Exploring the Chinese American Experience:
A CALA Award-Winning Book Talk with 
Traci Huahn, Michelle Jing Chan, and Karen Fang 

(Poster in PDF)

Join the Chinese American Librarians Association (CALA) for its first special virtual event honoring the 2025 CALA Best Book Award recipients. This engaging session features award-winning authors whose works highlight the resilience, artistry, and stories of Chinese Americans.

      Date: Tuesday, June 24, 2025
      Time: 2:00 – 3:00 PM EDT
      Zoom Link: Register for the Webinar

Featured Speakers and Talks:

• Traci Huahn, author of Mamie Tape Fights to Go to School; Michelle Jing Chan, illustrator

         Talk Title: Journey of a Thousand Miles: Bringing the Story of Mamie Tape to Life

Join author Traci Huahn and illustrator Michelle Jing Chan as they discuss their own journeys of bringing Mamie Tape’s story to life. Learn more about the history of Mamie Tape and her family, Traci’s extensive archival research and interviews with Mamie’s relatives, and Michelle’s "behind-the-scenes" art process.

• Karen Fang, author of The Life and Work of Tyrus Wong: Background Artist
  Talk Title: Background Artist: Visibility, Invisibility, and the Power of Art

Praised as the "definitive new biography" (Smithsonian Magazine) and a "worthy tribute to a groundbreaking artist" (Publishers Weekly), Karen Fang's Background Artist tells the extraordinary story of the Chinese immigrant artist, centenarian, and Disney Legend who helped make Bambi. In her talk for CALA, Fang will discuss Wong's early life under Chinese Exclusion, how his art practice countered the injustice of the era, and what lessons his long life provides us in this current moment.

Come hear from the author, illustrator, and scholar as they discuss the inspiration behind their creative process, the research that shaped their narratives, and the powerful messages at the heart of their award-winning books. Discover how these works illuminate overlooked chapters of Chinese American history, elevate voices long silenced, and celebrate the enduring impact of representation through storytelling and art.

 Learn more about the award and recipients: https://cala-web.org/awards/bestbook/2025recipients

We look forward to celebrating these outstanding authors with you!