Chinese Americans

Realistic fiction

Non-fiction

Traditional

Biography

Historical fiction

Poetry

Fantasy

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NOTE: RECENTLY ADDED TITLES APPEAR IN RED.

NOTE: Titles added Winter 2008/2009 appear in BLUE.

Realistic Fiction:

Ashley, B. (1995). Cleversticks. Illustrated by D. Brazell. New York: Random House. (K-3)

Wishing he had something to be clever at like each of the other children in his class, Ling Sung unexpectedly and happily discovers the others admire his prowess with chopsticks. (amazon.com)

Cheng, A. (2003). Grandfather counts. Illustrated by A. Zhang. Lee & Low. (K-4)

When Helen”s grandfather, Gong Gong, comes from China to live with her family, he’s shocked to find that none of his grandchildren speak Chinese. How will he communicate with them? At first he keeps to himself. Then one day he joins Helen to watch the trains. He starts counting the train cars in Chinese, and she repeats the words. Then Helen says the numbers in English. They continue to teach each other, and Helen even learns her Chinese name, which means "flower.” In this luminously illustrated intergenerational story, the devotion between a young girl and her grandfather helps them overcome barriers of age and language. (amazon.com)

Cheng, A. (2004). Honeysuckle house. Front Street. (3-5)

Alienation, longing, prejudice, and cultural difference are touched on in this immigrant story told in the voices of two ten-year-old girls. Sarah and Tina are fourth graders. The most important thing in the world to Sarah - American-born Chinese - is the recent departure of her best friend, Victoria. She misses her terribly. Tina has just recently moved to Cincinnati from Shanghai, and is trying to make sense of a whole new world - pretty much clueless to all the things Sarah is hip to. The two girls are paired together in school, as if Asian appearance were proof of parallel lives and experience. ("I don't speak Chinese,” Sarah keeps having to explain.) It’s the daily, common stuff of childhood intrigue that finally manages to connect their stories and forge a friendship. A whole constellation of adult concerns swirl around them - green card worries, assimilation, absent fathers, family tensions - but Andrea Cheng remains true to the heart and voice and vision of two ten-year-old girls, in a story which blends tears and games, drama and play. (amazon.com)

Cheng, A. (2003). The key collection. Illustrated by Y. Choi. Holt. (3-5)

Ten-year-old Jimmy has a close relationship with his grandmother, Ni Ni, whom he visits nearly every day. She cooks delicious treats for him, teaches him Chinese characters, tells wonderful stories about growing up in Shanghai, and shows him such things as a fascinating collection of keys. Jimmy is heartbroken when he learns Ni Ni is moving to San Francisco to live with his aunt, but the blow of losing Ni Ni is softened somewhat by a friendship that develops between Jimmy and a boy named Jason. Jimmy is reunited with Ni Ni after his aunt sends a ticket for him to fly out to San Francisco for his grandmother’s eightieth birthday. During the visit, Jimmy comes to realize that there are ways for him and his grandmother to bridge the distance between them. This warm, reassuring story of intergenerational friendship is decorated with black-and-white illustrations of key scenes that add further emotional content. (Booklist)

Chin-Lee, C. (1993). Almond cookies and Dragon Well tea. Illustrated by Y. S. Tang. Chicago. IL: Polychrome. (K-3)

Erica visits the home of Nancy, a Chinese American girl, and makes many delightful discoveries about her friend’s cultural heritage. (card catalog)

Chinn, K. (1997). Sam and the lucky money. New York: Lee and Low Books. (K-3)

Anticipating spending his gift of Lucky Money on Chinese New Year’s day, Sam accompanies his mother to Chinatown, where he watches a dancing New Year’s lion, visits many colorful and good-smelling shops, and learns a special lesson. (amazon.com)

Lee, H. V. (1998). At the beach. New York: Henry Holt. (K-3)

A little boy and his mother go to the beach. There she teaches him how to make Chinese words by drawing pictures in the sand. Young readers can learn ten Chinese characters in this wonderfully innovative picture book. (amazon.com)

Lee, H. V. (1998). In the park. New York: Henry Holt. (K-3)

Spring has arrived and Xiao Ming can’t wait to spend the day in the park with his mother. All around them are signs of the season: insects flying, leaves on the trees, and flowers in bloom. Xiao Ming’s mother teaches Xiao Ming how to write the words for these things in Chinese by first drawing pictures of them. (amazon.com)

Lee, H. V. (2000). In the snow. New York: Henry Holt. (K-3)

A mother and son practice writing Chinese characters in the snow. Introduces the characters for ten simple words. (Borders.com)

Levine, E. (1995). I hate English! Illustrated by S. Bjorkman. New York: Scholastic Trade. (K-2)

A realistic, sympathetic story of the problems of learning a new language and culture, with cartoonlike illustrations of a distraught, angry, or pleased young girl from Hong Kong set against a background of New York’s Chinatown. (Horn Book, 1990)

Lin, G. (2006). The year of the dog. Little, Brown Young Readers. (4-6)

It’s the Chinese Year of the Dog, and as Pacy celebrates with her family, she finds out that this is the year she is supposed to find herself. As the year goes on, she struggles to find her talent, makes a new best friend, and discovers just why the Year of the Dog is a lucky one for her after all. Universal themes of friendship, family, and finding one’s passion in life make this novel appealing to readers of all backgrounds. This funny and profound book is a wonderful debut novel by prolific picture book author and illustrator Grace Lin, and has all the makings of a modern classic. (amazon.com)

Lin, G. (2008). The year of the rat. Little, Brown Young Readers. (4-6)

In this sequel to Year of the Dog, Pacy has another big year in store for her. The Year of the Dog was a very lucky year: she met her best friend Melody and discovered her true talents. However, the Year of the Rat brings big changes: Pacy must deal with Melody moving to California, find the courage to forge on with her dream of becoming a writer and illustrator, and learn to face some of her own flaws. Pacy encounters prejudice, struggles with acceptance, and must find the beauty in change. Based on the author’s childhood adventures, Year of the Rat, features the whimsical black and white illustrations and the hilarious and touching anecdotes that helped Year of the Dog earn rave reviews and satisfied readers. (amazon,com)

Look, L. (2001). Henry’s First-Moon birthday. Illustrated by Y. Heo. New York: Simon & Schuster/Atheneum. (K-3)

Jenny’s baby brother Henry is having his one-month birthday -- his first-moon, as it’s called in Chinese. And even though Jenny’s sure he doesn’t deserve it -- all Henry does is sleep, eat, and cry – there’s a big celebration planned for him. Together, Jenny and her grandma get everything ready, from dyeing eggs a lucky red to preparing pigs’ feet and ginger soup. And someday, when Henry’s old enough to appreciate all her hard work, Jenny will tell him how lucky he was to have her in charge. The childlike charm of Lenore Look’s story is perfectly captured in Yumi Heo’s naïve illustrations, which give readers the impression that Jenny drew them herself. (amazon.com)

Look, L. (2004). Ruby Lu, brave and true. Illustrated by A. Wilsdorf. Atheneum/Anne Schwartz Books. (1-3)

Most days the best thing about being Ruby is everything. Like when she’s the star of her own backyard magic show. Or when she gives a talk at the school safety assembly on the benefits of reflective tape. Or when she rides the No. 3 bus all the way to Chinatown to visit GungGung and PohPoh. And then there are the days when it’s very hard to be Ruby. Like when her mom suggests Chinese school on Saturdays. Or when her little brother, Oscar, spills all of Ruby’s best magician secrets. Or when her parents don’t think she’s old enough to drive! Come along with Ruby Lu in her chapter-book debut -- which even includes a flip book of a magic trick -- and share the good and the not-so-good days with an (almost) eight-year-old Asian-American kid. (amazon.com)

Look, L. (2006). Ruby Lu, Empress of everything. Illustrated by A. Wilsdorf. Atheneum/Anne Schwartz Books. (2-4).

