Asian American Books
Title: Grandfather’s Journey
Author: Allen Say
Illustrator: Allen Say
ISBN: 9780395570357
Summary: This is the story of a cross-cultural family. It begins with the author's memories of his grandfather, who left Japan for California, and eventually returned to Japan with his family. Though the grandfather was happy to be home in Japan, he missed the mountains and rivers he left behind. When his grandfather dies, the author, who grew up in Japan, decides to see the mountains and rivers his grandfather missed so much. He stays in California, but like his grandfather, never forgets his homeland.
Would you use this book?: Yes
I would use this book in my classroom based on the reminiscences the boy in this story has from the generations before him. The young boy embraces his love for both countries, which I think, is difficult for many students especially since they are constantly embraced with stereotypes and negative language. I also enjoyed that the illustrations were done by the author himself from personal experiences putting a new level of accountability on the book as a whole
Author: Allen Say
Illustrator: Allen Say
ISBN: 9780395570357
Summary: This is the story of a cross-cultural family. It begins with the author's memories of his grandfather, who left Japan for California, and eventually returned to Japan with his family. Though the grandfather was happy to be home in Japan, he missed the mountains and rivers he left behind. When his grandfather dies, the author, who grew up in Japan, decides to see the mountains and rivers his grandfather missed so much. He stays in California, but like his grandfather, never forgets his homeland.
Would you use this book?: Yes
I would use this book in my classroom based on the reminiscences the boy in this story has from the generations before him. The young boy embraces his love for both countries, which I think, is difficult for many students especially since they are constantly embraced with stereotypes and negative language. I also enjoyed that the illustrations were done by the author himself from personal experiences putting a new level of accountability on the book as a whole
Title: Bee Bim Bop!
Author: Linda Sue Park
Illustrator: Ho Baek Lee
ISBN: 9780618265114
Summary: In bouncy rhyming text, a hungry child tells of helping her mother make bee-bim bop: shopping, preparing ingredients, setting the table, and sitting down to enjoy a favorite meal. The enthusiasm of the narrator is conveyed in the whimsical illustrations, which bring details from the artist’s childhood in Korea to his depiction of a modern Korean-American family.
Would you use this book?: No
I wouldn’t use this book in my classroom because it lacks a reason or a moral. This book is about a young girl going to her grocery store with her mother even though this book is about Asian Americans I feel like the book draws too close of a line between a racial stereotype that all Asians eat the same food. The book also portrays that the women does all the cooking and shopping in the family in which she doesn’t hold a full time job. Overall I wouldn’t use this book in my classroom due to the lack of substance behind the book.
Author: Linda Sue Park
Illustrator: Ho Baek Lee
ISBN: 9780618265114
Summary: In bouncy rhyming text, a hungry child tells of helping her mother make bee-bim bop: shopping, preparing ingredients, setting the table, and sitting down to enjoy a favorite meal. The enthusiasm of the narrator is conveyed in the whimsical illustrations, which bring details from the artist’s childhood in Korea to his depiction of a modern Korean-American family.
Would you use this book?: No
I wouldn’t use this book in my classroom because it lacks a reason or a moral. This book is about a young girl going to her grocery store with her mother even though this book is about Asian Americans I feel like the book draws too close of a line between a racial stereotype that all Asians eat the same food. The book also portrays that the women does all the cooking and shopping in the family in which she doesn’t hold a full time job. Overall I wouldn’t use this book in my classroom due to the lack of substance behind the book.
Title: Apple Pie 4th of July
Author: Janet S. Wong
Illustrator: Margaret Chodos-Irvine
ISBN: 9780152057084
Summary: Shocked that her parents are cooking Chinese food to sell in the family store on an all-American holiday, a feisty Chinese American girl tries to tell her mother and father how things really are. But as the parade passes by and fireworks light the sky, she learns a surprising lesson.
Would you use this book?: Yes
I would use this book in my classroom because it has a strong moral that I feel is not address within the common American Education system. “Christmas is the only day we close”. This is a common way to live in the United States Culture as we only celebrate Christmas however we do not have one declared religion. This book address’ the main issues in our culture in an age appropriate way, that is why I will use this book in my classroom.
Author: Janet S. Wong
Illustrator: Margaret Chodos-Irvine
ISBN: 9780152057084
Summary: Shocked that her parents are cooking Chinese food to sell in the family store on an all-American holiday, a feisty Chinese American girl tries to tell her mother and father how things really are. But as the parade passes by and fireworks light the sky, she learns a surprising lesson.
