Asian American Books

Title: In The Snow

Author: Huy Voun Lee
Illustrator: Huy Voun Lee
ISBN: 10: 0-8050-6579-2
Summary: Xiao Ming and his mother go for a walk outside in the snow. As they are walking,
They both draw Chinese characters in the snow and talk about how the characters are made
and what they mean. As the book continues, they talk more about how sometimes characters
can be combined to form a new word. The book finishes by them going home and Xiao Ming
looking forward to coming back to the park so they can draw more Chinese characters in the
snow.

Childrens Book Review Criteria

Question

Yes

1.

Are there various racial groups depicted in the pictures?

List them- Asian American, White, African American

2.

Is the book bi/multi lingual?

No

N/A

3.

Does this book avoid tokenism? (all characters should have

various facial features and do not look the same)

4.

Does this book avoid gender stereotypes?

5.

Is the author qualified about the subject on which they are writing?

6.

Does this actively portray modern ideas to properly relate to kids?

7.

Does this book avoid disability stereotypes?

8.

Does this book depict a variety of family units?

9.

Are women in active roles?

10.

Are people with disabilities in active roles?

11.

Are people of color in active roles?

12.

Do the illustrations reflect diversity?

14.

Does the book make sure to use gender sensitive terminoligies?

YES I would use this book. This book shows students some characters in Chinese and explains
a little bit about how the language works and how the characters are formed. This is also
relatable to children because many of them have played outside in the snow and have drawn
pictures in the snow before themselves.

Title: I Hate English!

Author: Ellen Levine
Illustrator: Steve Bjorkman
ISBN: 0-590-42305-3
Summary: Mei Mei is a young girl who is frustrated her family moved to New York from Hong
Kong China. She is upset because she cannot speak english and she wished that everyone
spoke Chinese. This made it difficult for her in school, because she wouldnt want to participate
in class, since everything was in English. One day a teacher came to help Mei Mei understand

English. Although Mei Mei was frustrated at first, she grew to like her teacher Nancy. Nancy
helped Mei Mei be able to speak in both English and Chinese whenever Mei Mei wants.

Childrens Book Review Criteria

Question

Yes

No

N/A

1.

Are there various racial groups depicted in the pictures?

List them- Chinese, White,

2.

Is the book bi/multi lingual?

3.

Does this book avoid tokenism? (all characters should have

various facial features and do not look the same)

4.

Does this book avoid gender stereotypes?

5.

Is the author qualified about the subject on which they are writing? x

6.

Does this actively portray modern ideas to properly relate to kids?

7.

Does this book avoid disability stereotypes?

8.

Does this book depict a variety of family units?

9.

Are women in active roles?

10.

Are people with disabilities in active roles?

11.

Are people of color in active roles?

12.

Do the illustrations reflect diversity?

13.

Does the author/illustrator prevent all characters from looking

alike?

14.

Does the book make sure to use gender sensitive terminoligies?

YES I would use this book in the classroom. This book I feel would be beneficial not just for
Chinese American students, but especially for ESL students. This would also be good for the
whole class to help illustrate the hardships of having to learn English as a second language.
This book could also make those ESL students feel like they are not alone, and it is a positive
ending that gives them hope and motivates them that they are able to pick up a second
language!

Title: Apple Pie 4th Of July

Author: Janet S. Wong
Illustrator: Margaret Chodos-Irvine
ISBN: 9780152057084
Summary:A young Chinese American girl is surprised that her parents are cooking Chinese food
to sell on the 4th of July which is a typical American holiday. She tries to tell her parents that
people will want American food on this day and not Chinese food. On the 4th with all the
happenings of fireworks and the parade. Many people are delighted to purchase and enjoy
Chinese food on this Holiday.

Childrens Book Review Criteria

Question

Yes

1.

Are there various racial groups depicted in the pictures?

List them-Chinese American, White

2.

Is the book bi/multi lingual?

3.

Does this book avoid tokenism? (all characters should have

various facial features and do not look the same)

4.

Does this book avoid gender stereotypes?

No

N/A

5.

Is the author qualified about the subject on which they are writing?

6.

Does this actively portray modern ideas to properly relate to kids?

7.

Does this book avoid disability stereotypes?

8.

Does this book depict a variety of family units?

9.

Are women in active roles?

10.

Are people with disabilities in active roles?

11.

Are people of color in active roles?

12.

Do the illustrations reflect diversity?

13.

Does the author/illustrator prevent all characters from looking

alike?

14.

Does the book make sure to use gender sensitive terminoligies?

YES I would use this book in the classroom. This book discusses an important American holiday
and ties in another culture to it.

Title: The Emperor and the Kite

Author: Jane Yolen
Illustrator: Ed Young
ISBN: 0-399-21499-2
Summary: Princess Ojeow Seow, youngest and smallest daughter of the Emperor, is not
thought of very much by her familywhen thought of at all. So she spends her days playing with
a kite made from paper and sticks. When the Emperor is captured and imprisoned in a high
tower, though, it is Djeow Seow who patiently weaves a long, strong rope of her own hair,
attaches it to the tail of her kite, and cleverly flies up to her father in hopes of rescuing him.

Childrens Book Review Criteria

Question

Yes

No

N/A

1.

Are there various racial groups depicted in the pictures?

List them- Chinese

2.

Is the book bi/multi lingual?

3.

Does this book avoid tokenism? (all characters should have

various facial features and do not look the same)

4.

Does this book avoid gender stereotypes?

5.

Is the author qualified about the subject on which they are writing?

6.

Does this actively portray modern ideas to properly relate to kids?

7.

Does this book avoid disability stereotypes?

8.

Does this book depict a variety of family units?

9.

Are women in active roles?

10.

Are people with disabilities in active roles?

11.

Are people of color in active roles?

12.

Do the illustrations reflect diversity?

13.

Does the author/illustrator prevent all characters from looking

alike?

14.

Does the book make sure to use gender sensitive terminoligies?

NO I would not use this book in the classroom. The illustrations are poor and tokenism is very
prevalent here. The story is also about ancient China so it doesnt give a representation of the
culture, or people today.