During my upbringing, it was a rarity to find individuals who resembled me on television, in movies, or within the pages of books. Asian culture was not a prevalent part of my San Francisco suburban community. Consequently, I lacked the confidence to share my family’s culinary traditions, speak Cantonese with my friends, or even discuss customs like Chinese New Year and the Moon Festival with my peers until I reached a more mature age.
My teenage years were marked by experiences of racial discrimination, stereotypes, and microaggressions during my time in elementary, middle, and high school. Classmates would tease about the contents of their lunchboxes and perpetuate stereotypes about Asians always wearing glasses. Developing a sense of racial identity and pride becomes challenging when incidents of anti-Asian racism appear to be commonplace. Here, I present six actions you can take to combat anti-Asian hate.
Rather than accepting anti-Asian sentiments as the norm, it is high time to normalize Asian culture, experiences, and pride. This concept underpins the creation of the new book, “How Are You Feeling Little Dumpling?” authored by Marissa Merrill and illustrated by Sara Menges.
Marissa and Sara join forces to celebrate Asian American culture through the lens of food while teaching young children to recognize their emotions. This lighthearted book imparts essential skills to children while honoring their cultural heritage and encouraging them to embrace their true selves.
About “How Are You Feeling Little Dumpling?”:
“How Are You Feeling Little Dumpling?” is a 6×6 inch, 22-page board book that takes readers on an endearing adventure through a restaurant with Little Dumpling. Through rhyming text, Little Dumpling identifies his emotions, describes how they manifest in his body, and reminds children to acknowledge their own feelings. The book encourages young children to seek out a trusted adult to share their experiences with and receive support.
Both the author, Marissa, and the illustrator, Sara, of this book are Asian American women who share a long-lasting friendship. They undertook this project because, despite the existence of numerous excellent books on emotions, most of them fail to represent cultural diversity.
“How Are You Feeling Little Dumpling?” aspires to impart vital skills to the next generation while normalizing Asian culture, experiences, and pride.
Interview with Marissa Merrill, Author of “How Are You Feeling Little Dumpling?”:
Tech Savvy Mama: What inspired you to create a book that explores emotions through Asian American food and culture?
Congee Club Kids: We brainstormed multiple book ideas that we plan to write and publish. However, this one felt fun, playful, informative, and well within our comfort zone. It seemed like a fitting first book for us to write and illustrate. While we have seen books about emotions help my (Marissa’s) toddler identify her feelings, we felt there was a gap in books on emotions that reflected her culture.
Furthermore, our experience with Asian culture revealed that emotions can sometimes be a sensitive topic. We wanted to create a resource for Asian American parents that felt enjoyable, accessible, and familiar (like food) while tackling a subject that can be daunting (emotions).
Tech Savvy Mama: One of the book’s objectives is to nurture emotionally aware individuals. Apart from reading “How Are You Feeling Little Dumpling?” at home, what other activities can parents engage in with their toddlers and preschoolers to foster emotional intelligence?
Congee Club Kids: This is an excellent question! One of the most effective ways to promote emotional intelligence in our children is to embark on our own emotional self-discovery journey and become aware of our feelings, inner dialogues, and past experiences that might influence our parenting. We cannot help our children understand and manage their emotions if we, as parents, are struggling with emotional regulation.
Tech Savvy Mama: One of the challenges of parenting is dealing with the wide array of emotions young children experience daily, which can shift in an instant. What advice do you have for caregivers during the most stressful moments of parenting?
Congee Club Kids: Another excellent question. One reason why tantrums and sudden outbursts of big emotions can be incredibly stressful is often because we, as parents, have certain expectations for our children, and we might feel that their behavior reflects our parenting skills. I (Marissa) grapple with this from time to time.
Acknowledging and normalizing that significant emotional outbursts are typical for toddlers and gaining awareness of our own reactions to our children’s emotions can alleviate some of the stress during these moments. That being said, experiencing multiple emotional highs and lows within a five-minute span can be challenging. Parenting toddlers can indeed be stressful, but it’s important to remind ourselves that we don’t have to be perfect.
Tech Savvy Mama: I appreciate the letter from Mama Dumpling to caregivers that includes tips for practicing mindful awareness at the end of the book. In addition to the steps outlined in the 5-step guide, what other lessons do you hope parents will convey to their children by reading “How Are You Feeling Little Dumpling?” together?
Congee Club Kids: When we created “How Are You Feeling Little Dumpling?” we included a range of emotions, both pleasant and unpleasant. Often, when I (Marissa) seek advice from other parenting experts or friends, it’s usually because I’m grappling with my toddler’s more challenging emotions.
What’s equally important is the ability to connect with our children during not only their difficult moments but also during moments of love and happiness. Our hope is that this book serves as a starting point for discussions about emotions and provides tools for both parents and children, fostering a sense of play and joy.
Get Your Copy of “How Are You Feeling Little Dumpling?”:
“How Are You Feeling Little Dumpling?” is currently a Kickstarter project. Backers pledging $25 or more at the Dumpling Enthusiast level will receive a copy of the “Little Dumpling” board book, a bookmark, and a personalized thank-you card. The books are expected to ship in March 2023, and I can assure you that this book is well worth the wait!
For more information, visit the Kickstarter page for “How Are You Feeling Little Dumpling?”
