bizar Gómez
A compelling account of Simon Tam’s fight for free speech that ended with a landmark Supreme Court decision.
Music is a way to transcend cultures and divides. Simon Tam used his band’s name, The Slants®, to make a powerful statement that racist insults could no longer be hurtful to Asian Americans. But then the U.S. Trade and Patent Office tries to stop him. In his eight-year battle to win trademark protection, Simon would go all the way to the Supreme Court in a landmark case to rout out structural racism in our government systems.
Mia Wenjen takes us back to Simon’s early days and the formation of the band, to the long battle to claim the name they chose to use. We learn of his motivations and the years-long struggle that leads ultimately to the Supreme Court of the United States. Told using lyrics from the band’s hit song about their trademark fight, this compelling story will keep readers riveted until the dramatic ending.
We Sing from the Heart gives background and context to the significance of Simon’s quest, not just for him and his band, but for free speech rights for us all. Newcomer to children’s books, Victor Bizar Gómez, channels the indie music world with dynamic artwork that complements the storytelling and is sure to draw in readers with his exciting graphic approach.
Awards for We Sing from the Heart
Orbis Pictus Recommended Book for Outstanding Nonfiction for Children
We Sing from the Heart Extras
Julia Ward Howe Award Presentation for
We Sing From the Heart
We Sing From the Heart
Book Trailer
Posted on by Pragmatic Mom
We created a podcast with Dorktales Storytime about Simon Tam.
Rock Band to the Supreme Court! Simon Tam, Hidden Hero of History | Dorktales Storytime Podcast EP99
- Free Activity Guide for Dorktales Storytime about Simon Tam. Go here.
- Apple Podcasts
- Spotify
- You can find all the other platforms via the icons on the Dorktales website:
Below is the music video for The Slants’ song, From the Heart. They wrote this song about their battle to trademark their band’s name. Why not start a book presentation off with this short video?
Check out Simon Tan’s excellent Ted Talks.
From ReasonTV: An Asian-American band takes the fight over its name all the way to the Supreme Court: