For my multicultural review, I chose to focus on Asian culture and Asian Americans. The books reviewed are all aimed at children aged 4-17. Children should be aware of different cultures and be exposed to them at an early age. The IFLA Multicultural Library Manifesto indicates that in our increasingly heterogeneous society, being aware and respectful of cultural diversity can promote international peace and security (2008). These books can help familiarize children with words, places, and traditions of Asian and Asian American culture.
So, S. (2006). Shanyi goes to China. London: Frances Lincoln Children’s Books.
Shanyi Goes to China by Sungwan So is a story about Shanyi’s trip to China with her family. As a second generation Chinese American, Shanyi knows a bit about China but she is excited to learn more about her culture. Written in Shanyi’s own voice, the book is a travel diary with stories and pictures from each place she visits. Traveling from Hong Kong to Panyu to Aotou, Shanyi describes many traditional Chinese activities and places, like Baomo yuan, a traditional Chinese garden, and burning money at an ancestral hall in Gaochang.
Shanyi and her family visit many different family members in cities all over the southern coast of China. A map at the beginning of the book illustrates the route she and her family take to visit their relatives. Each page has at least one photograph showing Chinese dress, food, and traditional buildings. The book is both entertaining and educational, as there are many Chinese words in the text. The book also includes a recipe for steamed egg custard, which Shanyi’s grandmother prepares for her during her trip. There is a short glossary of the Chinese terms in the book, as well as an index.
The differences between modern day China and ancient China is displayed in the book, as Shanyi sees ancient temples as well as skyscrapers on Hong Kong Island. This shows children how Chinese culture has evolved throughout history. So’s pictures align perfectly with the text, showing many Chinese objects Shanyi describes in her story.
So was born in Hong Kong and received a master’s degree in anthropology from the Chinese University. He then went on to receive a B.A. in photography, which is evidenced in the vibrant photographs that evoke feelings of wonder in the reader.
This book is intended for a younger audience of children aged four to six. It is an easy way to introduce different elements of Chinese culture to young children, especially those who have little to no experience with Chinese culture. This book would make a good addition to school libraries and classrooms.
Straub, D. G. (ed.). (1997). Asian American voices. Detroit, MI: UXL.
Asian American Voices is a reference for students in grades 9-12. It includes speeches given by prominent Asian American politicians, activists, educators, and others who have shaped Asian American culture today. While this work only represents a small fraction of prominent Asian American figures, it gives a broad overview of the ideas and works of many famous Asian Americans. It gives a basic outline of Asian American history, and would be a good starting point for students writing reports.
Included in Asian American Voices are biographical essays and speeches from 15 prominent Asian American figures from as early as 1891. The speeches included in this resource are what make Asian American Voices stand out from other biographical resources. Children can see how Asian Americans have worked to better the world for others by reading speeches by Bette Bao Lord, a prominent human rights activist, Irene Natividad, a Filipina educator, and David Henry Hwang, a Chinese American playwright. The speeches discuss everything from women’s rights to pride in one’s culture, as well as the importance of democracy.
There are several features that make this resource excellent for students. The book includes a timeline of important Asian American events from 1765 to 1997. Each entry includes bold words, with the definition of those words in a sidebar, much like a textbook. An index is included, as well as a list of “Speech Topics at a Glance,” which makes it easy to find specific speeches with topics like arts and literature, civil rights, foreign policy, education, and culture and tradition.
The amount of history covered in Asian American Voices is extensive, but accessible for students, as much of the history is given in anecdotes from speeches. This primary resource makes Asian American Voices valuable to high school students.
This book is written for a high school age audience, so it is a good choice for school libraries and public libraries.
Petrillo, V. (2007). A kid’s guide to Asian American history: More than 70 activities. Chicago, IL: Chicago Review Press.
This wonderful book includes history, crafts, recipes, and games, as well as many more resources for parents, teachers, and children. Included are sections on Chinese Americans, Japanese Americans, Korean Americans, Filipino Americans, Asian Indian Americans, and Southeast Asian Americans. In each section there are illustrated directions for each activity, as well as information on special holidays of the culture, biographies of prominent Asian American figures, and bits of history of the culture. Every single page of this book has at least one bit of cultural or historical information for the chosen culture.
One of my favorite activities in the book is in the Korean American section. It is “Set Up a Tol: A Fortune-Telling Birthday Party.” At a Korean baby’s second birthday, a table full of symbolic objects is set up for the child to choose from. It is said that the object the baby chooses first predicts his or her future. Rice or money signifies wealth, a pen indicates scholarly pursuits, and an arrow represents a career in the military. The activity mirrors this tradition but turns it into a game. This type of adaptation makes cultural traditions accessible for even young children.