When Ruby’s cousin Flying Duck emigrates from China to live with her, Ruby decides the best thing about Flying Duck is that she is a great new friend. BUT the worst thing about Flying Duck is that now, no one speaks English at home. Plus, there’s strange food on the table every night and only chopsticks to eat it with. And Flying Duck is deaf, and Ruby doesn’t know any Chinese Sign Language.

As if that weren’t enough, this summer proves to be even more perilous as Ruby faces the dangers of swimming lessons, the joys of summer school, the difficulty of staying with a twelve-step program, the miracle needed to keep a beautiful stray dog that wanders into her life, and much more. Is it all too much for anyone -- even the Empress of Everything -- to handle? (amazon.com)

Look, L. (2006). Uncle Peter’s amazing Chinese wedding. Illustrated by Y. Heo. Atheneum/Anne Schwartz Books. (K-3)

Jenny’s favorite uncle, Peter, is getting married, and everyone is happy happy -- everyone, that is, except Jenny. While her family runs about getting ready for the traditional Chinese wedding -- preparing for the tea ceremony, exchanging good-luck money called hungbau, helping the bride with her many dresses -- Jenny is crying on the inside. How is she supposed to still be Uncle Peter’s number-one girl, with her new aunt Stella around? Maybe if she can stop the day’s events from happening, he won’t get married at all... Mischievous kids will love following Lenore Look and Yumi Heo’s feisty heroine from Henry’s First-Moon Birthday in this charming story that also illuminates the many traditions of the Chinese wedding. (amazon.com)

Low, W. (1997). Chinatown. New York: Henry Holt. (K-3)

In this tribute to his own childhood in Chinatown, William Low melds a spare, evocative text with richly descriptive art, a combination that lends a feeling of immediacy to every page. Herbal shops, outdoor markets, and a tai chi chuan class in the park are among the many sights a young boy sees when taking a walk with his grandmother. (amazon.com)

Marsden, C. & Loh, V. S. (2008). The jade dragon. Candlewick. (2-4)

Second-grader Ginny is thrilled when another Chinese girl joins her class. But Stephanie is adopted and her fondest wish is to be Caucasian like her parents. Despite Stephanie’s initial unwillingness, the girls eventually become friends, and Ginny gives Stephanie a valuable jade dragon to seal the deal. The story, set in the 1980s, brings up some interesting issues, including the embarrassment some first-generation children feel about their heritage, the things children will do to make and keep friends, and the uncertainty foreign adoptees can feel about fitting into their families. The authors tackle it all with a light touch, centering the story on Ginny’s desire to make a new friend, especially one that looks like her. Though it will take a skilled second-grade reader to read the book (it might have attracted a wider audience had the characters been slightly older), children who stick with it will enjoy the story, and the compelling cover photo will draw an audience. Pair this with Grace Lin's Year of the Dog (2006). (Booklist)

Molnar-Fenton, S. (1998). An Mei’s strange and wondrous journey. Illustrated by V. Flesher. New York: Dorling Kindersley. (K-3))

Molnar-Fenton has much to say about how the past can prey on the present, despite the loving attentions of others, in this story about his adopted Chinese daughter’s journey from her birthplace to a new home in the U. S. (Kirkus Reviews, 1998)

Namioka, L. (2002). Yang the eldest and his odd jobs. Illustrated by K. deKiefte. New York: Yearling Books. (4-6)

In this final installment in the Yang family quartet, Eldest Brother discovers he needs a new violin and is forced to get a job to pay for it. After trying his hand at everything from baby-sitting to serving sushi, he becomes obsessed with making money and gives up on the violin altogether, until his younger siblings lead him to resume his music. (Borders.com)

Namioka, L. (2000). Yang the second and her secret admirers. Illustrated by K. deKiefte. New York: Yearling Books. (4-6)

While her younger siblings have adopted many American customs since moving from China to Seattle, Yinglan Yang clings to her Chinese heritage so her brother and sister hatch a plot to convert her to American culture. (card catalog)

Namioka, L. (1999). Yang the third and her impossible family. Illustrated by K. deKiefte. New York: Yearling Books. (4-6)

Yingmai Yang has changed her name to Mary now that she’s learning how to “be American”. It’s hard since her family sticks to their Chinese customs. Still, Mary wants to be best friends with popular Holly Hanson and sees her chance when she adopts one of Holly’s kittens. Now, to prove her friendship to Holly, Mary must find a way to keep the kitten a secret from her impossible family. (Borders.com)

Namioka, L. (1994). Yang the youngest and his terrible ear. Illustrated by K. deKiefte. New York: Yearling Books. (4-6)

Recently arrived in Seattle from China, musically untalented Yangtao is faced with giving a violin performance to attract new students for his father when he would rather be working on friendships and playing baseball. (card catalog)

Nunes, S. M. (1997). The last dragon. Illustrated by C. K. Soentpiet. New York: Houghton Mifflin. (K-3))

While spending the summer in Chinatown with his great-aunt, a young boy finds an old ten-man dragon in a shop and gets a number of people to help him repair it. (amazon.com)

Peacock, C. A. (2000). Mommy far, mommy near: An adoption story. Illustrated by S. C. Brownell. Morton Grove, IL: Albert Whitman. (K-3)

Although Elizabeth, a young Chinese girl, is secure in the love of her adoptive Caucasian American family, she still has questions. Why, if China is such a big country, wasn’t there room for all the babies? Didn’t her mother love her? Such questions surface in games with her younger Chinese sister, in loving give-and-take with her American mother, and in hurt feelings after seeing a Chinese mother and daughter at the playground. Decorated in floral patterns and colored in lush, velvety hues, the thickly stroked, realistic artwork expands on the text while heightening the emotions it conveys. Elizabeth’s misgivings are met head-on by her adoptive mother’s reassurance, love, and thoughtful responses. The mother’s tender support not only reassures Elizabeth but will also benefit other adoptees, especially those from Third World countries, as it reinforces the efforts of all loving, adoptive parents. (Booklist)

Porte, B. A. (1993). Leave that cricket be, Alan Lee. Illustrated by D. Ruff. New York: Greenwillow. (K-3)

Chinese and American cultures blend in the colorfully illustrated tale of young Alan Lee, who searches for the cricket in his house, while his uncle Clemson tells of his youth in China, where crickets were kept in cages. (amazon.com)

Sing, R. (1994). Chinese New Year’s dragon. Illustrated by S. W. Liu. New York: Aladdin Paperbacks. (K-3)

This New Year, the Year of the Dragon, something magical happens. A young girl’s grandmother tells her about dragons, and suddenly she finds herself on a dragon’s back soaring over ancient China. Bright, colorful illustrations complement this informative and imaginative tale. (amazon.com)

Tan, A. (1995). The Moon Lady. Illustrated by G. Schields. New York: Aladdin Paperbacks. (1-5)

On a rainy afternoon, three sisters wish for the rain to stop, wish they could play in the puddles, wish for something, anything, to do. So Ying-Ying, their grandmother, tells them a tale from long ago. On the night of the Moon Festival, when Ying-Ying was a little girl, she encountered the Moon Lady, who grants the secret wishes of those who ask, and learned from her that the best wishes are those you can make come true yourself. (amazon.com)

Tompert, A. (1997). Grandfather Tang’s story. Illustrated by R. A. Parker. New York: Dragonfly. (K-3)

Grandfather tells a story about shape-changing fox fairies who try to best each other until a hunter brings danger to both of them. (card catalog)

Trottier, M. (1996). The tiny kite of Eddie Wing. Illustrated by A. Van Mil. New York: Kane/Miller. (K-3)

This story tells of how a small boy’s passion for kite flying and his ability to dream helps an old man bring meaning to his own life. (Borders.com)

Vaughan, M. K. (1996). The dancing dragon. Illustrated by S. W. Foon. New York: Mondo. (K-3)

The Chinese New Year is about to begin. There’s lots to do - tie strings of firecrackers outside, hang up red scrolls, bake special cakes, and sing New Year’s songs. And when family and friends are gathered together, it’s time for the parade to begin. This book folds out to reveal all the color and excitement of a traditional Chinese New Year celebration, complete with dancing dragon! (amazon.com)

Wallace, I. (1998). Chin Chiang and the dragon’s dance. Toronto, ON: Groundwood Books. (K-1).

