Thanksgiving is almost here and we wanted to take a moment to say THANK YOU!
Something we like to do at home is to make lists of everyone and everything we are grateful for in our lives and why. Right now, our kids are writing short letters to family members expressing their gratitude and appreciation. It is one way we try to teach our children to never take anyone or anything for granted and to always communicate openly about their feelings.
We’ve spent the past few months really focusing on our time together as a family, making great memories and using this continued period of cautious social distancing to strengthen our relationships with each other. As a result, we haven’t kept up with this blog the way we originally had planned. We apologize for this absence, but thank each and every one of you who has continued to support us and our efforts, who has used our resources and learned with us over on Facebook and Instagram, for all the loving messages and emails we have received sharing with us how our products have made a positive impact in your home – you’ve touched our hearts and it all truly means the world to us!
Navigating through shipment delays and other COVID related hurtles has been difficult and we continue to watch the landscape of our publishing experience change, but your love and support has shown us that it is all worth it! From the bottom of our hearts – THANK YOU!
Let’s Be Grateful Activity Sheet on aerilynbooks.com
If you are looking for a Thanksgiving activity, head over to our online store and download our FREE Thanksgiving activity sheet so you and your family can make a list of all you are thankful for, as well. We hope you have a happy, healthy, and safe holiday with your loved ones!
It’s May and that means its Asian Pacific American Heritage Month (APAHM)! It was originally designated as only a week in 1978 by President Carter, but in 1992 President Bush designated the whole month of May under Public Law 102-450.
Instagram Post @aerilyn_books
This is a great time to celebrate Asian American and Pacific Island American (AAPI) culture and heritage and to reflect on our history in the U.S. Many schools do not teach about much of AAPI history – the struggles and the achievements – but it is important that we learn it and that we pass that knowledge onto our children.
In celebration of APAHM, we will be posting additional educational materials on our Facebook and Instagram accounts! We will share information on Korean foods as part of our daily vocabulary lessons, as well as short biographies about notable Korean Americans throughout US History. Because our mission is to provide educational content for Korean language and culture, we are choosing to highlight Korean Americans, but remember that Korean Americans make up just a fraction of all Asian and Pacific Island Americans. We hope you will also take the opportunity to learn about and celebrate the many other members of the AAPI community!
Easter has just passed and all our beautiful dyed eggs are sitting in the fridge, waiting to be eaten. Every year, we make egg salad, deviled eggs, or just slice them to enjoy on salads. But there are so many other ways to prepare them! This recipe for Korean-style marinated eggs is simple, delicious, and can be enjoyed warm or cold as a side for lunch or dinner.
2 tbsp brown sugar (can substitute honey or agave, if desired)
1 green onion (chopped)
DIRECTIONS
Combine all ingredients in a saucepan and bring to a boil over medium heat, stirring until sugar has dissolved.
Reduce heat to medium-low and continue to boil until reduced to about half, stirring frequently.
Remove from heat and pour over 6 peeled eggs in an airtight container. Sprinkle additional green onions over the top, if desired, before sealing the container.
Place in the fridge for a couple of hours to marinate.
Enjoy within 3 days!
Enjoy Gyeran Jangjorim (계란 장조림) warm or cold, as a side with lunch or dinner.
This side dish should last in the fridge for three days (if you don’t eat them all before then!) and goes well with rice or noodles. The eggs can be enjoyed warm or cold, but I think they taste best at room temperature. However you choose to enjoy them, these are sure to be your new go-to for post-Easter eggs!
It’s been difficult to process everything that has been going on in this country. The pandemic obviously has changed the way most of us live our every day lives, but it hasn’t been the only thing disrupting it. Last year was full of insanity I never thought I’d see in my lifetime, but there was something that wasn’t entirely new to me: racism against Asian Americans.
We definitely went through heightened racial divide with the Black Lives Matter protests and I can say my heart was broken for our Black communities. I am not about to get into politics at all, because I am not an expert and I just don’t have the emotional strength to get into that conversation right now. But I am no stranger to the experience of racism.
I am half Korean and half white (European mix), and have lived in a sort of limbo my whole life. Not white enough. Not Korean enough. Being outcasted by both sides, basically, until around high school and even then it’s not like things were suddenly amazing. Just better. Slightly. As an adult it became a little bit easier to dodge circumstances where I was on the receiving end of hate and stereotyping, by surrounding myself with truly good people. But I was faced with the cruel and harsh reality that I couldn’t protect my kids from it when the neighborhood kids – kids my kids considered friends – told my children they couldn’t play with them, because “No Chinese allowed.” I didn’t even find out about it until we were in the car on our way to Target and it felt like a lump of hot lead dropped in my stomach. My kids didn’t understand what the other kids meant by that, and had responded “But we’re not Chinese, we’re Korean” to which the kids said “well, then no Koreans allowed.” The message was a clear “you are not welcome” and I had the task of talking to my kids about racism, building up the courage to knock on the doors of my neighbors and confront it, to advocate for my kids while trying not to cry right there on their doorsteps. Unfortunately, this is something I have to do for the rest of my life. Something my kids will have to do for the rest of their lives. It’s not a conversation or an experience we get to opt out of.
