Leslie V. Ryan

Leslie V. Ryan, born in Japan and raised in Papua New Guinea and the Philippines, moved to the United States in 1987. She received her bachelor's degree in Legal Studies and Japanese language from the University of California at Berkeley. Her book, I am Flippish!, is inspired by her real-life experience of someone telling her son that he couldn't possibly be Irish because of the way he looked. In response to this hurtful and confusing incident, Flippish! was born. Ryan's hope is that more children from multicultural families will be empowered by discovering who they are and be able to take pride in and celebrate their ancestry.

In between volunteering at school, carpooling, taking her children to their activities, Leslie is currently writing a Young Adult time traveler series with a strong female protagonist.

About "I am Flippish!"

A multicultural children's book sure to touch the heart of every reader, I am Flippish! openly addresses confusion children of diverse families might have about their ancestry and why they look the way they do.

When one of Sean's classmates insists that his dad is not, in fact, his dad because their skin is a different color, Sean is sad and confused. His wise teacher, Mr. Hartman, gives the students a homework assignment, instructing the children to go home and ask their parents about their ancestry. As a result, Sean discovers that he is Flippish--Filipino and Irish. Together, the family celebrates their heritage and Sean is able to return to school with confidence about who he is, where he comes from, and why he looks the way he does--which children of all ages can learn from and pride themselves on, too.

The Story Behind "I am Flippish!"

Leslie V. Ryan is Filipino-American and her husband is Irish-American. They have 2 children. Ever since their children were born, people said they looked more Asian than Irish. Leslie and her husband thought it was pretty funny, especially when Sean's full name is Sean Patrick Ryan. In 2007 while Leslie was battling breast cancer and 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 just for her children. Leslie then shared her manuscript to her friends who were in similar situations and after reading it they strongly encouraged her to get it published.

This story is perfect for children who are curious about their heritage and multicultural families who can relate to feeling confused when asked, "What are you?" All kids will appreciate the concept of inheriting the best traits of both parents, and readers will also appreciate the facial expressions and bright colors in the illustrations. - OC Register 2/23/12

A celebration of heritage written by a Laguna Niguel resident, the story is great for multi- cultural families. - OC Family 01/12

This book will be a great addition to any classroom. It will make a meaningful read for young children raised in a bicultural family. Making up silly names while learning about heritage and countries along the way, helps open up a sensitive issue with children. The illustrations include pictures of country flags from around the world. The school setting brings in the needed element of familiarity and relevance and the conversational tone succeeds in keeping it simple. Overall, it's a gentle and important tale for all. - InCultureparent.com 2/15/13

Themes: Multiculturalism, Multicultural Issues, Multicultural Families, Multicultural Education, Diversity, Heritage, Ancestry, Tolerance, Acceptance, Immigration, Biracial, Interracial Relationships, Social Issues, Mixed Families, Biracial Identity, Discovering Ancestry