From the award-winning illustrator of "The Very Last First Time” and "The Name of the Tree” comes the story of a young Chinese boy who has the opportunity to fulfill his lifelong dream of dancing in the New Year’s parade, and almost lets fear ruin everything. (Borders.com)

Williams, V. B. (1997). Lucky song. New York: Greenwillow Books. (K-2)

Listen to this lucky song about Evie and her blue-sky, kite-flying day. But Evie’s day wouldn’t be nearly as special without a little help from her family. Young readers will want to hear Evie’s lucky song again and again and again.

Yang, B. (2004). Hannah is my name. Candlewick. (1-3)

In an upbeat immigration story, Yang draws on her own experience of coming to America from Taiwan at age seven in the late 1960s. The bright gouache pictures of San Francisco draw strongly on Chinese and American traditions, with geometric cutout shapes depicting people crowding the streets, at school, and at the workplace--all from the child’s viewpoint. This story isn’t about missing the old country or being a stranger, and most people are friendly. Hannah learns to sing "This Land Is My Land,” and she reads Curious George in Woolworths. The tension is in the threat of deportation as the family waits for green cards that will allow everyone to live freely in the U.S. Mama and Papa work, but they hide from the officials who come to check their papers; Hannah’s friend’s family is sent back to Taiwan. The struggle with documentation and the celebration when the green cards finally arrive in the mail is a drama many immigrant families will recognize. (Booklist)

Ye, T. X. (1999). Share the sky. Illustrated by S. Langlois. Willowdale, ON: Annick Press. (K-3)

Young Fei-Fei loves kites and often flies them with her grandfather in China. When her parents, living in North America, send for her, she is filled with misgivings but adjusts smoothly to her new life. Despite the appealing kite motif, the story is a little too prim and proper to really soar. However, the illustrations are lively, and cultural misperceptions are presented with charming simplicity. (Horn Book, 1999)

Yee, L. (2005). Millicent Min, Girl Genius. Scholastic. (5-6)

Millicent Min is having a bad summer. Her fellow high school students hate her for setting the curve. Her fellow 11-year-olds hate her for going to high school. And her mother has arranged for her to tutor Stanford Wong, the poster boy for Chinese geekdom. But then Millie meets Emily. Emily doesn’t know Millicent’s IQ score. She actually thinks Millie is cool. And if Millie can hide her awards, ignore her grandmother’s advice, swear her parents to silence, blackmail Stanford, and keep all her lies straight, she just might make her first friend. What’s it gong to take? Sheer genius. (amazon.com)

Yee, L. (2005). Stanford Wong flunks big time. Levine/Scholastic. (5-6)

Yee, who won the 2004 Sid Fleischman Humor Award for Millicent Minn, Girl Genius (2003), offers an equally funny sequel, switching viewpoints to Stanford Wong, who, after flunking sixth-grade English, must forgo celebrity basketball camp for summer school and afternoon tutoring with Millicent. During their sessions, the former adversaries grudgingly discover that they have more in common than just their grandmothers, who are best friends, and each helps the other move through messy predicaments grounded in their own embarrassment and lies. Yee weights the lively sparring between her young characters (and Stanford’s new crush on Millicent’s friend) with Stanford’s worries at home: his grandmother, recently placed in a nursing home; his parents’ fights; and his remote, hard-to-please father. Young readers will find themselves chortling over comedic scenes, delivered in Stanford’s genuine, age-appropriate voice, even as the well-drawn, authentic heartache about family, friends, and integrity reaches directly into their lives. Young sports fans, particularly boys, will appreciate a portrait of a wholly likable underachiever in the classroom who shines on the court. (Booklist)

Yep, L. (1990). Child of the owl. New York: HarperTrophy. (5-6)

This spellbinding tale of the contradictions and special heritage of growing up Chinese-American is set in early 1960s Chinatown in San Francisco. (amazon.com)

Yep, L. (2002). Dream soul. New York: HarperTrophy. (5-6).

All Joan Lee and her younger siblings, Bobby and Emily, want for Christmas in 1927 is to be allowed to celebrate it. Joan longs to be just like everyone else, even if she is Chinese, but this will be the Lees’ first Christmas in West Virginia! Miss Lucy, their landlady and friend, innocently invites the family to celebrate Christmas with her. Joan’s parents resist at first, but that changes when Papa realizes he can turn it to his advantage. The children can have Christmas, but only if they are good--all the time. (amazon.com)

Yep, L. (1997). Later, gator. Illustrated by E. Valasquez. New York: Disney Press. (4-6)

Teddy finds that his imagination once more has gotten him into trouble, when he buys a baby alligator for his younger brother Bobby’s birthday. (amazon.com)

Yep, L. (1997). Ribbons. New York: Scott Foresman. (5-6)

When Robin Lee is forced to give up her beloved ballet lessons because her parents need the money to bring her grandmother to America from China, Robin finds herself resenting this difficult--and different--elderly foreign woman, crippled by years of having her feet bound. (amazon.com)

Yep, L. (1998). The case of the goblin pearls. New York: HarperTrophy. (4-6)

When Tiger Lil’s priceless Goblin Pearls are stolen during Chinatown’s New Year’s parade, she and her niece, Lily, go on an adventurous search through the town to find them and get them back from the bandits. (amazon.com)

Yep, L. (1999). The case of the lion dance. New York: HarperTrophy. (4-6)

After a bomb explodes in front of a Chinatown restaurant, twelve-year-old Lily and her great aunt, Tiger Lil, a former Hollywood actress, uncover a waitress’s longtime plot for revenge. The action packed mystery neatly weaves in explanations of Chinese culture including a glimpse into the sometimes uncomfortable relationship between native born and foreign born Chinese which serves to balance the few unbelievable coincidences. (amazon.com)

Yep, L. (1992). The Star Fisher. New York: Puffin. (5-6)

The lovely Chinese legend of the star fisher serves as an analogy to the plight of the Lee family, who in 1927 move from Ohio to West Virginia in search of a better life. A pleasure to read, entertaining its audience even as it educates their hearts. (Horn Book, 1991)

Yep, L. (1997). Thief of hearts. New York: HarperTrophy. (5-6)

In this sequel to the award-winning Child of the Owl, Newbery Honor author Laurence Yep continues the story of Casey Young and her daughter, Stacy, as Stacy struggles to come to terms with her Chinese-American heritage. (amazon.com)

BACK

Non-fiction:

Anderson, D. (2006). Chinese Americans. Gareth Stevens. (4-6)

No synopsis available.