At the very start of the pandemic, my youngest son was sick with croup and a double ear infection and I was taking him in to the doctor. We got on an empty elevator, but I could hear rushed footsteps behind me, trying to catch up, so I held the door open for them. The person looked at my face and their smile dropped and they put up their hand and said “Nah, I’ll just wait.” Even though I have experienced so many racist and vile things in my life, this particular moment hurt. Bad. It scared me, honestly. It brought back the all-too-familiar feelings of being unwelcome in my own town, but at a level I wasn’t expecting to have to live through again as an adult. We’re supposed to grow, right? Things are supposed to change for the better, aren’t they? I was reminded that is not the case and could feel things were going to get bad. And they have.
Between March of 2020 and February of 2021, there have been 3,795 reports of hate crimes against Asian Americans – an increase of 150% – and those reports only make up a fraction of the actual number of incidents that actually occur. Innocent people being physically assaulted in public places, spat on, verbally abused, and blamed for the pandemic just for looking a certain way.
Why We Should’ve Seen the Atlanta Shootings Coming | The Daily Social Distancing Show
Asian Americans are referred to as the “model minority,” expected to keep quiet and not to make waves, but we need to speak up and advocate for ourselves and our children, our families, our friends. We have become invisible when it comes to matters of race. We need to say something, do something – we shouldn’t just sit back and take it and process it in silence. Everything is a joke at our our expense and people like to say Asian stereotypes are too “complimentary” to be racist, because they will not acknowledge the pain and consequences of these “jokes” and stereotypes. Your words, your “jokes,” and your actions have real life consequences, whether or not you have seen them yourself.
Daniel Dae Kim testifies before Congress about rise in anti-Asian American hate in America
Whether or not you have Asian American friends, family, coworkers, acquaintances… be aware of what is going on in your communities. Do something to help, be present and supportive, rethink the jokes and comments you make, reevaluate why hearing non-English languages make you uncomfortable – not just for the Asian American community, but for all our different diverse communities, because no one deserves to feel unsafe in their own neighborhoods or to be judged unfairly by their skin color or spoken languages. It’s one thing to not be racist, and another to be anti-racism.
#StopAsianHate apparel on aerilynbooks.com
I encourage you to donate to non-profits like Stop AAPI Hate, which tracks incidents of hate and discrimination against Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders in the United States. Right now, there are t-shirts, tanks, and hoodies branded with the #StopAsianHate hashtag in the Aerilyn Books online store and 100% of the proceeds from those sales are donated to Stop AAPI Hate. In less than 24 hours, we were able to donate $100 – THANK YOU! Please keep it going, or skip the apparel and donate directly on the Stop AAPI Hate website.
Please, hear us. Be there for us. Be the change. Make the difference. Stop the hate. #StopAsianHate
Are you ready to take your little explorer on a journey through space? We are excited to announce the newest in our Bilingual Learning Series, The Solar System | 태양계, is set to release June 2021!
The Solar System | 태양계 will retail for $11.99 and is set to release June 2021
A step up from our core concept books, The Solar System | 태양계 uses simple, yet more complex, sentences to introduce your child to the planets in our solar system – plus additional vocabulary along the way! Simple facts are presented in a mixture of different sentence structures and, as always, transliterations accompany the Hangul (Korean written language) to aid in pronunciation for those not yet able to read it.
Take a peek: page spread of The Solar System | 태양계
The Solar System | 태양계 will retail for $11.99 and will be available for purchase in June 2021, but special preorder sets will be available for purchase starting April 2021. Get your hands on our exclusive Moon Phases poster and limited edition sticker sets and save- plus automatically be entered to WIN a Solar System Book Tote!
Preorder sets are only available in our online shop – or click here for a list of retailers that carry our books.
According to the Lunar Zodiac, those born under the sign of the Ox are strong, determined, and dependable people. They are patient, creative, hard-working, and find success by being persistent, working with their capabilities and according to their ideals. Oxen are loyal and loving, and value their families. Some of their weaknesses include communication skills and many prefer to be independent and enjoy solitude rather than group settings and social gatherings. They also tend to be stubborn. The year of the Ox is said to be one of positivity, strength, hard work, and honesty.
