"We Are Inspiring" is a children's book anthology featuring the stories of 32 Asian American and Pacific Islander women. This work encompasses API femmes of various ethnicities, occupations, and body sizes, and is inclusive of LGBTQ folks, immigrants, and mixed-race women. How many Asian American women can you name? Designed for reading-with your child or for children ages 10+ to read independently, "We Are Inspiring" brings to life the inspiring stories of Asian American women from various backgrounds, ethnicities, and professions. Asian American history is an integral part of American history, yet it is often untold or oppressed. I hope that women (femme-identifying or non-binary folks) and our allies are inspired by the Americans whose stories I authored and illustrated. I especially hope that when Asian American women flip through the pages of my children's book, they can see themselves represented, acknowledged, validated, and inspired to chase their dreams by the women who inspired me to chase my own. I wondered why I couldn't find this kind of book anywhere... I realized it was because I hadn't made it yet. Dear reader, thank you for supporting me in my mission to create the book of American stories that I have wanted to hold since I was child.

Designed for reading-with your child or for children ages 10+ to read independently, "We Are Inspiring" brings to life the inspiring stories of Asian American women from various backgrounds, ethnicities, occupations, and successes. Asian American history is an integral part of American history. Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders have been a part of the North American cultural fabric for centuries. I began this project in August 2018. I'd been browsing through a local used bookstore, casually flipping through pages of colorfully-illustrated children's books. I was particularly satisfied by the growing collection of books about women. BUT WAIT. HOLD UP. Where are my Asian Americans at? There HAVE to be some famous Asian Americans, right? I couldn't find an anthology in bookstores nor comprehensive lists online. Why was this information so difficult to find? My goal is to prevent the erasure of Asian American history by helping author it. Asian American history is an integral part of American history. Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders have been a part of the North American cultural fabric for centuries. In fact, Filipinos, the first Asians in North America, arrived in Morro Bay as early as October 1587. Why are our stories omitted from much of the American historical literary canon? Why has this persisted for so long? Why does this continue to happen? What can I do about this? Well, I can write and I can draw. This is the story of how We Are Inspiring was born. This work encompasses API femmes of various ethnicities, occupations, and body sizes, and is inclusive of LGBTQ folks, immigrants, and mixed-race women. I wondered why I couldn't find this kind of book anywhere... I realized it was because I hadn't made it yet. Dear reader, thank you for supporting me in my mission to create the book of American stories that I have wanted to hold since I was child.

Angel Trazo is a Master's student in Asian American Studies at the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA). She graduated from Colgate University in 2017 with degrees in Biology and Art & Art History (Studio Art Emphasis). We Are Inspiring: the stories of 32 Asian American women is her debut children's book.