opening possibilities for children through diverse storytelling with mike yam, author of fried rice & marinara

field notes is a personal, behind-the-scenes look at our journey to constantly build and improve golden guide, the largest contextual platform of AANHPI businesses, restaurants, community organizations, and resources.

as a part of our aapi gift guide campaign, we're talking to a handful of asian american, native hawaiian and pacific islander small businesses, makers, and creators about their experiences, what they've learned, and their gift picks from the guide.

in this special aapi gift guide edition of field notes, we're talking studio host for the NFL Network and author of the children's book fried rice and marinara, Michael Yam .

read below to learn more about him!

how did you come up with the idea for your book?

During the course of my career, I have been fortunate enough to speak to students about a path in broadcasting, but I have always been disheartened by the lack of Asian representation in media classes.

Aside from cultural factors, I believe the lack of widespread representation at high levels of sportscasting is a major reason why Asian American students are picking other career paths. Strengthening the pipeline is one of the ways I think this changes.

If young kids can see themselves in stories, I think it can spark an interest in storytelling. This was a big driver in wanting to write Fried Rice and Marinara.

tell us about a fellow aapi restaurant, business, or community group(s) you’re a fan of. what do they do best? what makes them different?

I think Golden Guide did a remarkable job of sourcing so many wonderful stories for children.

Exposure is really powerful. Growing up, I always had a bat, racket, glove, or some type of ball in my hand and watched countless hours of games, but it never occurred to me that being a sportscaster was an actual job.

Fundamentally, I understood there were broadcasters I saw and heard, but there was such a massive disconnect. I couldn't conceive of the idea that I could actually have or do that job—I never saw anyone who looked like me doing it. Those seeds were not planted as I watched games. Thinking back, that's a problem.

Why wasn't that an option? We can't limit possibilities for children. The more stories that allow children to see themselves reflected in positive narratives, the more we empower them to dream about everything that is possible.

what advice do you wish someone gave you when starting out your small business or that you think every business owner/maker should know?

I didn't realize how tough the publishing industry is. There are only a few gatekeepers in the business, so if you're hoping to have a larger reach for the greatest impact, you can be frustrated quickly.

Leaders in publishing are fully aware of the lack of diversity in authors and stories, but they move so slowly to publish that it compounds the issue.

My best advice to any aspiring offer is to push hard to make your story come to life. You don't need someone to tell you yes.

what is a specific moment or memory has stuck with you on this journey as you build your business?

I researched the types of books available to young readers and was disheartened by the lack of diverse stories.

Some of the statistics I found really hit home for me. A study conducted by the University of Wisconsin in 2022 found that it was more likely for readers to see a children’s story about an animal or object than they are to see a story depicting a character from a diverse background.

Why is this important? Small children are absorbing their environment more than some might realize. And research supports this. By age 3, children in the U.S. connect some racial groups with negative traits, and by age 4, children in the United States associate White Americans with wealth and higher status.

To me, this underscores how imperative it is for us to create stories with positive narratives focusing on diverse characters.

what is the best way for folks to support you?

I think I speak for everyone fortunate enough to be in Golden Guide's gift guide. Sales are great! Community support is strong, and word of mouth is huge for all of us.

As consumers, we all look at reviews, and for businesses, or in my case, as an author, reviews of Fried Rice and Marinara are enormous. It helps more than people realize.

are you open to collaborating with others? if yes, what types of collaborations would you like to do or be reached out to for?

I'm always open to collaborating. I know there are some really creative people out there who might have some terrific ideas, so bring them on! I love speaking to students and am willing to bounce ideas off other authors or work with bookstores.

what brands (besides your own) in the gift guide will you be shopping at?

I can't wait to check out the other children's books in the guide.

I live close to?Bel Canto?and?Now Serving, so there's no question I'll be stopping by. I used to live in San Francisco and plan on going to?Arkipelago?on my next trip to the Bay.?

I wasn't familiar with?Mam's Books, but it looks like a great vibe, so it's on the to-do list for my next Seattle trip. Also, NJ/NYC will always be home for me. My family is still in the area, and there's no question that on my next visit home, I'll be visiting?Yu & Me Books'?temporary location to support them after I read about the fire in Chinatown.

discover fried rice and marinara & 300 other small businesses, makers, and creators on golden guide's first-ever gift guide at aapigiftguide.com

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