Behrens, J. (1989). Gung hay fat choy. Chicago: Children’s Press. (K-3)

Explains the significance of the Chinese New Year and describes its celebration by Chinese Americans. (card catalog)

Brown, T. (1997). Chinese New Year. New York: Henry Holt. (K-3)

Text and photographs depict the celebration of Chinese New Year by Chinese-Americans living in San Francisco’s Chinatown. (card catalog)

Burckhardt, A. L. (1996). The people of China and their food. Mankato, MN: Bridgestone Books. (4-6)

Describes food customs and preparation in China, regional dishes, and cooking techniques; includes recipes for a variety of meals. (card catalog)

Chin, S. (1996). Dragon parade: A Chinese New Year Story. Illustrated by M. Tseng. Austin, TX: Raintree Steck-Vaughn. (4-6)

Norman Ah Sing, an immigrant from China, organized the first big Chinese New Year celebration in San Francisco in 1851. (Horn Book, 1993)

Daley, W. & Stotsky, S. (1995). The Chinese Americans. New York: Chelsea House. (4-6)

Discusses the history, culture, and religion of the Chinese, factors encouraging their immigration, and their acceptance as an ethnic group in North America. (card catalog)

Demi. (1999). Happy New Year! Kung-Hsi Fa-Ts’Ai! New York: Dragonfly. (K-3)

This joyful exploration of the rituals of the Chinese New Year celebration is filled with illustrations and labels explaining the images associated with the festival, including lion dances, firecrackers, heavenly beings, and food symbolism. (amazon.com)

Fisher, L. E. (1995). The great wall of China. New York: Aladdin Paperbacks. (4-6)

A brief history of the Great Wall of China, begun about 2,200 years ago to keep out Mongol invaders. (card catalog)

Hobbler, D & Hoobler, T. (1998). The Chinese American family album. New York: Oxford University Press. (5-6)

Using oral histories, letters, diaries, excerpts from literature, and authentic photographs, an album capturing the experiences, dreams, and struggles of Chinese immigrants in America offers a slice of living history for the multicultural American family. (amazon.com)

Hoyt-Goldsmith, D. (1999). Celebrating Chinese New Year. Illustrated by L. Migdale. New York: Holiday House. (1-5)

The text follows a young boy named Ryan as he and his family prepare to celebrate Chinese New Year in their home and community. Illustrated with captioned color photographs, the book introduces the holiday’s foods and customs and provides information about the history of San Francisco’s Chinatown. (Horn Book, 1999)

Kite, L. (2000). The Chinese (We came to North America). New York: Crabtree Publications. (4-6)

With the opening of the west in North America, many Chinese left great hardship behind to work in the gold mines, on farms, and on the railroads. This fascinating account of their early contributions and the prejudice they faced is highlighted with full-color artwork and eyewitness accounts. Detailed maps show where they settled and how their traditions are still celebrated today. (amazon.com)

Krach, M. S. (2000). D is for Doufu: A Book of Chinese Culture. Illustrated by H. Zhang. Chicago, IL: Shen’s Books. (4-6)

Carefully selected Chinese words and phrases take you on a wondrous journey through Chinese history and through the lives and customs of its people. The meaning of 23 phrases (46 characters) are included in this beautifully illustrated book that explores the richness of the Chinese culture. Each phrase is introduced by a written image and an explanation of the spoken Mandarin language, as well as a picture representing the concept. Some of these Chinese words have been borrowed and shared by other people. (amazon.com)

MacDonald, F. (1998). Marco Polo: A journey through China (Expedition). Illustrated by M. Bergin. Danbury, CT: Franklin Watts. (4-6)

A fascinating book with detailed illustrations of the many wonders that Marco Polo saw on his journey to China and back. Visit with the Mongol emperor Kublai Khan, sail on a giant Chinese junk and explore the dangers of the Silk Road. (Asia for Kids 2000 – 2001 Educational Catalog, p. 22)

Tan, J. (1989). Food in China. Vero Beach, FL: Rourke Publications. (All ages)

Surveys food products, customs, and preparation in China, describing regional dishes, cooking techniques, and recipes for a variety of meals. (card catalog)

Waters, K. & Slovenz-Low, M. (1991). Lion dancer: Ernie Wan’s Chinese New Year. Photographs by M. Cooper. New York: Scholastic Trade. (K-3)

Describes six-year-old Ernie Wong’s preparations, at home and in school, for the Chinese New Year celebrations and his first public performance of the lion dance. (card catalog)

Williams, S. (1997). Made in China: Ideas and inventions from ancient China. Illustrated by A. Fong. San Francisco, CA: Pacific View Press. (4-6)

Chronologically told, this well-researched history of scientific achievements introduces scientific inventions and discoveries within their social and political contexts. Watercolors, along with woodblock prints, paintings, drawings, and photographs, help clarify the descriptions of crossbows, papermaking, seismographs, silk making, printing, compasses, medicine, shipbuilding, and more. (Horn Book, 1997)

Wong, L. K. (2006). Good fortune: My journey to Gold Mountain. Peachtree. (3-6)

An elementary school teacher for 35 years tells about her family’s journey to America, their interrogation at Angel Island, and the difficult life they faced in Oakland, CA, where her father ran an illegal lottery business. Paw Paw worked in Gold Mountain and sent money home. One day, the author, her two sisters, and their mother received a letter announcing that they would be returning with him after his next visit. The family studied the papers that he sent to prepare them for the difficult questions they would be asked upon their arrival. Particularly worrisome was the fact that Paw Paw wasn’t allowed to bring his wife to America, so she would be posing as his sister. This memoir clearly shows the hardships, sacrifices, and eventual successes of the Chinese families who came to America during the Depression. The extensive use of dialogue, which of course cannot be accurate after so many years have passed, and the plain telling of the story make the book easily accessible to elementary school readers. However, some explanation for the unusual spelling of the Chinese words would have been helpful since the transliteration does not appear to be the standard pinyin or Wade-Giles used for Mandarin and Cantonese. Photographs of the family when they are older show prosperous and happy people and leave readers with a sense of the richness of the immigrant experience. (School Library Journal)

Young, E. (2006). My Mei Mei. Philomel. (K-2)

There are other picture books about traveling to China to adopt a child, but what sets this one apart is the relationship between the first adoptive daughter, Antonia, and her Mei Mei, or younger sister. Based on Young’s experience, the text follows Antonia’s story beginning with her arrival from China and her early years, to her request for a Mei Mei, to her disillusionment with her less-than-perfect sibling, to the girls evolving closeness and love for each other. The narrative is told gracefully in Antonia’s expressive, childlike voice: “When we returned, I found out that she was not what she ought to be. She couldn’t walk. She couldn’t talk. She couldn’t play. She took all the attention away from me.” Young’s illustrations in gouache, pastel, and collage are irresistibly beautiful and filled with feeling. A significant page turn takes readers from Antonia’s anticipation about their first meeting to Mei Mei’s crying baby face filling an entire page. Most spreads achieve a serene unity through the use of varying wallpaper-like designs. A definitive composition shows the sisters lying together, legs intertwined, sharing a book, their form echoed against a gently curving floral background. A simple story of family bonds unerringly told. (School Library Journal)

Young, E. (2003). Voices of the heart. New York: Scholastic Trade. (K-3)

Explores twenty-six Chinese characters that describe feelings or emotions, interpreting the visual elements within each character while guiding readers through an underlying theme emphasizing the importance of truthfully expressing thoughts and feelings. (amazon.com)

BACK

Traditional:

Bang, M. G. (1992). Tye May and the magic brush. New York: Mulberry Books. (K-3)

In a dream a poor orphan is given a brush that brings to life everything she paints. (amazon.com)

Bateson-Hill, M. (1998). Lao Lao of dragon mountain. New York: Larousse Kingfisher Chambers. (K-3)

Lao Lao is known all over Dragon Mountain for her simple, yet beautiful paper cuts. But when the powerful emperor hears of her skill, he has her locked away in a tower, forgetting about the dragon who lives nearby. This beautifully written story of a simple peasant woman weaves together many themes from traditional Chinese folktales. (amazon.com)

Casanova, M. (2000). The hunter: A Chinese folktale. Illustrated by E. Young. New York: Atheneum. (K-3)

Hai Li Bu is a good hunter, but not even he can find enough food for his village when the drought comes. The people grow thin and weak, the children rarely laugh -- but worst of all, they begin to argue and stop listening to one another. Out on a hunt one day, Hai Li Bu saves a small snake from the beak of a crane. He is surprised to learn that he has rescued the daughter of the Dragon King of the Sea. The Dragon King offers Hai Li Bu the reward of his choice. Hai Li Bu asks only to know the language of animals. Then he can be a better hunter for his village. His wish is granted with a provision: He must never reveal the secret of his gift to anyone. Hai Li Bu’s people are saved from famine, but when he hears from the animals that a flood is coming that will destroy everything in his village, the people do not listen to him. “You ask us to leave our homes. How can we know what you say is true?” a village elder asks him. Now Hai Li Bu is faced with a terrible choice: to let the people of his village die in the flood or to reveal his secret, knowing the dire consequences for himself. Caldecott Medal and Honor-winner Ed Young’s magnificent illustrations bring this poignant traditional folktale to life. (amazon.com)

