Sean is excited because today is his dad’s turn to help out at school! But when Sean’s classmates start asking questions about why Sean and his dad look different from each other, Sean starts to wonder too. With the help of their teacher, the students learn a few things about diversity, family and where we really came from. And along the way, Sean teaches his friends just how wonderful it is to be different!
Leslie Ryan is Filipino-American and her husband is Irish-American. They have 2 children, Sean (10) and Linley (7). Ever since their children were born, people said they looked more Asian than Irish. They thought it was pretty funny, especially when Sean's name is very Irish. But in 2007, when Sean was in Kindergarten, a mom in his class told her son that he didn’t look Irish and he couldn’t be Irish. Even though it was meant as a joke, it was a little hurtful and no longer funny. Leslie’s son then asked her if he really is Irish. She said yes, half Filipino and half Irish, or Flippish for short. After this incident, Leslie started looking for children’s picture books about multi-cultural families. To her disappointment and frustration that there were no books explaining to kids about where their ancestors came from, she decided to write a story herself. Initially the story was written just for her children, but she felt that she had to share her story to families who have gone through similar situations and also to families who just want to celebrate their heritage and ancestry.
Leslie Ryan is Filipino-American and her husband is Irish-American. They have 2 children, Sean (10) and Linley (7). Ever since their children were born, people said they looked more Asian than Irish. They thought it was pretty funny, especially when Sean's name is very Irish. But in 2007, when Sean was in Kindergarten, a mom in his class told her son that he didn’t look Irish and he couldn’t be Irish. Even though it was meant as a joke, it was a little hurtful and no longer funny. Leslie’s son then asked her if he really is Irish. She said yes, half Filipino and half Irish, or Flippish for short. After this incident, Leslie started looking for children’s picture books about multi-cultural families. To her disappointment and frustration that there were no books explaining to kids about where their ancestors came from, she decided to write a story herself. Initially the story was written just for her children, but she felt that she had to share her story to families who have gone through similar situations and also to families who just want to celebrate their heritage and ancestry.
