My family and I have been at home sweltering in the summer heat so I haven’t been posting lately. But I recently read a new nonfiction picture book that blew me away. I needed to write about it. Dreams to Ashes: The 1871 Los Angeles Chinatown Massacre is written by Livia Blackburne, illustrated by Nicole Xu and published by Carol Rhoda Books. The illustrations are bold, breathtaking and ferocious. Worthy of this beautiful picture book’s words that inform, educate but also illicit power in its fiery text. It begins with questions: “What sparks a fire in a young California city? What…