Some well-known people born under the Ox sign include Barack Obama, Vincent Van Gogh, and Walt Disney. Were you born under the year of the Ox?
Free Printable Coloring Sheets Available on AerilynBooks.com
We are looking forward to what this year has to offer and celebrating at home with some Seollal traditions and activities.
However you celebrate the new year, we have a few kid-friendly activities to add to the fun! We have FREE printables for you in our online store. Design your own hanbok, make your own paper fans, color a simple Seollal celebration – and choose from several other learning activities, while you’re at it! They’re all FREE and available to you on aerilynbooks.com. We hope you have a happy new year!
새해 복 많이 받으세요! Happy New Year! Last year was an interesting one, to say the least, but we are grateful for our many blessings and look forward to what this new year has in store for us. Lunar New Year is only a week away and I wanted to share a sweet and simple Korean recipe that is a favorite in our house!
Honey Bread (허니 브레드) with Strawberries and Sliced Almonds
Honey Bread (허니 브레드) can be found in many Korean cafes and goes perfectly with hot tea or coffee. It is technically a dessert, but I must admit that I enjoy having it for breakfast on Sunday mornings – and so do my kids. Although you can find it at almost any Korean bakery or cafe, it really is so easy to make at home and top it with anything you like. Our favorite toppings are strawberries and sliced almonds, with chocolate drizzle and whipped cream. (Try it with mango and shredded coconut in the summer – it’s AMAZING!)
Honey Bread with Strawberries and Sliced Almonds Recipe
Line a baking sheet with parchment paper and place desired number of slices of Brioche bread on parchment.
Score the face of the Brioche slices with a knife, in a # formation, being careful not to cut all the way through.
Drizzle each slice with honey and allow to soak into the bread. We use about 2 tbsp of honey per slice, but you can adjust the amount depending on how thick your slices are.
Spread 1 tbsp of softened butter over each slice, right over the honey.
Place in the center of the oven and bake for about 15 minutes. Be careful not to over bake.
While baking, wash and slice desired amount of strawberries. Place them in a bowl, sprinkle with a small amount of white sugar and let them macerate until honey bread is done baking.
Transfer honey bread to a plate and top with strawberries and sliced almonds. Add whipped cream and drizzle with chocolate sauce.
Enjoy while hot!
Enjoy Honey Bread (허니 브레드) with Hot Tea or Coffee
Note: You can make this with sliced white bread or Texas Toast, too, if you do not have Brioche. Try it with a variety of different toppings and have fun!
This delicious treat can be topped with whatever you like – the possibilities are infinite. Next time you’re hosting a get-together with your friends, try having a Honey Bread (허니 브레드) bar with a selection of different fruits, yogurts, and sauces. It’s sure to become a favorite!
If you are planning on raising your child to understand and speak two languages, you might be wondering how to get started. There are many different methods for raising bilingual children, and no one method is more effective than the others. Your overall approach can be custom-tailored for your daily life, your individual child, and your own fluency levels. While you are considering which method is right for you, take some time to go over these 13 tips for successfully raising bilingual children.
Tip #1: Introduce the language to your child early in life
Tip # 1: Introduce the Target Language Early in Life
Introducing a second (or third, or fourth, etc) language to your child as early as possible makes it easier for them to learn it. From birth, we begin absorbing information about the world around us at an incredible rate, and even as babies we are able to discern between different languages! But it’s never too late to start learning a language, and the benefits are numerous, so don’t fret if you didn’t introduce the language to your child from day one!
Tip #2: Be consistent with your chosen method
Tip # 2: Be Consistent
Whichever method you choose, make sure to be consistent. Consistency helps to better integrate the learning process and makes the language a part of your daily lives. Routine helps children thrive and learn, and it’s no different with how they learn languages. However, if you find your chosen method just isn’t working, don’t be afraid to look for one that better suits you and your child. Everyone learns a little differently, so there is no one-size-fits-all approach!
Tip #3: Set realistic goals for your child’s learning
Tip # 3: Set Realistic Goals
It is important to remember to set realistic goals for your child’s language-learning journey. Setting unrealistic goals can result in frustration, disappointment, and discouragement for both child and caregiver. It’s a great idea to set weekly attainable goals, celebrate successes, and to continue to work in their weakest areas. Set a natural pace that keeps your child motivated to continue to speak the language.
Tip #4: Speak the language to your child
Tip #4: Speak the Target Language
Don’t underestimate the power of conversation! This may seem obvious, but speak the target language with your child. It isn’t enough to expose your child to the language in TV shows, YouTube videos, and the occasional game. Speaking the language to your child builds real-life conversational skills, encourages free-thinking, and exercises their ability to comprehend and respond appropriately in a natural scenario. Even if you don’t speak the language perfectly, or even if you yourself are still learning, using it with your child and learning together makes a big impact!
