Ever Ready: Changing The Game

Thursday, January 9, 2025

Changing The Game

Together, we can change the world one book at a time.

Read Your World is a non-profit whose mission is to raise awareness about children’s books that celebrate diversity and to get more of these books into the hands of readers. Valarie Budayr and Mia Wenjen founded this non-profit children’s literacy initiative 13 years ago. They are two diverse book-loving moms who saw a need to shine the spotlight on all of the multicultural, diverse books and authors on the market while also working on getting those books into the hands of young readers and educators.

With the alarming increase in children’s books being challenged and banned, giving kids access to diverse stories is more important than ever.
We do this by donating books to reviewers and classroom libraries.
We provide book lists and classroom kits to help parents, guardians, teachers, librarians, and readers find the diverse children’s books that they need.
Our weekly Ig Live Interview series also highlights children's book creators.

"Changing the Game Asian Pacific American Female Athletes" by Mia Wenjen

The book is filled with inspiring stories highlighting the achievements of underrepresented Asian-Pacific female star athletes who have made contributions in the fields of martial arts and kayaking, swimming, soccer, gymnastics, volleyball, basketball, snowboarding, running, hockey, golfing, ice skating, and tennis. Each of the seventeen brief sketches begins with a hook, a what-if question asking the reader to examine something in their own life and find connections with these female athletes.

Success did not come easy to many athletes who had to overcome poverty, lack of resources and opportunities, racism, crippling injuries, and gender equity. Many of their parents supported their children's endeavors and were once accomplished athletes of their own. After years of competing, some of these accomplished female athletes returned to their fields of interest to coach and pursue higher education.

Determination, goal focus, perseverance, and being highly skilled in their field enabled these young women to overcome incredible odds to become successful.

The writing is concise and well-researched. The stories are intended for a middle-grade reader. At the end of the 32-page book, readers are provided with additional resources to pursue learning more about each athlete profiled in the book.

As a retired classroom teacher, I find this book a valuable resource for the social studies curriculum and Women's History Month, highlighting these young women's achievements. In addition, the book can be the impetus for classroom discussion on the impact racism plays on the acceptance of Asian-Pacific American female athletes in the field of sports. This book provides an excellent model for learning how to write a biography. It's a quick read and perfect for the reluctant reader interested in sports, particularly female athletes.

All About The Author

Mia Wenjen

Mia Wenjen is half Japanese & half Chinese American and married to a Korean American. This unusual ethnic combination made her seek out all kinds of Asian representation in children’s books for her three kids. Mia blogs on parenting, children’s books, and education at PragmaticMom.com and is the co-creator of Read Your World, a non-profit celebrating diversity in children’s books.