Chang, C. (1994). The seventh sister: A Chinese legend. Illustrated by C. Reasoner. New York: Troll Associates. (K-3)

A lonely shepherd is saddened when he must let the maiden he loves return to help her sisters weave the tapestry of the night sky. (amazon.com)

Chang, M. & Chang, R. (1997). The beggar’s magic: A Chinese tale. Illustrated by D. Johnson. New York: Margaret McElderry. (2-5)

A cautionary tale from ancient China, full of contemporary appeal. A greedy, selfish farmer gets his comeuppance at the August Moon Festival, when the kindly beggar priest whom he has slighted performs a magic trick that makes the farmer a laughingstock of the village. (amazon.com)

Chen, K. (2000). Lord of the cranes: A Chinese Tale. Illustrated by J. J. Chen. New York: North-South. (K-3)

Tien, the Lord of the cranes, comes to earth to check on the kindness of mankind. In this beautifully illustrated retelling of a Chinese wisdom tale, the kindness and generosity of an innkeeper is rewarded. Tien’s lesson is, “Be kind to the poor.” (Notable Social Studies Trade Books for Young People, 2001, p. 6)

Chin, C. (1997). China’s bravest girl: The legend of Hua Mu Lan. Illustrated by T. Arai. San Francisco, CA: Children’s Book Press. (4-6)

Hua Mu Lan convinces her father that she must go to war to protect the family honor - because there is no eldest son. In this adaptation of the beloved Chinese legend of the maiden warrior, poet Charlie Chin shows us a heroine who is courageous and wise, respectful and loving, and able to meet men on equal terms. (Borders.com)

Czernecki, S. (1997). The cricket’s cage: A Chinese folktale. New York: Disney Press. (1-4)

The emperor of China orders the design of his towers to be perfect or the architect will be put to death, but when Kuai Xiang is forced to take on this very difficult task, he finds a friend in his newly adopted cricket, Pipa, who helps him along the way. (amazon.com)

Davol, M. W. (1997). The paper dragon. Illustrated by R. Sabuda. New York: Atheneum. (K-3)

When a terrible dragon awakens and begins to wreak havoc on all the villages in his path, only humble scroll painter Mi Lei is wise and clever enough to confront the scaly beast. Visually told in a series of gatefold illustrations, all the storytelling majesty of the Chinese narrative scroll-maker’s art is revealed. (amazon.com)

Demi. (1991). The artist and the architect. New York: Henry Holt. (K-3)

In ancient China a jealous artist plots to eliminate the favorite architect of the Emperor. (card catalog)

Demi. (2007). The boy who painted dragons. McElderry. (1-4)

The dragons are playing in heaven, riding clouds and creating things such as "thunder and lightning, flying comets…sparkling northern lights,” and rain. They also look for "pearls of heavenly wisdom” that are concealed in the clouds. One day, they peer through a hole in the heavens to Earth where they spy on a boy named Ping. Although he is terrified of dragons, he keeps his feelings secret and paints elaborate pictures of the creatures. Flattered, the Heavenly Dragon visits him and—quickly realizing that the boy paints these images out of fear—promises him three treasures if he can earn them. The pearls of wisdom read "Seek Your Truth,” "Find Your Truth,” and "Dare to Be True.” In order to attain them, Ping must overcome his apprehensions by visiting four elemental dragons: Water Dragon, Fire Dragon, Earth Dragon, and Wind Dragon. Each page contains paintings of gilt-colored creatures and swatches of delicate Chinese silk brocade. The colors range from rich purples and vibrant reds to cool blues and muted beiges, emphasizing the mood of each scene. Ping is always drawn in small scale compared to the magnificent dragons, and fold-out pages add to the book’s visual impact. An elegantly told tale, enhanced by exquisite illustrations. (School Library Journal)

Demi. (1996). The dragon’s tale and other animal fables of the Chinese Zodiac. New York: Henry Holt. (3-6)

A clever fox shows how small creatures must live by their wits. A boastful bear learns the hard way that pride invites calamity. A wise dragon teaches that the more you know, the more you know there is to know. Each of these fables about the 12 animals of the Chinese zodiac contains a jewel of wisdom. (amazon.com)

Demi. (2000). The emperor’s new clothes: A tale set in China. New York: Margaret McElderry. (K-3)

Based upon several different translations of the original Danish story, Demi’s tale is set in old provincial China. Filled with exquisite details, bright panoramas, and golden hues that leap off a wealth of fold-out pages, this story lures readers into a magical place and time. The story follows the four seasons of the year and is packed with visual elements of Chinese culture for readers to pore over for hours. (amazon.com)

Demi. (1996). The empty pot. New York: Henry Holt. (K-3)

When Ping admits that he is the only child in China unable to grow a flower from the seeds distributed by the Emperor, he is rewarded for his honesty. (card catalog)

Demi. (2004). The greatest power. McElderry. (2-4)

This companion to The Empty Pot (1990) continues the story of the life of Ping, the young emperor who wants to bring harmony to his kingdom. Ping sends all the children in the kingdom on a year-long quest to find the greatest power in the world, telling them, "A wise person must be able to see the unseen and know the unknown.” The boys believe the power is great weapons; the girls, great beauty; the students, great technology; and the practical children, great amounts of money. When the children come to show the emperor what they have discovered, the last child in line, a little girl named Sing, remembers Ping’s words. She presents a lotus seed as the powerful force of eternal life, and Ping names her the new prime minister. The text and the handsomely designed, richly colored artwork, which is touched with gold leaf, are set within a circular motif that reinforces the idea of eternity. As usual, Demi ably combines striking artwork and a meaningful story, with quiet dignity and wisdom. (Booklist)

Demi. (1998). The greatest treasure. New York: Scholastic Trade. (K-3)

In this traditional Chinese tale, a poor man receives a treasure of gold and discovers the true value of simple pleasures. (amazon.com)

Demi. (2000). Kites: Magic wishes that fly up to the sky. New York: Random House. (K-3)

With the signature style and extraordinary artistry that have won her a loyal following, Demi tells the story of how kites came to be. Long ago in China, holy painters would paint the townspeople’s wishes on paper to be left in temples for the gods to see and grant. But one day, an impatient mother who wanted her son to grow up strong and wise, had a holy painter paint a dragon, the symbol of strength and wisdom, on a kite. She then flew the kite up to the heavens where the gods lived so they would see the wish sooner and grant it more quickly. Kites also explains the significance of different kinds of kite symbols, provides information about kite festivals celebrated around the world, and gives clear, kid-friendly directions for making and painting kites. (amazon.com)

Demi. (1988). Liang and the magic paintbrush. New York: Henry Holt. (K-3)

When a poor boy in China receives a magical paintbrush, everything he paints turns to life. But the wicked emperor wants to capture the boy when he hears the news. The story will excite readers as the ruler gets his just reward when the boy creates a masterpiece that spells his doom. (amazon.com)

Demi. (2008). The magic pillow. McElderry. (1-3)

Based on a famous Chinese folktale, The Magic Pillow tells the story of a poor boy named Ping who is given a magic pillow by a mysterious magician. Ping sees what a lifetime of wealth and power would be like, and discovers that the riches of family and freedom are much more valuable. (amazon.com)

Demi. (1994). The magic tapestry: A Chinese folktale. New York: Henry Holt. (K-3)

Demi embroiders her retelling of this ancient fairy tale from China with richly textured words and finely detailed pictures inspired by Chinese art and fabrics. Readers will be caught up in the action and enchantment of the son's heroic quest of a magic tapestry as it unfolds page by page in dazzling gold ink. (Borders.com)

Demi. (1979). Under the shade of the mulberry tree. Englewood Cliffs, NJ: Prentice-Hall. (2-4)

