

Kengi drew. Fast, busy, everywhere their hands could reach and feet could travel. On the front steps, inside the fridge, across the bathroom mirror, atop the cafeteria tables, even on the roll of toilet paper. Kengi’s parents are frustrated, and their principal tells them they need to stop. But Ms. Beatriz tells Kengi there’s somewhere in the neighborhood that they should visit.When Kengi arrives at Mural Island, they discover a place where people can paint safely, freely, and joyfully. So Kengi does. But they’re not the only one painting each day, and soon Kengi recognizes that their art doesn’t have to be permanent to be monumental.With an electric, eye-catching new style from acclaimed picture book creator Katie Yamasaki, Mural Island celebrates art, expression, and the communities that cherish both.
Katie Yamasaki is a muralist, author, and teacher. When she was growing up, the World War II internment of 110,000 Japanese and Japanese American citizens was never discussed in school–even though most of Katie’s Japanese family was interned. Inspired by her family’s history, she wrote Fish for Jimmy to honor their bravery and the memory of those like them. Based in Brooklyn, New York, she travels widely across the world to paint in and work with diverse communities. She is passionate about art as dialogue and storytelling.
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