105 Ways to Give a Book

New Books About Chinese-American Kids

I really want to get this post up today, so that maybe, just maybe, I can be included on some of the kids’ lit blog roundups as having something interesting to add. So today, you the reader get to make up your own clever introduction, which you can mentally insert between this actual introduction and my book reviews.

[Insert clever intro here.]

Uncle Peter's Amazing Chinese WeddingUncle Peter’s Amazing Chinese Wedding, by Lenore Look, explores the Chinese wedding traditions and the relationships in families. Jenny is afraid of losing the love of her favorite uncle when he gets married, but she finds out she can never be replaced. The lovely illustrations in this picture book make it as enjoyable for the parent reading it as for the child listening.

Shanghai MessengerShanghai Messenger, by Andrea Cheng, puts the Chinese-American girl back in China, as Xiao Mei travels from Ohio to Shanghai to visit her relatives. This book is written in free verse poems with soft color illustrations alongside the text, which makes for a sophisticated picture book for the early elementary crowd.

The Year of the DogThe Year of the Dog starts Grace Lin’s move to chapter books from picture books, and she does a great job. The story focuses on an American-born Taiwanese girl in the fourth grade, finding herself and her traditions in a world that is not always accepting. This story parallels Grace Lin’s own childhood in many ways, and she makes it realistic and fun for her young readers.

Seeing EmilySeeing Emily, by Joyce Lee Wong, is a wonderful, sensitive novel in verse intended for teens. Grace is an American-born Chinese who struggles with her identity and with the normal throes of adolescence. Eventually, her search for herself takes her back to China, where her looks make her blend in, but she still feels like she stands out.

That wraps it up. If you don’t mind closing this post out for me as well, then thanks. (Oh, and I’m not crazy about the post’s title either, so maybe give that a go.)

[Insert clever closing here.]

1 comment:

Unknown said...

Thanks for introducing this new book, i am sure it will help kids to learn chinese language very easily.