I also enjoyed reading fun facts about Asian American culture that are highlighted in several sidebars found on every few pages in the book. For example, did you know that red is the luckiest of all colors in China? This is why the color red is featured in Chinese dress, décor, and even the country’s flag. Facts like these are found in boxes on each page, which makes them pop.
This book includes many extra resources that may be useful to teachers and parents, such as a timeline of Asian American history from 1763 to 1990, a list of Asian American quick facts (mostly about Asian American populations in the United States), a glossary of terms, and a bibliography. That’s not all! There is a list of Asian American museums in the United States, a list of Asian American movies, websites, a teacher’s guide, and a list of history standards and learning objectives for grades K-12. These extra resources make A Kid’s Guide to Asian American History an excellent resource for teachers, homeschool educators, and parents looking to teach their children about Asian American culture.
A Kid’s Guide to Asian American History explores how Asian American culture has evolved from traditional Asian cultures to adapt to the culture in the United States. It gives children an in-depth look at Asian American history, while pairing with relevant activities to help them understand the importance of the differences in cultures. This book would make an excellent addition to any school or classroom library, as well as public libraries in diverse communities with many schools.
Sebag-Montefiore, P. (2007). Eyewitness China. New York, NY: DK Publishing.
Dorling Kindersley is known for publishing informative books with wonderful full-color photographs on each page. Eyewitness China is no exception. Written for those in grades 6-12, Eyewitness China gives an in-depth look at everything from life in a rural village to changing modern fashions in China. The contrast between the traditional Chinese culture and China today is seen in the many photographs that fill each page.
The book begins by explaining the diversity of China—there are deserts, grasslands, mountains, and booming cities. A bit of Chinese history is detailed, from the Shang dynasty to the establishment of the People’s Republic of China in 1949. This short history leaves something to be desired, but the focus of Eyewitness China is the modern day China. A more detailed timeline of China’s history is located at the back of the book.
The rest of the book covers many different topics, including Chinese language, home and family life in China, transportation, food and drink, nature, religion, education, and sports. Each section includes a short description of the topic and many pictures with extensive captions. A clear picture of everyday life in China forms thanks to the photographs and detailed descriptions.
The book also includes a map of China that shows elevations, settlements, and national capitals. Also included are maps showing the time zones of China and the different provinces and regions of China. Next there is a list of prominent Chinese figures, including political activists, athletes, actors, and an astronaut. A short biographical paragraph is given for each person listed, and several pictures are included. A glossary of terms gives the definitions of many terms found in the book.
This book would be an excellent addition to a school library and many public libraries. It is a bit dense with a great deal of text, but the pictures make the text accessible to even younger children.
Hoyt-Goldsmith, D. (1992). Hoang Anh, a Vietnamese-American boy. New York, NY: Holiday House.
While a bit dated, this story of a Vietnamese-American boy living in California shows how Asian American families keep cultural traditions even while living in the United States. Hoang and his family escaped from Vietnam on his father’s fishing boat. After living in a refugee camp for more than a year, the Anh family was sponsored by a church in Oregon and emigrated to the United States.
Hoang explains how his family still eats many Vietnamese foods and celebrates Vietnamese holidays, like the Vietnamese New Year (Tet Nguyen Dan), but he is still very much like any American kid. At his school, there are many children who speak English as a second language, so Hoang feels at home there. He explains how the Vietnamese language is very different from English, and his father has difficulty speaking it.
Hoang explains the importance of Tet, the Vietnamese New Year. Vietnamese words in the text are followed by pronunciation guides, so children can hear the difference between English and Vietnamese. Hoang says that Tet is like having Thanksgiving, Christmas, and New Year’s all at once. It is celebrated for three days, with traditional clothing, feasts, and gifts. It is also a time for forgiveness. The legend of why certain cakes are eaten during Tet is included.
Hoang and his family attend the Tet festival in San Jose each year. It is a time for Vietnamese families in California to get together and celebrate the New Year. This book shows children how Asian American children and their families may have some different traditions, but they fit in with other cultures just the same.
This book is a bit wordy and the descriptions of the refugee camp and the Anh family’s emigration are best suited for older readers. This would be a good addition to a 6th-8th grade classroom.
References
International Federation of Library Associations. (2008). The IFLA Multicultural Library
Manifesto. Retrieved from
http://www.ifla.org/VII/s32/pub/MulticulturalLibraryManifesto.pdf
