Gina Rae Mitchell

Dumplings Mean Family by Jennifer Shaw | Giveaway, Author Interview, & Spotlight

A book blog tour from iRead Book Tours.

Thank you to the author, publisher, & Lauren at iRead for providing me with the information for this tour.

Book Details

Dumplings Mean Family by Jennifer Shaw
Published by This Side Up LLC on May 1, 2021
Genres: Adoption, Children's Picture Book, Educational, Children's, Family Life
Format: Hardcover
Pages: 32

Jennifer's new children's book, “Dumplings Mean Family” is told from her son Ethan’s perspective as he shares what it was like to join their family after his adoption.

“When Ethan and his siblings are adopted from China to the United States, everything seems so strange and different. Their new American family doesn't even know how to make Chinese food! The children are worried. Will they ever get to eat their favorite meals again? For Ethan's family, embracing two cultures means learning to fold and pinch their way to dumplings that taste like home.”

Truly a family project, Jennifer’s oldest daughter, Rinnah, also served as illustrator for this heartwarming book celebrating the truth that families can be strong and united when they commit to loving each other for who they truly are. As Ethan says, “We may be different in some ways, but we are one family!”

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Purchase Links for Dumplings Mean Family

Amazon

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Book Trailer

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I love to read books through my  Amazon Kindle Unlimited subscription. 

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Author Interview

Q: If you could go back in time, where would you go?

A: This is a tough one. Am I visiting or staying? Visiting I would probably either go to Biblical times in Jerusalem because I’d love to see who Jesus was in person, or to 19th century England because I think my naturally good teeth, extremely pale complexion, and generally good posture would have made me very popular.

If I’m staying there, I’d go to the 1950s because I would still need air-conditioning and decent health care, and I’m a fan of banana splits and wholesome sitcoms in general.

Q: What’s the funniest thing that has ever happened to you?

A: Probably the time I was traveling home from speaking at a women’s conference and I stopped at a Target to grab some snacks for the plane. I bought a box of blueberries and then realized they weren’t washed, so I took them into the bathroom to rinse them off.

Then I realized I was in possession of a dripping box of blueberries, so I had the brilliant idea of blowing the water off a bit with the hand-dryer. It wasn’t until I was putting the open box of blueberries under the dryer that I noticed it was an XELERATOR model.

As I shot an enormous cloud of little blueberry bombs across the Target restroom (which was unusually crowded), I realized that there would be no snack on the plane and that blueberries are more aerodynamic than I had previously realized.

Q: What is the scariest thing that has ever happened to you?

A: While on vacation, my family went canoeing on an unknown river that was supposed to be small and tame. My husband and I are pretty experienced paddlers, and we meant it to be an easy, fun day, but it had been raining, so we checked the levels. The water was fairly high at the put-in but looked doable.

However, the report didn’t tell us that it was at flood stage farther on, and several trees had come down across the river. There was no way off, and we got caught in a couple of strainers before my son and I got flipped.

I caught him and we were able to swim out at that point (the banks were finally accessible there), and got everyone out after us, but it was truly terrifying since there were trees everywhere in the water that can catch you from below. It still gives me nightmares. It was a very bad decision to go.

Q: Name a quirky thing you like to do. 

A: I love to grow weird things. I have a hydroponic garden in my family room (for real) and I try to grow things that don’t like to live where I do just because I like to make things harder for myself apparently. I have about 100 square feet of tropical fruit plants and trees in the corner by the couch.

Once I grew an actual pineapple in my family room, and I was really proud until a woman I was talking to told me I could get them for $3 at the grocery store. Like I had done it to save money or something. I didn’t laugh while I was with her, but I did, in fact, laugh.

Q: If there is one thing you want readers to remember about you what would it be?

A: Honestly, I don’t really want readers to remember me so much as I’d love for them to remember the main idea of my book, which is that we can love people who aren’t just like us. That’s a message I think is so needed in our world, especially now.

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Giveaway!

Enter to win DUMPLINGS MEAN FAMILY signed by the author (one winner/USA only) (ends Dec 7)

DUMPLINGS MEAN FAMILY Book Tour Giveaway

Please visit more stops on the tour for extra chances to win!

Nov 15 – Working Mommy Journal
Nov 15 – Cover Lover Book Review
Nov 16 – Locks, Hooks and Books
Nov 17 – Splashes of Joy
Nov 18 – A Mama’s Corner of the World
Nov 18 – Rockin’ Book Reviews
Nov 19 – Triquetra Reviews
Nov 22 – Kam’s Place
Nov 23 – Gina Rae Mitchell 
Nov 23 – Captive Dreams Window
Nov 24 – Jazzy Book Reviews
Nov 24 – Westveil Publishing
Nov 26 – Pick a Good Book
Nov 26 – Lisa’s Reading
Nov 29 – The Phantom Paragrapher
Nov 30 – Literary Flits

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Easy Amazon Links

Dumplings Mean FamilyShop on Amazon Hardcover

For International buyers, the US link should open to your home country’s Amazon page. Please let me know if it doesn’t.

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