Retells an old Chinese folk tale in which a greedy rich man is outwitted by a beggar to whom he sells the shade of the mulberry tree. (card catalog)

Heyer, M. (1989). The weaving of a dream: A Chinese folktale. New York: Puffin. (K-3)

When the beautiful tapestry woven by a poor woman is stolen by fairies, her three sons set out on a magical journey to retrieve it. A retelling of a traditional Chinese tale. (card catalog)

Hillman, E. (1996). Min-Yo and the moon dragon. Illustrated by J. Wallner. New York: Voyager Books. (K-3)

The people in a small village in China notice that the moon is falling from the sky and select the tiny Min-Yo to climb the cobweb staircase to reckon with the moon dragon. (amazon.com)

Hong, L. T. (1995). The empress and the silkworm. Morton Grove, IL: Albert Whitman. (K-3)

A fictionalized account of the Empress of China's discovery, around 2700 B.C., that the cocoons of the worms in her mulberry trees were made of fine, shiny, silken thread which could be made into beautiful cloth. (Borders.com)

Hong, L. T. (1993). Two of everything: A Chinese folktale. Morton Grove, IL: Albert Whitman and Company. (K-3)

A poor old Chinese farmer finds a magic brass pot that doubles or duplicates whatever is placed inside it, but his effort to make himself wealthy leads to unexpected complications. (card catalog)

Jiang, J. (2002). The magical Monkey King: Mischief in heaven. Illustrated by H. H. Su-Kennedy. New York: HarperCollins. (2-5)

Chinese children grow up hearing stories about the Monkey King. Here is a series of these stories retold with humor and affection by Ji-li Jiang, the author of Red Scarf Girl (an ALA Notable Book), and charmingly illustrated in the style of classic Chinese prints by Hui Hui Su-Kennedy. (amazon.com)

Kimmel, E. A. (1998). Ten suns: A Chinese legend. Illustrated by Y. Xuan. New York: Holiday House. (4-6)

When the ten sons of Di Jun walk across the sky together causing the earth to burn from the blazing heat, their father looks for a way to stop the destruction. (amazon.com)

Lee, J. M. (2002). Bitter dumplings. New York: Farrar Straus & Giroux. (K-3)

This striking picture book ends with a new beginning for three people who never expected to be friends -- an orphaned girl cast out by her siblings, a slave escaping from a mighty emperor’s ship, and a hunchbacked old woman known for the bitter-melon and shrimp dumplings she brings to market each day -- and for living in a haunted house at the edge of the marshes. As their hardship-filled paths cross, each of their lives begins to change for the better, in a moving affirmation of the power of compassion. (amazon.com)

Lee, J. M. (1995). The song of Mu-Lan. New York: Front Street. (K-5)

A retelling of a sixth century Chinese folk poem illustrated with watercolor paintings. A young girl named Mu Lan disguises herself as man to take her father’s place when the Emperor calls his vassals to war. (Borders.com)

Louie, A. (1996). Yen-Shen, a Cinderella story from China. Illustrated by E. Young. New York: Paper Star. (K-3)

This version of the Cinderella story, in which a young girl overcomes the wickedness of her stepsister and stepmother to become the bride of a prince, is based on ancient Chinese manuscripts written 1000 years before the earliest European version. (card catalog)

Mahy, M. (1992). The seven Chinese brothers. Illustrated by J. & M. Tseng. New York: Scholastic Trade. (K-3)

Bold, colorful, and historically accurate illustrations adorn a classic Chinese folktale, in which seven brothers use their supernatural gifts to overpower a cruel emperor. (amazon.com)

McCunn, R. L. (1998). Pie-biter. Illustrated by Y. Tang. Auburn, CA: Shen’s Books. (K-3)

Based on real characters in the 1800s, Hoi, a young Chinese immigrant, was left to his own devices after the Continental Railroad was finished. With the help of Spanish Louis, he turned his creativity into success by way of good-old American pies. Initially published in 1983 as the Chinese American answer to Paul Bunyan, the story is now re-published in a new design and a tri-lingual format. (amazon.com)

Mosel, A. (1989). Tikki tikki tembo. Illustrated by B. Lent. New York: Henry Holt. (K-3)

When the eldest son fell in the well and most of the time getting help was spent pronouncing the name of the one in trouble, the Chinese, according to legend, decided to give all their children short names. (card catalog)

Pittman, H. C. (1996). A grain of rice. New York: Skylark. (K-3)

A clever, cheerful, hard-working farmer’s son wins the hand of a Chinese princess by outwitting her father the Emperor, who treasures his daughter more than all the rice in China. (amazon.com)

Tompert, A. (1996). The jade horse, the cricket and the peach stone. Illustrated by W. Trang. Honesdale, PA: Boyds Mills Press, Inc. (K-3)

In ancient China, a small boy, Pan Su, catches in his fishing net a small jade horse and after some persuasion, ventures off to give the horse to the emperor, if he can defeat the swindlers along the way. (amazon.com)

Tseng, G. (1999). White tiger, blue serpent. Illustrated by J. & M. Tseng. New York: Lothrop Lee & Shepard. (K-3)

When his mother’s beautiful brocade is snatched away by a greedy goddess, a young Chinese boy faces many perils as he attempts to get it back. (amazon.com)

Wang, R. C. (1995). The treasure chest: A Chinese tale. Illustrated by W. Hillenbrand. New York: Holiday House. (3-5)

A rainbow-colored magic fish helps Laifu protect his bride-to-be from the evil ruler Funtong. (Borders.com)

Wolkstein, D. (1996). White wave: A Chinese tale. Illustrated by E. Young. New York: Harcourt Brace. (K-3)

This well-known Chinese tale speaks of love, loss, grief and rebirth. A young farmer discovers an iridescent snail shell gleaming in the moonlight, later to find that he has been blessed with the companionship of a moon goddess, White Wave. His life is slowly transformed and his loneliness disappears, but in his joy the farmer wants more than he was given and he loses what he loves. (Borders.com)

Yen, C. (1991). Why rat comes first: A story of the Chinese Zodiac. Photographs by H. C. Yoshida. San Francisco, CA: Children’s Book Press. (1-4))

Explains why Rat comes first in the Chinese calendar cycle of twelve years. (card catalog)

Yep, L. (1999). The dragon prince: A Chinese beauty and the beast tale. Illustrated by K. Mak. New York: Harpercollins. (4-6)

Long ago in China, there lived a poor farmer with seven daughters. One afternoon a huge dragon sprang from a nearby cave, seized the farmer and demanded one of his daughters in exchange for the farmer’s life. The youngest daughter agrees to marry the dragon, but in his palace beneath the sea, she soon discovers that her dragon bridegroom is not at all what he seems. (amazon.com)

Yep. L. (1992). The rainbow people. Illustrated by D. Wiesner. New York: Harpercollins. (4-6)

A collection of twenty Chinese folk tales that were passed on by word of mouth for generations, as told by some old timers newly settled in the United States. (card catalog)

Yep, L. (1993). The shell woman and the king: A Chinese folktale. Illustrated by Y. Ming-Yi. New York: Dial Books. (K-3)

Good Wu marries a young woman who can change herself into a shell. Because of this ability, a cruel ruler wishes to own her. In order to escape and save herself and her husband, she must perform three wonders. Ming-Yi’s watercolor paintings give the reader a real feel for China. (Borders.com)

Yep, L. (1995). Tiger woman. Illustrated by R. Roth. Mahwah, NJ: Troll Communications L. L. C. (K-3)

When a beggar asks a greedy woman to share some of her food with him, she replies: “I’m a tiger when I’m famished, so begone, old beggar, vanish!” Truer words were never spoken for as the greedy woman eats her meal she really does become a tiger. Chased from her village, she learns the importance of sharing. This story, told in rhyme, is a retelling of a Shantung folk song. (Borders.com)

Yolen, J. (1998). The emperor and the kite. Illustrated by E. Young. New York: Paper Star. (K-3)

When the emperor is imprisoned in a high tower, his smallest daughter, whom he has always ignored, uses her kite to save him. (card catalog)

