Obasan (1981) – This award-winning poetic novel chronicles Canada’s internment and persecution of its citizens of Japanese descent during the Second World War from the perspective of a young child. The first novel to share this personal experience with Canadians, published by an Asian Canadian woman with a literary trade publisher. On curriculum lists around the world; translated into Japanese, French, and German.

By: Taizo Yamamoto, with contributions by Aaron Peck, Kevin Chong, and Jackie Wong.

A beautifully stitched chapbook of poems and paintings by Carla Stein. The cover itself hints at the slender book’s contents. As though writer and reader are sharing a secret.

Working on this book has been an adventure all the way through. Isabella sent me her initial ideas, and the conversation took off from there. We discussed the theme of the book, how she wanted to have heavy contrast between the sombre tone of her poems and the beauty of the plants and flowers she found while walking the trails and parks near and far from her home. - Isabella Mori

This heartwarming short story by author Matthew Heneghan was the chosen submission from Tigerpetal Press’s 2023 August submission period. Though brief, this story stood out among its peers as a spark of connection and lingering kindness.

Sally Quon’s poetry collection, ‘This Long Road’ was the chosen submission from Tigerpetal Press’s 2023 November submission period. The theme was recovery; healing; and/or personal growth, and Sally’s collection fit perfectly with these and with our vision.

The third entry in the Time to Wonder Series. These books give you a backstage pass to explore behind the scenes in regional museums throughout BC. Whether you are an experienced museumgoer or just curious about something new, this is a book you will read over and over.

From the Lost and Found Department (2023), by the trailblazing Joy Kogawa, is a profound work of spare, trenchant, and haunting poems that lets us stay with the quietest qualities of beauty and the sublime.

This essential volume brings together thrilling new work with selected poems from The Splintered Moon (1967), A Choice of Dreams (1974), Jericho Road (1977), Woman In the Woods (1985), and A Garden of Anchors: Selected Poems (2003).

Kogawa’s poems here are evidence that our every vulnerability can open into vast channels of grace.

This volume is a carefully selected poems from previously published books and includes a number of new poems, as well as 're-writes' of some previously published works. It solidifies and define Joy Kogawa as one of the literary giants of Canadian literature.

Naomi’s Road (1986) – Children’s novel based on Obasan, tells the internment story more personally from the perspective of six-year-old Naomi. Vancouver Opera in Schools toured a production of Naomi’s Road to schools throughout British Columbia, across Canada, and in Seattle in 2005–2006.

Naomi’s Tree (2008) – Children’s picture book illustrated by Ruth Ohi. Tells the story of the loyal cherry tree that grows in the backyard of Naomi Nakane’s childhood home. After she and her family are forced to leave, the tree remembers her across the miles and years. A story of friendship and forgiveness.

Gently to Nagasaki (2016) – Memoir of Joy Kogawa’s life as a writer and social activist, from redress to environmentalism to nuclear energy. Focus begins wide and then closely examines family transgressions, including those of her father, Rev. Gordon Goichi Nakayama, and struggles to rebuild broken trust.

Itsuka (1992) – Novel followup to Obasan, Naomi travels from southern Alberta to join Aunt Emily and her political activism for Redress in Toronto. Republished as Emily Kato (2005), with an additional plotline involving an Armenian priest reconciling the Genocide (1915–1916). Original plotline re-released as Itsuka (2019).

The language of Small Arguments is simple, yet there is nothing simple in its ideas. Reminiscent of Pablo Neruda’s Elemental Odes, these poems explore the structures of argument, orchestrating material around repetition, variation, and contrast.