Date/Time:
Event Description
Chanda Wolf, who works as Special Assistant to the President and General Counsel for the UMass System Office will discuss her upcoming children’s book, “A Dozen Delicious Donuts: A Sweet Cambodian-American Story, " illustrated by Juliet Yenglin, on Tuesday, April 23 from 12:00 p.m. – 1:00 p.m. via zoom. The book will be published in September of 2024.
David Lowy, UMass General Counsel will open the event with a brief overview about the Cambodian genocide from 1975-1979 and explain the “how” and “why” - the United States bombing, and the War in Southeast Asia created fertile ground for the rise of Pol Pot and the Khmer Rouge. He will reference how we failed to learn from the Holocaust and we, once again, have failed to learn from the Killing Fields.
From this tragedy, Chanda's great-grandmother, father, and mother survived and were able to escape, resettling in America. However, Chanda's children's picture book offers a brighter outlook. A grandmother, who escapes “the killing fields,” shares the gift of a most cherished family recipe carried from Cambodia. The book focuses on the beauty and richness of the Khmer culture, and centers around food and the Cambodian-American immigrant experience. The book brings a sense of pride and belonging for a young girl, and the preservation of family tradition.
More than ever, diverse, and inclusive stories are being banned in the classrooms and beyond. Chanda hopes to encourage people everywhere to recognize all voices with the understanding that the most marginalized voices must be heard. And one of the most natural ways to build awareness of race and social justice into mainstream America is to have books that all kinds of kids can see themselves in.
Captions and a transcript will be provided by a real-time captioner.
Visit Chanda's website to learn more about her journey.
Endorsements for "A Dozen Delicious Donuts"
"This touching book shows the many gifts that a family recipe carried from Cambodia can bring with it - a sense of pride and belonging for a young girl, the preservation of family tradition, new experiences for young students, and of course, yummy donuts! A wonderful metaphor for the ways that immigrants' diverse customs enrich America for everyone, as expressed through a story that will be relatable to families of all backgrounds."
- Matthew Klein, Chief Program & Impact Officer, Robin Hood Foundation
“What a delicious book – a story of love and the lessons of life. And good food, too.”
- David Lawrence Jr., retired publisher of the Miami Herald and chair of The Children’s Movement of Florida
"You can practically smell Pip's donuts in this lovely story about preserving culture through food, the loving embrace of family, and the sweetness of children."
- Alan Lightman, professor of humanities at MIT, author of Ada and the Galaxies, and Isabel and the Invisible World
“I love this unique, charming, and important book that is insightful, and a must read for children and adults alike.”
- Rose Styron, poet, author, journalist, and human rights activist
A tastefully inspiring anecdote that educates children to the treasure of Cambodia’s cultural heritage.”
- Sophea Eat, Former Cambodian Ambassador to the United Nations
“This enchanting book celebrates the role of food in integrating immigrants into American life. Chanda Ouk Wolf draws on her roots in her native Cambodian culture to paint a charming picture of how creative cuisine can draw diverse cultures and communities ever closer. Ms. Wolf even provides an alluring bonus: an irresistible recipe for Cambodian donuts that can be made in your own kitchen.”
- Finlay Lewis, formerly a reporter for Congressional Quarterly
“This is such a "sweet" story, and clearly it focuses on the dual cultures of America and Cambodia in a clever, touching, and memorable way. I hope to get this book in the hands of children, who love to read--or not. They will be motivated to follow the recipe, too~ for delicious donuts!”
- Willee Lewis, PEN/Faulkner Founding Friends Literary Chair and former president of the PEN/Faulkner Foundation
“I love this story of food, family, and tradition, a story of America and the immigrant experience. I was excited to learn and through the book experience something new - in a picture book no less!”
- Dawn Smalls, Mom of 3 and Lawyer
“Every child should have books to read that reflect their story and culture. This book is a gift for all children to learn about Cambodian culture, including its wonderful array of food. It celebrates the diversity of our country by revealing important aspects of one rich heritage and provides a familiar place for many Cambodian children whose experiences are seldom revealed in what they read.”
- Aileen Adams, Weingart Foundation Board and Former Los Angeles Deputy Mayor
”A lovely story about immigrants, family bonds, and food. A grandmother passes on a cultural tradition to her granddaughter who then introduces this to her American school—to the delight of her classmates.”
- Ellen Winner & Howard Gardner, Ellen: Professor Emerita, Department of Psychology, Boston College, and Senior Research Associate, Harvard Project Zero; Howard: Hobbs Research Professor of Cognition and Education, Harvard Graduate School of Education
“At a time when books that show diversity are under attack from some quarters, this lovely children’s book celebrates the richness of Cambodian culture. Using the common language of food – and of the thousand Cambodian donut shops in southern California – the text and pictures bring the multi-generational immigrant experience to life in a way that people of all ages and backgrounds can enjoy and understand.”
- Professor Geoffrey Cowan, Annenberg Chair in Communication Leadership University of Southern California
"A Dozen Delicious Donuts is a lovely parable, instructing us on how better to be responsible humans, with suggestions of effective communication, inclusivity, resilience and participant-based resolution—in this instance on: taste, texture and originality; a delicious and celebratory exemplum!"
- Marcellette Gailliard-Gay Williams, Ph.D., Past Chancellor and Professor of English and Comparative Literature-UMass Amherst, Senior Vice President Emerita- International Strategy, UMass System
"A Dozen Delicious Donuts" is a delightful, engaging exploration of food and culture that invites readers into the Cambodian-American immigrant experience. This book is a vital contribution to children's literature, fostering inclusivity and representation, and offering a charming story where all children can see themselves reflected.
- Arn Chorn-Pond, Musician, Human Rights Activist, and Founder of Cambodian Living Arts
“If you're like me, you'll find yourself craving Pip's perfect nom kong and your own family's traditional dishes!”
- Allison Gustavson, Writer