Resilience and Resistance: Japanese American Stories in Children's Literature During Remembrance Day2/25/2025
by Amber Moore on behalf of the CLA Student Committee Last week was the observation of Remembrance Day (February 19), a date that solemnly acknowledges the anniversary ofExecutive Order 9066, which authorized the unjust incarceration of Japanese Americans during WWII, it's particularly meaningful to examine how children's literature helps young readers understand this history. While these stories emerge from one of America's darkest chapters, they also illuminate extraordinary examples of resilience, resistance, and reconciliation that embody core American values. Two contemporary children's books offer powerful entry points for young readers to engage with this complex history while celebrating the strength of the Japanese American community. Breaking Barriers Through Sport: Wat Kept Playing by Emily Inouye Huey
Teaching Difficult History Through Children's Literature Both books demonstrate how children's literature can serve as an effective medium for helping young readers engage with challenging historical topics. Through age-appropriate storytelling and compelling individual narratives, they make this complex history accessible while emphasizing themes of resilience and resistance rather than victimization. By sharing these narratives with young readers, we help ensure that future generations understand this history while drawing inspiration from those who exemplified core American values even in the darkest of times. The stories found in Wat Kept Playing and Those Who Helped Us remind us that the Japanese American incarceration experience, while representing a grievous violation of American principles, also revealed extraordinary examples of the American spirit through acts of resistance, resilience, and reconciliation. These children's books help ensure that as we remember this history, we honor not just the injustice but also the indomitable spirit of those who endured it. Both books can be purchased through the Japanese American National Museum and the Wing Luke Museum. For additional content to share with students, please visit Densho.org, a site dedicated to “preserving Japanese American stories of the past for the generations of tomorrow.” Amber Moore is a Ph.D. student at N.C. State University and a CLA Student Committee Member. In 2024, Amber was one of the recipients of the Vivian Yenika-Agbaw Grant. By Xenia Hadjioannou on behalf of the CLA Online Research Conference Organizing Committee  The organizing committee for the inaugural offering of the CLA Online Research Conference is busily putting the final touches on our plans for a day full of vibrant research presentations on children's literature research and opportunities for invigorating professional conversations. Have you Registered Yet?
Below you will find a sampler of the sessions included in the conference. For details and schedule information, visit the Conference Program.  The conference is co-sponsored by the Children's Literature Assembly and the Mary Frances Early College of Education at the University of Georgia. It is supported by the CLA Endowment Fund, which was established:
CLA Online Research Conference Organizing Committee Jennifer Graff, University of Georgia Xenia Hadjioannou, Penn State University, Berks Lauren Aimonette Liang, University of Utah Miriam Martinez, University of Texas San Antonio Liz Thackeray Nelson, Utah Valley University Mary-Kate Sableski, University of Dayton Jennifer Slagus, University of South Florida and Brock University |
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