Would you use this book?: Yes
I would use this book in my classroom because it has a strong moral that I feel is not address within the common American Education system. “Christmas is the only day we close”. This is a common way to live in the United States Culture as we only celebrate Christmas however we do not have one declared religion. This book address’ the main issues in our culture in an age appropriate way, that is why I will use this book in my classroom.
Title: The Boy in the Garden
Author: Allen Say
Illustrator: Allen Say
ISBN: 9780547214108
Summary: Young Jiro has joined his father on a New Year’s visit to the home of Mr. Ozu. While the two men talk, the little boy wanders into Mr. Ozu’s beautiful garden, where he sees a graceful crane poised in a serene river of small stones. He thinks it’s like the crane in the story his mother has told him (a famous Japanese folk tale, included here as a preface), but the men, watching from the house, interrupt his reverie by laughing and announcing that the crane isn’t real. “That’s only a statue,” his father calls, and he and Mr. Ozu laugh together. The unthinking, oh-so-adult cruelty of that laughter is reflected in Say’s close-up portrait of Jiro, abashed and feeling very much alone.
Would you use this book?: Yes
I would use this book in my classroom because it is an Asian American folk tale that is appropriate for today’s culture along with portraying gender stereotypes in positive manner. The women in this book are portrayed as a person of wisdom as the boy often turns to her for help. I also enjoyed in this book the illustrations as it gives the reader a sense of what the Asian Culture might look like with traditional clothing and scenery.
Author: Allen Say
Illustrator: Allen Say
ISBN: 9780547214108
Summary: Young Jiro has joined his father on a New Year’s visit to the home of Mr. Ozu. While the two men talk, the little boy wanders into Mr. Ozu’s beautiful garden, where he sees a graceful crane poised in a serene river of small stones. He thinks it’s like the crane in the story his mother has told him (a famous Japanese folk tale, included here as a preface), but the men, watching from the house, interrupt his reverie by laughing and announcing that the crane isn’t real. “That’s only a statue,” his father calls, and he and Mr. Ozu laugh together. The unthinking, oh-so-adult cruelty of that laughter is reflected in Say’s close-up portrait of Jiro, abashed and feeling very much alone.
Would you use this book?: Yes
I would use this book in my classroom because it is an Asian American folk tale that is appropriate for today’s culture along with portraying gender stereotypes in positive manner. The women in this book are portrayed as a person of wisdom as the boy often turns to her for help. I also enjoyed in this book the illustrations as it gives the reader a sense of what the Asian Culture might look like with traditional clothing and scenery.
Title: Kamishibai Man
Author: Allen Say
Illustrator: Allen Say
ISBN #: 9780618479542
Summary: The Kamishibai man used to ride his bicycle into town where he would tell stories to the children and sell them candy, but gradually, fewer and fewer children came running at the sound of his clappers. They were all watching their new televisions instead. Finally, only one boy remained, and he had no money for candy. Years later, the Kamishibai man and his wife made another batch of candy, and he pedaled into town to tell one more story—his own. When he comes out of the reverie of his memories, he looks around to see he is surrounded by familiar faces—the children he used to entertain have returned, all grown up and more eager than ever to listen to his delightful tales.
Would you use this book?: Yes
I would bring this book into my classroom because of the moral behind the story. The book brings an old traditional Asian American story back into picture after many years of it becoming untold. This book is about two different generations coming together as one in order to learn from the pervious generation. I feel like this is one reason that Caucasians are unsure of their culture because they were unable to spend time and learn from the pervious generations and if a teacher is able to inspire that conversation the future generations would change.
Author: Allen Say
Illustrator: Allen Say
ISBN #: 9780618479542
Summary: The Kamishibai man used to ride his bicycle into town where he would tell stories to the children and sell them candy, but gradually, fewer and fewer children came running at the sound of his clappers. They were all watching their new televisions instead. Finally, only one boy remained, and he had no money for candy. Years later, the Kamishibai man and his wife made another batch of candy, and he pedaled into town to tell one more story—his own. When he comes out of the reverie of his memories, he looks around to see he is surrounded by familiar faces—the children he used to entertain have returned, all grown up and more eager than ever to listen to his delightful tales.
Would you use this book?: Yes
I would bring this book into my classroom because of the moral behind the story. The book brings an old traditional Asian American story back into picture after many years of it becoming untold. This book is about two different generations coming together as one in order to learn from the pervious generation. I feel like this is one reason that Caucasians are unsure of their culture because they were unable to spend time and learn from the pervious generations and if a teacher is able to inspire that conversation the future generations would change.
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