MY BLOG
Filter by topic
- Classroom experiences 9
- Cultural reflections 9
- Multicultural literature 8
- Behind-the-book stories 6
- Book recommendations 6
- Discussion guide 4
- English learner resources 4
- Literacy reflections 4
- Either the Beginning or the End of the World 3
- Joseph's Big Ride 2
- Literary process 2
- Author interviews 1
- Collaboration essays 1
- Go Home 1
- Reflections on storytelling 1
- The Cat Who Liked Potato Soup 1
- The Good Braider 1
Reading with dads in prison
A sign at the Concord State Prison’s Family Connections Center reads , “Be a dad. Be there.” This is a story about books as a link between kids and their parent who’s incarcerated.
6 picture books about food and friends across cultures
Food has a way of bringing people together, creating opportunities for friendship, conversation, and connection across cultures. In this reflection, Terry Farish shares a collection of picture books that celebrate food, family, and the joy of discovering the many traditions and experiences that shape our communities.
5 outstanding international books
Stories have the power to take us beyond our own experiences and help us see the world through new perspectives. In this reflection, Terry Farish shares a selection of outstanding international books that celebrate diverse voices, cultures, and experiences while reminding us of the connections that unite readers everywhere.
Ways to find a home: 10 stories of migration
Julie Flett’s picture book “Birdsong” runs away with my blue ribbon for picture books about moving. All of these books are about migration of some kind, and in Katherena's case, in “Birdsong,” her migration is to a new home, away from the sea.
‘Hard Love’ story: Interview with VOA Cambodia
When Terry was interviewed by Voice of America Cambodia about “Either the Beginning or the End of the World,” the conversation turned personal. Her novel is about a mother and daughter who love each other but struggle to tolerate each other—the “hard love” shaped by a mother’s survival of the Khmer Rouge.
Elsa Marston’s love affair with Lebanon
Reflections on fellow author Elsa Marston and her literary love affair with Lebanon and the Middle East. Elsa’s stories explored war, cultural difference, and the possibility of peace. In “The Olive Tree,” she searched for “some signs of hope” among people trying to move beyond hatred and anger. Fiction can help us understand the world—and tell its deepest truths.
‘Soldiers Home and Away’ features ‘Either the Beginning or the End of the World’
For fourteen years, America had been mired in war, creating a cultural gulf between military and civilian communities. Through New Hampshire Humanities’ “Soldiers Home and Away” project, “Either the Beginning or the End of the World” became part of a conversation about soldiers coming home, traumatic brain injury, families, and understanding.
Researching to write: ‘Either the Beginning or the End of the World’
Music, folktales, interviews, books, and conversations all became part of Terry’s research for “Either the Beginning or the End of the World.” Her journey into Cambodian history and culture was ultimately about more than war. She wanted to understand what happens afterward—the stories of people living after surviving, and the impact of memory across generations.
Children’s books about the US in the Vietnam War
How do we remember those whose stories might otherwise be lost? In this thoughtful reflection, Terry Farish explores the power of books, letters, and personal histories to preserve the human experience of the Vietnam War, reminding us that every story has the power to deepen our understanding of the past.