Tip #5: Sing familiar songs in both (or all) languages you want your child to learn
Tip #5: Sing Familiar Songs in the Language
Singing familiar songs in both (or all) languages is a fun way to learn! There’s a reason it feels natural to sing to your baby – it aids in their development and can serve as your child’s earliest language lessons. By singing the same songs in both languages, or even intermingling the languages from verse to verse, you can help to create a connection between them – all while bonding emotionally with your child!
Tip #6: Swap out frequently used words for the target language
Tip #6: Swap Out Frequently Used Words
Swap out frequently used words in the primary language with the corresponding words in the target language. For example, using “agua” in place of “water” or “우유” in place of “milk.” Taking advantage of their frequent usage can help your child to remember the new vocabulary. This is especially helpful when you yourself are not fluent in the target language, or if you find your child suddenly favoring the primary language. Consider addressing Grandma as “Abuela” or “할머니,” to keep the language and culture relevant in your daily lives. Be creative!
Tip #7: Keep the language learning fun
Tip #7: Keep it Fun
When you think about how to teach your child basic concepts, like colors and shapes, do you imagine writing and rewriting in notebooks? Not likely! For children, fun plays a major role in their early education – games, songs, crafts, and mimicking behaviors is how they learn! Keep the language learning activities fun and interesting, increase the difficulty as they progress to prevent boredom, and follow your child’s lead when possible. If an activity is met with too much resistance or stress, don’t push it! Keep it enjoyable for both of you!
Tip #8: Invest in educational materials and resources
Tip #8: Invest in Educational Materials and Resources
While TV and YouTube alone will not make your child fluent in the language, it’s definitely a great idea to invest time and money in materials and resources that will strengthen your child’s language skills! Books, toys, movies, music, extra-curricular activities, group classes, etc. can make the target language a part of their routine in more than one way and have a major impact on their language education. Check to see if your local library has weekly book readings in the language, or if your local park district offers cultural arts classes – you may be surprised by what you find!
Tip #9: Make and eat foods of that country
Tip #9: Make and Eat the Foods Associated with the Language
Food is a great way to incorporate language and culture in your daily life! Meals are already an important part of family life and can be easily adjusted or modified for each unique family. Prepare and eat foods of the language’s home countries – and call them by their correct names! Food connects us to people, places, cultures, heritage, and, yes, language. It can provide fond childhood memories and strengthen their cultural identity.
Tip #10: Observe the cultural holidays and traditions
Tip #10: Observe the Cultural Holidays and Traditions
Language and culture are strongly connected and observing the cultural holidays and traditions associated with a language can help teach your child through hands-on experiences. Learning about cultures expands your child’s world, connects communities, and builds a healthy multi-cultural identity. Research some holiday traditions you can observe with your child, or think back to your favorite traditions as a child and keep it going!
Tip #11: Travel to countries that speak the language, if possible
Tip #11: Travel Together
If possible, travel together to the country or countries where the target language is spoken and immerse yourselves in the culture and environment. It can do wonders for their motivation to speak the language! If not possible to travel outside the country, find more easily accessible ways to appreciate the country, culture, and language. Discover local events that celebrate it, such as Korean festivals, Floating Lantern ceremonies, folk-dance shows, art exhibits, and even parades!
Tip #12: Correct mistakes in a constructive way
Tip #12: Correct Mistakes Constructively
It’s important to correct mistakes in a constructive way. You want to make sure they are pronouncing, using, and spelling words correctly, but you do not need to stop conversations or correct after every other sentence. Give your child the opportunity to think and speak on their own to express their ideas and correct mistakes when necessary by modeling the correct usage or tense. Children can become quite frustrated and discouraged when constantly corrected, and this can ultimately lead to a refusal to speak the language. Keep the conversation going and leave opportunities for them to freely express ideas beyond one word responses. By modeling the correct language skills yourself, they will effectively learn them without being discouraged.
Tip #13: Find community and support for your efforts
Tip #13: Find Community and Support
Find support in a community of other parents who are teaching their children another language – and even better if they are teaching the same target language! You can offer and receive advice, share ideas, and have play dates around language-learning activities – not to mention, long-lasting friendships with like-minded families!
However you choose to approach your bilingual journey with your child, keep in mind the unique needs of your child and your family. There are many benefits to teaching your child a second language, even if they never reach fluency, so don’t stress! We hope you find these tips helpful and wish you the best of luck in raising your bilingual child(ren)!