Young, E. (1998). Cat and Rat: The legend of the Chinese Zodiac. New York: Henry Holt. (1-4)

According to Chinese legend, the twelve animals of the zodiac were selected by the Jade Emperor after he invited all the animals to participate in a race. This is the story of that race, the legend of how the 5,000-year-old zodiac came to be. It is also the story of Cat and Rat, and why they will always be enemies. (amazon.com)

Young, E. (1994). Little Plum. New York: Philomel. (K-3)

In a Chinese version of Tom Thumb, Little Plum, a tiny boy no bigger than a plum seed, proves his worth by helping his father farm his land and by defeating the wicked lord and his soldiers who attack their village. (amazon.com)

Young, E. (1996). Lon Po Po: A Red Riding Hood story from China. New York: Paper Star. (2-4)

Three sisters staying home alone are endangered by a hungry wolf who is disguised as their grandmother. (card catalog)

Young, E. (2001). Monkey King. New York: Harpercollins. (K-3)

From a fantastic explosion is born the legendary Monkey King, the clever and courageous hero of one of the best-known stories from China. Ambitious Monkey travels to Square Inch Mountain, where he trains with Master Putt to perfect the art of turning cloud somersaults, riding the wind, changing shape, and disappearing in the blink of an eye. Then Monkey eagerly shows off his magic skills by tricking Dragon King and battling Jade Emperor. Monkey is so arrogant, he even gets into trouble with Buddha himself. Caldecott Award-winning author-illustrator Ed Young has created colorful and lively collages and specially designed two fold-out pages to animate the story of Monkey King and his acrobatic, high-spirited adventures. This unprecedented picture-book adaptation introduces just the beginning of the classic epic Journey to the West, about the mission to bring Buddhist scriptures to China. Monkey is only one of its many characters, but he is undeniably the most beloved of them all. (amazon.com)

Young, E. (1997). Mouse match: A Chinese folktale. New York: Harcourt Brace. (K-3)

Caldecott medalist Ed Young retells an ancient Chinese tale of how a father mouse travels to the end of the earth in search of the perfect husband for his wonderful daughter. How could he have known when he set out that his journey would lead him back home? (amazon.com)

Young, E. (1995). Night visitors. New York: Philomel. (1-3)

When his father threatens to flood out the ants that have invaded his storehouse, young Ho Kuan protests, and one night, he follows the ants to their secret kingdom, in a story based on an ancient Chinese folktale. (amazon.com)

Young, E. (1998). The lost horse: A Chinese folktale. New York: Silver Whistle. (K-3)

With delicate and dramatic collage illustrations in pastel and watercolor, Young retells an old Chinese folktale that has echoes in many cultures. (Booklist)

BACK

Biography:

Ditchfield, C. (1999). Sports great Michael Chang. Berkeley Heights, NJ: Enslow. (4-6)

A biography of the Chinese-American tennis player who, in 1989, became the youngest man to win the prestigious French Open tournament. (card catalog)

Freedman, R. (2002). Confucius: The golden rule. Illustrated by F. Clement. New York: Levine/Scholastic. (4-6)

Born in China in 551 B.C., Confucius rose from poverty to the heights of his country’s ruling class. But then he quit his high post for the life of an itinerant philosopher. "The Analects” collects his teachings on education and government, the definition of nobility, the equality of man, and the right way and purpose of living - ideas that eventually spread to the West and influenced the great thinkers of the Enlightenment. And five centuries before Christ, Confucius set forth his own Golden Rule: "Do not impose on others what you do not wish for yourself.” (amazon.com)

Lee, A. & Turk, R. (1998). I am Chinese American (Our American Family Series). New York: Powerkids Press. (1-4)

Briefly discusses a Chinese American’s heritage. (Borders.com)

Ling, B. (1997). Maya Lin. Austin, TX: Raintree Steck-Vaughn Company. (4-6)

Informative but flatly written, this biography opens with Lin’s winning the design contest for the Vietnam Veterans Memorial, then briefly covers her childhood, education, and career. Lin’s memorial artwork and public art projects are detailed, and difficulties she has faced are lightly touched upon. (Horn Book, 1997)

Malone, M. (1992). Connie Chung: Broadcast journalist. Berkeley Heights, NJ: Enslow. (4-6)

A detailed, informative, and readable chronicle of this resourceful, tenacious, and popular Chinese-American and her career in television newscasting. Little of her personal life is revealed, but the book explains her coverage of McGovern’s presidential campaign and Watergate, as well as discussing the development of television news. (Horn Book, 1992)

Rambeck, R. (1997). Michele Kwan. Chanhassen, MN: Child’s World. (4-6)

A biography of world champion figure skater whose goal is to win gold medals in the 1998, 2002, and 2006 Winter Olympics. (amazon.com)

Riley, G. B. (1995). Wah Ming Chang: Artist and master of special effects. Berkeley Heights, NJ: Enslow. (4-6)

Examines the life of artist Wah Ming Chang, who is best known for his special effects for Disney films and the Star Trek series. (card catalog)

Say, A. (1996). El Chino. Boston, MA: Houghton Mifflin. (4-6)

A biography of Bill Wong, a Chinese American who became a famous bullfighter in Spain. (card catalog)

Torres, J. (1999). Michelle Kwan: (Real-life reader biography). Bear, DE: Mitchell Lane. (4-6)

A biography of the young Chinese-American figure skater who won national and world championships in 1996 and a silver medal at the 1998 Winter Olympics. (amazon.com)

Wellman, S. (1998). Michele Kwan. Broomall, PA: Chelsea House. (4-6)

Describes the personal life and figure skating career of the young Chinese American who won the National and World Championships in 1996. (card catalog)

BACK

Historical Fiction:

Coerr, E. (1993). Chang’s paper pony. Illustrated by D. K. Ray. New York: HarperTrophy. (1-3)

In San Francisco during the 1850’s gold rush, Chang, the son of Chinese immigrants, wants a pony but cannot afford one until his friend Big Pete finds a solution. (card catalog)

Fritz, J. (1999). Homesick: My own story. Illustrated by M. Tomes. New York: Paper Star. (3-6)

This is the author’s own story of her upbringing in China by a missionary father, a distant mother, and an affectionate Chinese nurse, Lin Nai-Nai. The book examines the added difficulties foreigners experienced in a country where life was harsh even for natives, and chronicles the loneliness of an only child who longs to discover her roots in the homeland she never knew. (Borders.com)

Goldin, B. (1996). Red means good fortune: A story of San Francisco’s Chinatown. Illustrated by W. Ma. New York: Puffin. (3-5)

A twelve-year old named Jin Mun works for his father doing laundry. Jin Mun is shocked to discover that one of his neighbors is a slave girl, unable to leave her house. (card catalog)

Hong, L. T. (1995). The empress and the silkworm. Morton Grove, IL: Albert Whitman. (2-4)

A fictionalized account of the Empress of China’s discovery, around 2700 B.C., that the cocoons of the worms in her mulberry trees were made of fine, shiny, silken thread which could be made into beautiful cloth. (Borders. com)

Krensky, S. (1995). The iron dragon never sleeps. Illustrated by T. Fulweiler. New York: Yearling Books. (3-5)

Ten-year-old Winnie and her mother spend the summer of 1867 with Winnie’s father, a mining engineer for the Central Pacific Railroad. While the Central Pacific weathers a strike by the Chinese immigrant laborers, Winnie’s view of the world is forever changed by Lee Cheng, a young tea carrier. (amazon.com)

Lord, B. B. (1986). In the year of the boar and Jackie Robinson. Illustrated by M. Simont. New York: HarperTrophy. (4-6)

In 1947, a Chinese child comes to Brooklyn where she becomes Americanized at school, in her apartment building, and by her love for baseball. (card catalog)

Partridge, E. (2003). Oranges on Golden Mountain. Illustrated by A. Sogabe. New York: Puffin. (1-3)

