I am Flippish

Summary of Book

A multicultural children’s book sure to touch the heart of every reader, I am Flippish! openly addresses confusion children of diverse families might have about their ancestry and why they look the way they do. When one of Sean’s classmates insists that his dad is not, in fact, his dad because their skin is a different color, Sean is sad and confused. His wise teacher, Mr. Hartman, gives the students a homework assignment, instructing the children to go home and ask their parents about their ancestry. As a result, Sean discovers that he is Flippish—Filipino and Irish. Together, the family celebrates their heritage and Sean is able to return to school with confidence about who he is, where he comes from, and why he looks the way he does—which children of all ages can learn from and pride themselves on, too. This story is perfect for children who are curious about their heritage and multicultural families who can relate to feeling confused when asked, "What are you?" All kids will appreciate the concept of inheriting the best traits of both parents, and readers will also appreciate the facial expressions and bright colors in the illustrations.

Author Biography

Leslie V. Ryan, born in Japan and raised in Papua New Guinea and the Philippines, moved to the United States in 1987. She received her bachelor’s degree in Legal Studies and Japanese language from the University of California at Berkeley. Her book, I am Flippish!, is inspired by her real-life experience of someone telling her son that he couldn’t possibly be Irish because of the way he looked. In response to this hurtful and confusing incident, Flippish was born. Ryan’s hope is that more children from multicultural families will be empowered by discovering who they are and be able to take pride in and celebrate their ancestry. Since "I am Flippish!" was launched in 2011, Leslie V. Ryan has made numerous appearances and speaking engagements all over Southern California. She has participated in events such as The Los Angeles Times Festival of Books, The Orange County Children's Book Festival, The Wilmington Children's Book Festival, and The Festival of Philippine Arts and Culture. She enjoys reading to children at schools, libraries, and special events and also lectures about ancestry and/or the process of how authors turn an idea into a book. Illustrator Biography: The illlustrator Adolph Soliz is a graduate from the Laguna College of Art and Design with a BFA in animation. Adolph, who is "Indixican", brings charming and endearing characters to life in all media. Which means you'll never find him without his sketchbook, observing the world and people around him. Along with illustrating children's books he also teaches art to young aspiring artists.

Illustrator Biography

Adolph Soliz grew up on the Salt River Indian reservation drawing and loving animation. A few years after high school he found himself leaving home and attending the Laguna College of Art and Desing where he got his B.F.A in traditional animation. Soon after Adolph found himself working as a freelance artist illustrating childrens books, teaching, and a variety of other projects. He has now set his eye on sharing his own characters and stories with the world.