"You are never alone. Your dream spirit, your Hun, will make sure of that,” Jo Lee’s mother tells him when she sends him across the ocean to fish with Fourth Uncle on Golden Mountain-California. Adjusting to the strange new land is not easy, but the orange branches he has brought from home and his Hun’s nighttime travels remind Jo Lee of his roots and nourish his growth. In this finely wrought story of one Chinese boy’s transition to a new life in late-nineteenth-century California, Elizabeth Partridge captures the determination, family strength, and courage needed by all immigrants. Aki Sogabe’s cut-paper illustrations, as rich in character and historical detail as the text, soar with drama, imagination, and-like Jo Lee’s Hun-a deep desire to connect. (amazon.com)

Yee, P. (1999). Tales from Gold Mountain: Stories of the Chinese in the new world. Illustrated by S. Ng. Toronto, ON: Groundwood Books. (4-6)

Eight original stories give readers a sense of the hardships faced by the first Chinese-Americans. In “Spirits of the Railway”, a young man appeases the ghosts of dead railroad workers who were never properly buried. In “Forbidden Fruit”, a father’s prejudice keeps his daughter from marrying her beloved. Dramatic, full-color illustrations accompany the stories. (Borders.com)

Yep, L. (1989). Dragonwings: Golden Mountain Chronicles, 1903. New York: HarperTrophy. (4-6)

In the early twentieth century a young Chinese boy joins his father in San Francisco and helps him realize his dream of making a flying machine. (card catalog)

Yep, L. (2006). The Earth Dragon awakes: The San Francisco Earthquake of 1906. HarperCollins. (3-5)

On the evening of April 17, 1906, neither eight-year-old Henry nor his friend Ching is aware that the earth beneath their San Francisco homes is shifting. Devotees of "penny dreadfuls,” both boys long for excitement, not their fathers’ ordinary routine lives. When the earthquake shakes the city and a firestorm breaks out, Henry and his parents scramble in the chaos and battle the fire, but must ultimately evacuate their home. Ching and his father survive the collapse of their Chinatown tenement, and flee to the ferry through the debris and turmoil. In the midst of catastrophe, the boys realize that their fathers are real-life heroes. Henry and Ching’s stories are told in alternating chapters with a few interruptions for the insertion of earthquake information. Told in the present tense, the narration provides a "you are there” sense of immediacy and will appeal to readers who enjoy action-packed survival stories. (Booklist)

Yin. (2001). Coolies. Illustrated by C. K. Soentpiet. New York: Philomel. (1-4)

When Shek and little Wong journey to America in 1865, they have work! Along with hundreds of other Chinese, the brothers are going to help build a great railroad across the West. But as days grow into months, Shek and Wong endure more than they could have imagined - bleeding hands, blasting dynamite, and treacherous avalanches - for very little pay. Are they being treated this way because of their almond-shaped eyes-because they are coolies? Inspired by actual events in the history of the American railroad, Coolies reveals the harsh truth about life for thousands of Chinese laborers, while it celebrates the love and loyalty between two brothers who were determined not only to survive, but to succeed. (amazon.com)

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Poetry:

Ho, M., editor. (1996). Maples in the mist: Poems for children from the Tang Dynasty. Illustrated by J & M Tseng. New York: Lothrop, Lee & Shepard Books. (K-3)

Chinese children have always learned to read by memorizing poetry, and the poems of the Tang Dynasty (618-907 A.D.) are widely accepted as the best classical poems in China’s two-thousand-year literary history. (amazon.com)

Mak, K. (2001). My Chinatown: One year in poems. New York: HarperCollins. (1-5)

Kam Mak grew up in a place of two cultures, one existing within the other. Using extraordinarily beautiful paintings and moving poems, he shares a year of growing up in this small city within a city, which is called Chinatown. (amazon.com)

Wong, J. S. (1994). Good luck gold and other poems. New York: Scott Foresman. (3-5)

The collection of poems, most written from the point of view of a young Asian-American girl, capture loving and poignant recollections of family members and tell of moments where American, Chinese, and Korean cultures meet or clash. (Horn Book, 1995)

Wong, J. S. (2000). This next New Year. Illustrated by Y. Choi. New York: Farrar/Frances Foster. (K-3)

A young boy prepares for Chinese New Year with rituals and wide hopes, in this illustrated, free verse poem. The narrator, who is half Korean, describes how he and his friends, like so many people in a multicultural society, celebrate the holiday with a modern blend of adopted and inherited traditions: the boy’s mother makes traditional Korean new year soup; Evelyn, part Hopi and Mexican, loves the money-stuffed red envelopes from her Singaporean neighbor; and Glenn, part French and German, “calls it Chinese New Year, too, even though he celebrates it at his house by eating Thai food to go.” At home, the boy cleans the house, “so it can soak up good luck like an empty sponge,” grooms himself, and pledges to be brave and positive—“none of that can't do, don't have, why me.” Choi’s smooth, brightly colored paintings--filled with firecrackers, dragons, and other cultural symbols--ably illustrate the optimistic activity and the yearning in the accessible, rhythmic text. Children of diverse backgrounds will connect with the boy’s earnest desire to help change the family’s luck and realize his own potential. (Booklist)

Wyndham, R., editor. (1998). Chinese Mother Goose rhymes. Illustrated by E. Young. New York: Paper Star. (K-2)

Enchanting album of rhymes, riddles, lullabies and games that have amused Chinese children for centuries. English with traditional Chinese calligraphy. (Asia for Kids 2000 – 2001 Educational Catalog, p. 20)

Young, E. (2005). Beyond the great mountains. Chronicle Books. (4-6)

Ed Young’s spare prose, as lovely as a rice-paper painting, describes in measured detail the beautiful and mystical land that the author so clearly loves. The unique format and gorgeous paper-collage illustrations, highlighted with Chinese characters, combine to convey the many facets of China to form a poetic picture of the land’s grace, depth, and majesty. (amazon.com)

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Fantasy:

Armstrong, J. (1996). Chin Yu Min and the ginger cat. Illustrated by M. Grandpre. New York: Random House. (4-6)

The proud and haughty widow Chin Yu Min finds happiness and humility through her friendship with a mysterious ginger cat in an original, moving and beautifully told story of Chinese culture. (amazon.com)

Flack, M. (1977). The story about Ping. Illustrated by K. Wiese. New York: Viking Press. (K-1)

A little duck finds adventure on the Yangtze River when he is too late to board his master's houseboat one evening. (card catalog)

Lobel, A. (1993). Ming Lo moves the mountain. New York: Mulberry Books. (K-3)

A wise man tells Ming Lo how to move the mountain away from his house. (card catalog)

Partridge, E. (2001). Oranges on Golden Mountain. Illustrated by A. Sogabe. New York: Dutton: (K-3)

"You are never alone. Your dream spirit, your Hun, will make sure of that”, Jo Lee’s mother tells him when she sends him across the ocean to fish with Fourth Uncle on Golden Mountain-California. Adjusting to the strange new land is not easy, but the orange branches he has brought from home and his Hun’s nighttime travels remind Jo Lee of his roots and nourish his growth. In this finely wrought story of one Chinese boy’s transition to a new life in late-nineteenth-century California, Elizabeth Partridge captures the determination, family strength, and courage needed by all immigrants. Aki Sogabe’s cut-paper illustrations, as rich in character and historical detail as the text, soar with drama, imagination, and - like Jo Lee’s Hun - a deep desire to connect. (amazon.com)

Steckman, E. (1997). Silk peony, parade dragon. Illustrated by C. Inouye. Honesdale, PA: Boyds Mills Press. (K-3)

Mrs. Ming owns a dragon farm, and the dragon, Silk Peony, is her pride and joy. But negotiating a fair rental price for Silk Peony to march in the New Year’s Day parade turns out to be quite a task. First the mandarin is rude, then he bargains mercilessly, and finally he won't cough up! In the end, happily, Mrs. Ming gets her way in this original fable. (Borders.com)

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